Gary officials will tackle zoning changes, paid parking at the lakefront, and long-planned park upgrades during meetings throughout July. The city’s infrastructure remains a focus as officials advance upgrades to pump stations and other critical systems.
The Common Council’s first meeting of July will be held at the Gary Public Library on Fifth Avenue, temporarily moving from City Hall. The agenda includes three ordinances sponsored by the City of Gary Zoning Department. First will be a land usage amendment for a combination of two parcels of land on the 17th block of Waite Street. The Gary Plan Commission voted 5-0 in favor of the preliminary change.
The council is also expected to vote on special permits for two auto dealerships at 3930 W. Fifth Ave. and 4900 W. Fifth Ave.
The Board of Parks Commissioners recently announced that beachgoers and drivers will soon have to pay to park at Marquette Beach using ParkMobile meters, which is a shift from the traditional practice of using attendants to collect parking fees by hand.
According to city Parks Director Mattiee Fitzgerald, the city has hired an additional six employees to attend to and enforce the new parking regulations.
“It will bring revenue to our city that is much needed, and this is something we’ve worked hard to implement on the beachfront,” Fitzgerald said about the change.
In addition, a proposal was made for improvements at Reese Park, located northeast of Methodist Hospital, near Fifth Avenue. City Chief of Staff Ellis Dumas presented to the parks commissioners a plan that involves renaming the park after Pastor Keion Henderson, a Gary native who plans to make an initial $100,000 investment into the park for resurfacing sidewalks, landscaping and lighting.
The Gary Sanitary District is expected to hear updates this month on the 27th and Chase Street Mobilization project, which will make improvements to the 6,000-foot main at the Chase Street pump station.
The city is working to keep the 27th and Chase Pump Station running smoothly to avoid potential failures in the aging force main. This effort is also key to making sure the station has the pumping power needed to support Gary’s long-term plan for managing wastewater and protecting public health.
Here’s a look at some key government meetings scheduled this month:
Meeting Calendar
Gary Common Council
Date: Tuesday, July 1 and 15
Location: City Hall, 401 Broadway (July 1 meeting will be held at the Gary Public Library)
Time: 6 p.m. CST
Contact: (219) 881-1315
* Biweekly on the first and third Tuesdays of each month
* Broadcast on Facebook Live
Parks and Recreation
Date: Tuesday, July 8 and 22
Location: Hudson-Campbell, 455 Massachusetts St.
Time: 10 a.m. CST
Contact: (219) 886-7099 ext. 36900
* Meetings are held at 10 a.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month
Board of Public Works and Safety
Date: Wednesday, July 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30
Location: City Hall, 401 Broadway, in the Cleo Wesson Lounge on the second floor
Time: 2 p.m. CST
Contact: (219) 881-1310
* Weekly on Wednesday
*Residents can join live on Facebook or on Zoom
Board of Zoning Appeals
Date: Thursday, July 10
Location: City Hall, 401 Broadway
Time: 3 p.m. CST
Contact: (219) 881-1300
* Monthly on Thursday of the second week
*Broadcast on Facebook Live
GCSC School Board Meeting
Date: Thursday, July 10
Location: Gary Area Career Center, 1800 E. 35th Ave.
Time: 4:30 p.m. CST
Contact: (219) 881-5466
*Broadcast on Facebook Live
Gary Redevelopment Commission
Date: Wednesday, July 16
Location: City Hall, 401 Broadway
Time: 4 p.m. CST
Contact: (219) 886-1531
* Monthly on Wednesday of the third week
Gary Plan Commission
Date: Thursday, July 17
Location: City Hall, 401 Broadway
Time: 3 p.m. CST
Contact: (219) 886-1531 (Residents are encouraged to call before attending to ensure meeting isn’t canceled)
* Monthly on Thursday of the third week
Gary Housing Authority
Date: Thursday, July 17
Location: Second floor of the Gary Housing Authority Central Office, 578 Broadway
Time: 6 p.m. CST
Contact: (219) 881-6400
Lake County Council Regular Meeting
Date: Tuesday, July 8
Location: 2293 N. Main St., Commissioners’ Court Room/Council Chamber, 3rd Floor, Building A
Time: 10 a.m.
Contact: (219) 755-3280
Gary Sanitation District/Gary Stormwater Management Meeting
Date: Friday, July 18
Location: 3600 West Third Ave.
Time: Noon
Contact: (219) 944-0595, x1816
What meetings are you looking forward to this month? See anything missing that we should have highlighted? Email Capital B Gary’s Government and Politics Reporter Calvin Davis at calvin.davis@capitalbnews.org.
