City-County Council Addresses COVID-19

The full Indianapolis City-County Council met Monday night, with limited attendance from the public and media.  Much of the discussion focused on the impact of the novel coronavirus.

The council heard from leaders in the city’s health, business, nonprofit and education agencies.  They provided updates on what they are doing to address the spread of the virus and its impact.

Marion County Public Health Department Director Virginia Caine says council guidance may be needed in the coming weeks.

"What are policies that we can ask the state or the federal government to waive that may help provide needed assistance," says Caine. 

Second Helpings CEO Jennifer Vigran says nonprofit food organizations are already feeling the pinch and will need assistance and flexibility.

"The availability of those resources is changing literally by the hour, as those individual pantries --  there are more than 200 pantries in our city -- as each of those makes decisions about their operations," says Vigran. 

The council adopted a special resolution to support local efforts in response to COVID-19.  It includes a continuance for cases related to evictions. Councilmember Zach Adamson (D-17) says this is important right now. 

"Those hardest hit neighbors are also in many instances our neighbors most likely to live in rental housing," says Adamson. 

The council also voted to extend Mayor Joe Hogsett’s executive order declaring a local emergency until April 5. 

It also passed earlier proposals to fund and address crime prevention.