Pleasant Run Beautification Event

The next Pleasant Run Beautification event will take place Saturday May 1st from 9:00 to 11:00. We are doing this one in conjunction with the White River Clean-up. If you can help out, please sign up at http://www.friendsofwhiteriver.org/. When you sign up, put "Pleasant Run" in the comment field. By signing up, you get a free T-shirt, a Chipotle card for a free burrito, and a free lunch at 11:00. And of course you get the satisfaction of knowing you made Pleasant Run all the more pleasant. To meet for the event, just come to the interstate underpass at Shelby and Pleasant Run at 9:00. See you there!

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS COMPETE FOR "BEST TASTING LEMONADE" TITLE

Join local inventor and entrepreneur Scott Jones, WISH-TV Anchor Karen Hensel and WIBC Morning News Hosts Terri Stacy and Joe Staysniak as they kick off the first of three contests for Lemonade Day: The Best Tasting Lemonade Contest. A project of the Think Forward Foundation, Lemonade Day Indianapolis is a free, citywide initiative designed to teach kids how to start, own and operate their own business - a lemonade stand.

On the afternoon of April 25th at Broad Ripple Park, more than 25 kids will compete for the Best Tasting Lemonade title. Indianapolis-Area youth will bring their lemonade stands, enough lemonade for the judges and will go head-to-head in a lemonade taste-off with the winner being awarded a new iPad. The event is open to the public, rain or shine. Then, on May 2nd, Lemonade Day, the contestants will join more than 5,000 other Indianapolis-Area youth in setting up their lemonade stands around the City and becoming lemonade tycoons! Kids can still register at Broad Ripple Park that day or at the College Avenue Branch of the Marion County Public Library. For more information or to sign up, visit www.lemonadeday.org and click on Indianapolis.

Mayor Announces Indianapolis Will Receive $10 Million for Energy Retrofits

Mayor Greg Ballard today announced that Indianapolis will receive $10 million in Recovery Act funding to “ramp-up” energy efficiency building retrofits on the City’s Near Eastside. Indianapolis is one of 25 cities selected to receive up to $452 million in funding as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Retrofit Ramp-Up initiative.

“The energy efficiency building retrofits will provide support for our continued investment in urban infrastructure to create a more sustainable city for generations to come,” Mayor Ballard said. “We thank the Department of Energy for acknowledging our steps to make city government more energy efficient, in turn serving as an example for all Indianapolis residents and business owners. Expected results of this project are lower energy bills for participants, economic recovery and job creation.”

The Indianapolis Retrofit Ramp-up Project aims to create sustainable neighborhood-scale energy efficiency pilot projects in a 470-square-block Near-Eastside neighborhood. The program will transform the area to a more energy efficient and economically sustainable community by retrofitting a diverse range of buildings including residential, industrial and commercial units, schools and nonprofits. The project will provide for investments in energy efficiency education, outreach and program delivery.

The retrofit programs developed will serve as a model for energy efficiency neighborhoods across the country. The Department of Energy will observe the Indianapolis retrofit and other pilot programs to develop best-practice guides to comprehensive retrofit programs that can be adopted and implemented by communities across the country. City of Indianapolis Office of Sustainability staff will work with Department of Energy officials to finalize project details.

Examples of energy efficiency upgrades include insulation, window replacements, energy efficiency appliances and lighting. Installation of low-flow water fixtures such as faucets and shower heads are included. The Retrofit Ramp-up Project is expected to begin in the fall of 2010.

The city of Lafayette partnered with Indianapolis on the application, demonstrating regional cooperation on energy efficiency.

To learn more about Mayor Ballard’s vision of making Indianapolis one of the most sustainable cities in the Midwest, visit www.sustainindy.org.

Mayor Ballard, Public Safety Officials Detail Crime Fighting Efforts

Chief of Police Announces Early Morning Warrant Sweep; Public Safety Director Discusses Strategies to Keep our Neighborhoods Safe

Mayor Greg Ballard, Public Safety Director Frank Straub, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Chief Paul Ciesielski and neighborhood and community leaders gathered today to announce an early-morning warrant sweep and street-focused strategies to fighting crime.

