Valpo City Council, mayor establish council districts
Panel approves fiscal plan for annexation
The Valparaiso City Council approved both the presented plan for redistricting the Valparaiso city councilmanic map, as well a resolution adopting a fiscal plan for property annexation, both measures described as “reflective of the city’s growth.”
The first reading of Ordinance No. 25, 2022, created for the purpose of establishing new boundaries for council representative districts, was approved unanimously by all members of the Valparaiso City Council at the
Nov. 14 meeting. The redistricting process for Valparaiso began in September was guided by attorney Brian Bosma of Kroger Gardis Regas, LLP, who attended the meeting to answer questions on behalf of his Indianapolis consulting firm.
During the past three months, the council has sought public input and welcomed the advice of a committee comprised of select City Council members and other appointees by Valparaiso Mayor Matt Murphy.
Under current law, the redistricting plan, intended to reflect the city’s shift in neighborhood populations, had to be finalized by Dec. 31.
“Everything as presented before this body is reflective of the city’s growth,” Murphy reminded.
The latter half of the Nov. 14 meeting was devoted to Valparaiso City Planner Beth Shrader’s explanation of Resolution No. 19-2022 adopting a fiscal play for annexation of property along Indiana 49 and Vale Park Road, which will be developed for the city’s new proposed sports complex park.
Branded as “Valparaiso’s newest park for a new generation” and with an estimated cost of $30 million, the city of Valparaiso purchased 248 acres last year east of Indiana 49, extending from Vale Park Road north to County Road 500 North to construct the proposed community sports and recreation complex which will
include sports fields, walking paths, wooded trails, shelters, concession structures and the future option for possible indoor facilities.
The project is expected to begin construction in March 2023.
“It’s important to know that not only does this annexation plan address the southern half of the park property and the portion segment of Memorial Drive as extended through this annexation area, but also considers any utilities such as stormwater and sewer improvements needed in the park,” Shrader said.
“It is also important to remind that this is a voluntary annexation, with a majority of the property owners affected petitioning to be part of the annexation. So we have a certain timeline we have to follow which moves rather quickly.”
A public hearing on the annexation will be at the council’s Jan. 23 meeting with adoption and final approval of the annexation possible as soon as in February.
A window for remonstrance from an affected property owners unhappy with the plan is provided through August.
“By year six of this fiscal plan for the annexation, the costs and the revenue will be about even for this project,” Shrader said.
“The bulk of the capital investment and costs all happen in the first year, and then in the following years you have noncapital costs for maintenance, road needs and other expected expense.”
Following the unanimous approval of the resolution, the council also unanimously passed the first reading of Ordinance 26-2022 to begin the annexation timeline.