Zionsville Matters-October/November 2021

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MATTERS A T OW N OF ZIONS V IL L E P UBL IC AT ION

YOUR FIRST PREVIEW OF

WINTERFEST 2021

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2021-10-25 2:35 PM

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR 2022 BUDGET

ZIONSVILLE

This is our second annual budget process working together with Zionsville Town Council. Thank you for the time many of the Town Council members have made to attend our earlier budget workshops. The feedback we received has been very helpful. During the October 18, 2021 Town Council meeting, Town Council adopted the 2022 budget for the Town of Zionsville.

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believe this year we are all more familiar with the differences found between local government budget management and private business. There are similarities and best practices that town officials can draw from, but it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison.

Unlike a business whose goal is to generate profit and create shareholder value, local governments are charged with providing and maintaining public infrastructure, public safety, parks and recreation

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services and amenities, planning services and community and economic development activities (to name a few).

Corporations and small businesses ONLY succeed when they generate a profit. In local government, a balanced budget is achieved when total expected revenues are equal to total expenditures. However, excess revenue and underspent budgets can accrue over time in different funds. When these fund balances reach a designated threshold, they may be earmarked for specific uses, such as capital expenditures for public safety equipment and vehicles.

Not all of our divisions or departments generate revenue or user fees, but they do have a vital role in supporting the overall operations of our Town (e.g., IT, communications and human resources). Most of our departments rely to some degree on property tax income to support their efforts. Not even town court operates exclusively on the fees they generate.

When I proposed the 2021 budget, I shared with you that we had healthy fund balances that could be allocated towards future capital projects.

These were planned projects and the money was intentionally saved for those specific purposes.

Rather than appropriating fund balance through the normal annual budget process, this council preferred approving an operating budget that could be funded fully through incoming revenue sources and advised that capital projects would be reviewed through additional appropriations requests in the following year. Therefore, you will find a similar approach presented to you today.

We proposed a balanced operational budget that invests in our workforce. Our 2022 revenues are projected to increase approximately 2%. This increase is lower than what we have seen in previous years.

Zionsville, like other communities across Indiana, is expected to see reduced local income tax distributions compared to previous years. The Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) projects this revenue source will be lower than in past years due to the impact of COVID. Local income taxes are our second-highest revenue source; therefore, we proposed a conservative approach to our 2022 budgets.

I am pleased to share with you a balanced budget in that the incoming revenue is slightly higher than the proposed expenditures.

• 2022 proposed revenue budget: $32,587,219 • 2022 proposed expenditure budget: $32,570,253 Given the information we have today, this 2022 budget is restrained to 2% growth over the current year’s budget. We propose to invest this growth in

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our workforce. The budget offers an across-theboard 4% payroll increase for our employees. The remaining 2022 budget lines will remain at or below the 2021 levels.

This budget will allow residents to continue to enjoy current-day service levels. Since the start of my administration, we have worked to modernize our processes and tools across all our departments.

This includes policy setting and long-term planning initiatives as well. Three upcoming financial projects we are working on:

1.

Establish a Finance Committee. The Finance Committee will review, update and create financial policies and will explore opportunities for additional revenue generation.

This five-person team will include me, Deputy Mayor Julie Johns-Cole, Town Councilor Bryan Traylor, CFO Tammy Havard, Zionsville community member and STAR Bank Retail Banking Area Manager Amanda Rubeck and the town’s financial consultant.

MESSAGE 2.

FROM THE 3.

MAYOR

Update our cash reserve policy. We will set a minimum balance for major funds and review/update the current disbursement threshold.

Sustainability planning. Create an expense/revenue forecast that anticipates trends beyond 18 months and a five-year capital improvement plan for each department.

Mayor Emily Styron

TOWN HALL QUICK HITS What You Need to Know This Month

Do you know a Zionsville resident who goes above and beyond to make our town a great place to live, learn, work and play? Nominate your neighbors to be recognized by Mayor Emily Styron for “Good of the Town” at www.zionsville-in.gov/good.

WELCOME TO THE SEASON OF CLEANING UP AFTER ALL THOSE BEAUTIFUL TREES

CURBSIDE PICKUP FOR FALL LEAVES Our Street Department crews drive leaf vacuum trucks through town in the fall.