Compared to 2009, crime in Indianapolis is down three percent—with some categories, including armed robberies and car jackings, down double-digits.

“As long as I am Mayor, we will not waver in our fight against crime,” declared Mayor Ballard. “We owe the citizens of Indianapolis nothing less. But our fight needs your vigor and your vigilance. We must have the energetic and courageous support and assistance of the people of Indianapolis.”

While one of the purposes of the news conference was to inform the public about a warrant sweep conducted in the early hours before the news conference, Director Straub addressed the broader issue of public safety in Indianapolis.

“The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is committed to a policing paradigm that will fight crime and violence on all fronts,” said Director Straub. “We will relentlessly pursue habitual offenders, their illegal activities, and restore safety to challenged neighborhoods. At the same time, we will partner with the community, ministers, schools, public health and other officials to address the underlying causes of crime and violence.”

IMPD Chief Ciesielski spoke directly about the need for the warrant sweep:

"Today's city-wide sweep symbolizes the kick off of a renewed effort to reduce crime in this city. The police department will not only intensify its enforcement, but its commitment to working with the community. We need everyone to get involved to make a difference."

Mayor Ballard also mentioned the community crime prevention grants that have been issued the past two years, and his belief that these grants have a positive effect on crime and the youth of Indianapolis. Community leaders Reverend Charles Harrison of the Ten Point Coalition and Reverend Melvin Jackson of Westside Ministries attended the news conference as well.

“We will continue to work with neighborhood leaders. We will continue to use the community crime prevention grants to attack problems such as domestic violence and to foster an atmosphere of peace and cooperation with our public safety officers,” stated Mayor Ballard.

Mayor Ballard Addresses Utility Transfer Benefits in Response to Council Questions

Dialogue with Community to Continue at Public Forum Tuesday Evening

Mayor Greg Ballard and Citizens Energy Group responded to questions posed by City-County Council President Ryan Vaughn regarding the proposed transfer of the City’s water and wastewater systems to Citizens. The report submitted to President Vaughn details how the transfer will provide more predictable utility rates while helping the City fix crumbling streets, bridges and sidewalks. The report can be found on the utilities Web site, www.indy.gov/utilities.

“I thank President Vaughn for starting the Council review process with thoughtful questions regarding the transfer of the water and wastewater utilities to Citizens,” said Mayor Ballard. “In addition to President Vaughn’s questions, we have received numerous helpful questions regarding the utility transfer in our public forums and meetings with other community stakeholders. Answering these questions, and taking people’s good ideas and concerns into account, is an important part of the process of ensuring we structure a final utility transfer agreement maximizing benefits to utility ratepayers and the Indianapolis community.”

The questions issued by President Vaughn mark the beginning of the Council’s formal review. Councillors will analyze the proposed transfer and are formally charged with approving the transfer. If approved by the Council, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission then will review the proposal through its public process. Before being considered by the full Council, the Mayor’s Office and Citizens will complete briefings to Council committees. Council briefings include:

April 21 at 5:30 p.m.: Economic Development Committee

April 22 at 5:30 p.m.: Public Works Committee

April 27 at 5:30 p.m.: Administration and Finance Committee

May 3 at 5:30 p.m.: Rules Committee

May 11 at 5:30 p.m.: Rules Committee

“During the public forums on the utility transfer and our Mayor’s Night Out meetings, the people of Indianapolis have made it clear that our city’s infrastructure problems must be addressed and utility rates must be predictable. The utility transfer is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address both of these critical issues,” said Mayor Ballard.

As the proposal moves to the Council review, Mayor Ballard and Citizens continue to listen to suggestions provided by residents, community leaders and business owners that will help shape the final transfer agreement. Residents will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback at the next public forum scheduled for 5 p.m. April 20 at Lynhurst 7^th and 8^th Grade Center, 2805 South Lynhurst Drive.

