City-County Council Meets For Last Time In 2020

The Indianapolis City-County Council held its monthly meeting Monday night, the last full meeting of 2020. 

The council did not vote on a proposal to paint a street mural in support of police and instead moved it to this week’s Public Safety Committee for further discussion.

The council did finalize appointments to the new Indianapolis Commission on African American Males. Additional funding was also approved for the Marion County Coroner’s Office, due to an increase in deaths related to both the pandemic and the spike in homicides.

The council also voted, along party lines, to make Juneteenth and Indigenous Peoples’ Day holiday for city-county employees.

Councilor Jared Evans said he was surprised by the push back from Republican members.

"Juneteenth should be a day that we celebrate in this country just like July 4th," Evans said. 

Republicans said the proposal should have gone through committee for further consideration.

Final votes were passed for economic development projects in Lafayette Square’s International Marketplace and an affordable housing project on the Eastside.

Councilor LaKeisha Jackson says the Peppermill Farms Apartment renovation is much needed on the Eastside. 

"It will provide an opportunity to keep 160 families in affordable, decent and safe housing," Jackson said.