September City Council Updates
September City Council Updates
A newsletter updating you on what’s happening in Noblesville
My Contact Info:
317-445-1045
awsmith@noblesville.in.us
Good to see your inbox, —
Off the top, I have a few quick punch list items for you:
Since my last email, Council met three times (August 23rd, September 13th, and September 27th). You can click the dates to see the agendas for those meetings.
Over the last few weeks, Council's main priority has been working through each department's proposed budget for 2023. I dive into that more below.
We've also considered:
Let's Dive In. The Budget.
Timeline
The proposed budget has followed this approximate timeline:
August: City Council budget preview
September: Budget submitted to Finance Committee & introduced to Council
October: Council votes on final budget
My Priorities
While each Council member approaches the budgeting process differently, I look to the City's budget to:
be fiscally responsible. Budgets are in place to ensure spending aligns with goals while keeping proper cash reserves. The State of Indiana recommends that cities target 12% of their annual revenue for cash reserves — we have increased that to a minimum of 15%. This is always important, but especially during periods of economic unknowns.
serve as a 30,000 ft. guide to the next year. Departments are instructed to include both staffing & project goals in their presentations. This is the best opportunity to make strategic department decisions.
align with the future goals of Noblesville. Just like my own business, our city's budgeting priorities must reflect the direction we'd like Noblesville to go.
Projects Included
This week, the Administration introduced the budget to council. Here's what you should know:
This budget maintains our tax rate we have established in previous years.
The budget increases are largely personnel-based. New positions, COLA adjustments, and expenses related to inflations are the largest factors.
Of the priorities laid out in the introduced budget, two I wanted to draw your attention to:
The Old Town Sidewalk Program: This is the second year of this pilot program that I'm particularly proud we've been working to consistently fund in the budget. Last year, we piloted a program with $250,000 to "grade" all sidewalks in Old Town, identify "gaps" where sidewalks don't currently exist, and replace sections systematically based on need.
Just this month, sidewalks on Division and in a section of South Old Town (south of Pleasant, east of 10th, and north of Greenfield) will be replaced with dollars budgeted last year, for this year.
This budget increases this funding to $300,000 next year.
Funds dedicated to Olio & Boden Roads: While this isn't in my district, this is important. The most consistent area of feedback I hear is that the City is doing lots of infrastructure improvements at the same time developments are coming out of the ground. I hear that and agree that it's not ideal to have to do both at the same time.
The area east of Boden is the next area of Noblesville I believe will see growth. To be good stewards of our resources, it's important that this funding is in place to complete infrastructure work (expanding roads and intersections) prior to new developments and residents.
Other projects included in the introduced budget include:
Primary engineering for emerging road needs
Interim roadway widening dollars at SR-37/Greenfield & SR-37/Pleasant intersections
Little Chicago Road Pedestrian Bridge over Morse
Roundabout Contributions (Intersections of SR-32 & River Road, SR-32 & SR-38, roundabouts on SR-38, and 141st & Promise)
Public Safety Building (ongoing design)
Nickel Plate Trail Aesthetics/Amenities Plan
Greenfield & 10th Roundabout Updates
Visitor Center Structural Repairs
Innovation Mile — Phase II Infrastructure Investment
Parking Garage Maintenance
Community Crossing Match (street rehabilitation)
Surface Transportation Rehab Program
Downtown Signals (partnership with INDOT)
Dog Park/Playground/Trailhead with Pleasant Street
Forest Park to Federal Hill Traill P.E.
Watch
If you're really eager to see democracy in action, click the link below to watch the budget introduction from this week's meeting.
Now, the budget will move to Council for a vote next month. Have questions on the budget or the process? Let me know.
Parker Mortgage Panel: What's Up Downtown
A few weeks ago, I sat on a panel with Chris Jensen, Kurt Meyer, and a few other downtown stakeholders to talk about downtown Noblesville. We talked about development, traffic, and ways we're looking to keep the authentic charm everyone loves in Noblesville.
If you weren't able to catch it live, click here or on the photo below!
Infrastructure Update: SR-32/SR-38 Roundabout Construction
As many of you are well aware by now, the roundabouts on SR-32 (both at the intersections of SR-38/SR-32 and SR-32/River Road are well underway). This is a joint project with INDOT aimed to ease long-term traffic congestion along the corridor.
Here's an update from the construction so far:
The south portion of the roundabout at SR-32/SR-38 is completed.
They closed the north leg of the roundabout on September 6th for 55 days. In the meantime, traffic will be routed through the south leg during the north closure. When the north leg is complete, the roundabout will be opened.
Construction of the SR32/River Road roundabout is expected to be complete in July 2023
Noblesville "In the News"
Here are a few stories you may have missed on Noblesville over the past month:
Fox59: First BJ’s Wholesale Club in Indiana coming to Noblesville
Hamilton County Reporter: Noblesville’s new Barnes & Noble is now open
Fox59: Noble Coffee & Tea shows us how to make fall pumpkin drinks at home
Hamilton County Reporter: 360-degree cameras on nearly all Noblesville school buses will help catch stop-arm violations
IndyStar: 5 Indianapolis suburbs among Top 25 'best' in nation, study says. No. 1 might surprise you