The report issued today details how Citizens will reduce future water and wastewater rate increases by about 25 percent by 2025 compared to any other option available to the City. Water and wastewater rates will be going up in the coming years due to necessary system improvements, including a consent decree with the Environmental Protection Agency requiring construction of a combined sewer overflow project to prevent raw sewage overflows into area waterways.

Citizens will reduce future rate increases through the annual savings available through the utility transfer. These savings will be achieved through efficiencies gained by combining the water and wastewater utilities with Citizens’ gas, steam and chilled water systems, value engineering and a more efficient capital structure

“Independent organizations, including J.D. Power & Associates, confirm Citizens’ customers are pleased with the value being delivered by our well-maintained utility systems,” said Carey Lykins, President and CEO of Citizens Energy Group. “We are eager to further define how bringing the water and wastewater utilities into the public charitable trust will deliver savings for customers as we embark on important system improvements that will ensure safe, reliable drinking water and cleaner rivers and streams.”

Citizens is already working with the water and wastewater system operators, Veolia Water and United Water, to identify the most efficient and effective ways to operate the systems. Citizens expects Veolia and United to have significant roles in the operations of the systems.

On March 10, 2010, Mayor Ballard signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to transfer the City’s water and wastewater utilities to Citizens, a public charitable trust operating like a not-for-profit for community benefit.

More information about the utility transfers and the schedule for public meetings is available at www.indy.gov/utilities or by calling 317-327-4MAC.

SE Library Strategy Meeting for Tuesday, April 20th at 5:30 p.m. at 901 Shelby

Neighbors,

LISC gathered a group of leaders from the six neighborhoods impacted by the announced plan to close six public libraries, of which Fountain Square would be one. This was a very healthy and productive discussion and I wanted to share the major points.

First, we discussed what was happening in each neighborhood and discovered we are all engaged and energizing our folks very quickly. Many of us are planning to attend the Library Board of Trustees Meeting today at 3 p.m. at the Library Services Center at 2400 N. Meridian.

Second, we agreed that the Library Board and Staff is not the enemy. They do not want to close libraries, but are forced to by the present financial environment. However, we also agreed that the present cuts are being made on the backs of the poorest neighborhoods with the poorest residents and that this is not acceptable.

Third, we agreed on the following message:

- Ask the Library Board to hold off on making a decision so city leaders can develop other options.
- Emphasize how critical our libraries are to the vitality and life of our neighborhoods.
- Point out that the present cuts are not equitable, largely impacting the most in need of these services. Ask the library to evenly spread the pain of these cuts across the city.
- The closing of libraries isn't a neighborhood issue; it is a city issue.

Finally, we adopted the following next steps:

- Energize people to attend the public forums on May 10th and 12th.
- Collect a group of experts to examine taxing options.
- Collect marketing experts to create a unified message and campaign.
- Seek gap funding to assist the Library until systemic change can happen.
- Organize neighborhoods and involve them in the strategy.
- Ask Library leaders to help inform our strategy.

With this in mind, we are scheduling a SE Library Strategy Meeting for Tuesday, April 20th at 5:30 p.m. at 901 Shelby. At this meeting, we'll share additional information and develop our own plan for participating in these efforts.

Thanks,

Jim Mulholland
SEND Community Building Coordinator

MAYOR TO LAUNCH AIR QUALITY EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE “AIR SCHMAIR” TEACHES CHILDREN, PARENTS ABOUT REDUCING AIR POLLUTION

Mayor Greg Ballard today will introduce to schoolchildren throughout Marion County an educational initiative aimed at improving air quality in the City of Indianapolis. “Air Schmair,” a children’s book created and published by the City’s Knozone program, encourages children and their parents to focus on sustainability and contribute to creating a cleaner, healthier environment by recycling; walking or riding bikes to close destinations rather than driving; carpooling; and turning off lights when rooms are not in use.

As part of Brightpoint’s Bright Green Earth Week, Brightpoint Americas President J. Mark Howell and employee volunteers will hand deliver books to students at The Project School as Mayor Ballard reads aloud “Air Schmair.” Brightpoint employees also will deliver copies to schools, Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library branches and nonprofit organizations according to a distribution plan created by the City.