Just follow these simple steps to help keep them moving efficiently: Please move your leaves into long narrow piles right up against the curb. The vacuum’s hose won’t reach farther into your yard.

LEAVES ONLY. Remove all sticks, pine cones, gravel, etc. that could clog things up.

Park your vehicles off the street, if possible, so the trucks can get to the curbs easily and clear more yards faster.

This service runs throughout the fall so you don’t have to wait and prep all at once. There is no designated pickup day or regular schedule for your neighborhood.

REMEMBER: BURNING LEAVES IS ILLEGAL IN ZIONSVILLE. WE WILL RECYCLE THEM FOR YOU.

Zionsville non-profits, businesses, organizations and residents may reserve a meeting room at Town Hall for no cost. To reserve a room, visit www.zionsville-in.gov/meetingroom.

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A reminder from the Zionsville Fire Department: Cooler months mean this is a good time to service heaters and chimneys by professionals. Your chimney should be cleaned and inspected at least once a year.

The Town of Zionsville is proud to be named Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (AIM) 2021 Green Project of the Year winner. Zionsville was named the the Green Project of the Year award for numerous green and sustainable initiatives.

ZIONSVILLE

Fall is here! DPW provides curbside leaf collection for residents in the urban service district through December 3 (weather permitting). This could be extended to mid-December if necessary and weather permits.

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Northern Big-4 Rail Trail extension to Whitestown coming 2022

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@zionsvilleparksrecreation

Zionsville has more parkland per capita than nearly any other town its size in Indiana.

We take pride in providing the best park experience to visitors while promoting conservation and healthy ecosystems.

Zionsville Parks and Recreation combines an impressive 500 acres of parkland and 20 miles of trails in an expansive network of parks and open spaces. Our recreational and special event opportunities are geared toward every walk of life. The nearly 4-mile paved Big-4 Rail Trail connects walkers, runners and cyclists from the northern most point of Zionsville through the heart of town and into our downtown.

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Seven parks are connected to Eagle Creek, the main drinking water source for Zionsville. The creek provides scenic and recreational and assets to the community — canoeing, kayaking, fly fishing and more.

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Your First Preview of

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Zionsville Winterfest 2021

The town of Zionsville and the Parks & Rec Department are thrilled to announce plans for the inaugural Winterfest 2021 at Mulberry Fields Park. The Zionsville Town Council approved a $145,000 additional appropriation from the parks department’s nonreverting operating fund to cover expenses for the ice rink that will be provided and managed by Ice-America. As the revenue that is generated from the operation of the ice rink comes in, the parks department’s fund will be reimbursed.

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What Is Winterfest?

arod Logsdon, the town’s superintendent of parks and recreation, shared many details about the planning for the town’s inaugural Winterfest and what people can expect to see and do.

Logsdon shared that the ice rink will be in operation beginning Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, until Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022.

“There will be programming all month long that will keep people coming back throughout Winter-

fest,” Logsdon stated. “And we will only be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We invite the community to come, lace up and enjoy skating on a full-size, REAL ice rink that will be equipped with lights, sound and entertainment.”

According to Logsdon, the ice rink will be able to operate with temperatures as low as minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit and into the 40s–50s.

“The wind is the biggest factor whether the ice will be able to stay frozen,” Logsdon explained. “The wind evaporates the surface the quickest. We are

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optimistic and invite ALL of the snow that wants to happen throughout December.”

Ice-America will provide and operate a Zamboni that was designed for this size of ice rink, which will come out every 90 minutes to resurface the ice.

“The ice rink is the crown jewel, but it is definitely not the entire event,” Logsdon stated. “We will have some lighting displays for the atmosphere, and we will have food trucks on site to provide refreshments. There will be a stage where we will have community groups performing for the public, and Santa Claus is going to swing by a couple of times.

We will have live reindeer—from White Tail Acres— and will be utilizing that open space and the shelters at Mulberry Fields Park. This [event] is much larger than just the ice-skating rink. We’re hoping to create a new tradition in Zionsville.”

Skate Rentals

Winterfest Programming Zionsville Director of Recreation Services Mindy Murdock shared some of the exciting programming that will be a significant part of the inaugural Winterfest experience in Zionsville.

“Realizing that this is the first year [of Winterfest], we will have some limitations on what we can do, but we are building a base that we can build, adapt and grow on going forward,” Murdock shared. “Our goal is to create a backbone of programs. Throughout the entirety of Winterfest, we’re going to have a lot of drop-in and pop-up programs including ‘Make and Take’ opportunities where kids and families can stop in and our staff will help them create an ornament or card or something for them to take home.”

Don’t fret—the creativity is not just for the kids!

Murdock added, “We’re also going to have adult programming where the adults can make swags from holiday greens and things that are more focused towards adults because we want everyone to enjoy themselves.”

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Zionsville Middle School

There will be visits with Santa Claus at Winterfest, including a visit with Claus and the Zionsville Fire Department before they cruise the neighborhoods of Zionsville.

There will be some fee-based programming to offset the costs of creating these exciting, inclusive experiences, such as a day at Winterfest with Disney’s Frozen princesses Elsa and Anna. Murdock also shared that Indy Fuel’s mascot Nitro will also pay Winterfest a visit during winter break (fees, dates and times to be determined).

Additionally, there will be “themed” skate nights on Friday and Saturday nights such as “Ugly Sweater” night and “Halloween,” where skaters will be encouraged to wear their favorite Halloween costumes that are conducive for skating, of course. And the nature center is planning to host its annual “Noon Year’s Eve” at Winterfest this year since the library— where the nature center is currently housed—will be closed in observance of the holiday.

Where to Go for Winterfest Information Dates, hours of operation and program details will be posted at www.zionsville-in.gov/winterfest.

“The grand opening of Winterfest will be Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, at 4 p.m.,” Logsdon said. “We’ll have a variety of programs that day, and the first full day of skating will take place Saturday, Dec. 11, from noon until 9:30 p.m. We will have limited hours while schools are in session, but once winter break starts, we’ll be open for skating most of the day, each day.”

ZIONSVILLE

Folks can bring their own skates or can rent skates from Ice-America. Attendees should plan ahead as Winterfest tickets will only be available on-site— there won’t be any preregistered ticketing available.

Costs include $12 for admission onto the ice and $2 for skate rentals. For those who can’t get enough skating, there will be a limited number of season passes before the event. Season passes will be $129 and include skate rental and admission to the ice during open skate times. Season pass holders will still need to check in with the ticket booth each visit.

There will be a limited number of skate aids for novice ice skaters to ensure that everyone of all ages has an enjoyable experience on the ice.

2021-10-27 5:13 PM

Board/Committee/ Commission Spotlight:

Zionsville Plan Commission

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he primary responsibility of the Plan Commission is to develop and recommend to the legislative body a plan for the future of the community, with their focus being establishing quality development and quality of life for Zionsville. The Plan Commission has an integral role in implementing the town’s adopted rules and regulations articulating what must be done to develop or build within Zionsville consistent with the desired look, feel and best interest of Zionsville.

Under Indiana law, plan commissions are responsible for the following: • Preparing a comprehensive plan; • Preparing a zoning ordinance and a subdivision control ordinance;

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• Making recommendations to the legislative body on proposals to amend the text of the zoning ordinance or subdivision control ordinance; • Making recommendations to the legislative body on proposals to amend the zoning map (rezoning); • Approving or denying proposals to subdivide land, based upon compliance with the subdivision control ordinance; • Approving or denying development plans and • Assigning street addresses.

Based on the town’s Reorganizational Plan of 2008, the commission is comprised of seven members. Four members are appointed by the mayor, and three members are appointed by Town Council.

Four members must be from the rural district, and three members must be from the urban district.

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MEMBERS • • • • • • •

David Franz, president Josh Fedor, vice president Mary Grabianowski Larry Jones Chris Lake Cindy Madrick Sharon Walker

Recent Actions Favorable recommendation to Town Council of Pulte Homes of Indiana Goodwin Properties rezone: The Plan Commission voted 7 in favor and 0 opposed to rezone 68 acres on the northwest corner of CR 400 and CR 875 E. The rezone is from the Rural (R1) Low Density Single Family Residential Zoning District to a Rural (R2) Low Density Single Family and Two-Family Residential Zoning District.

There is planned to be 106 single-family dwelling units.

This project went before the Zionsville Town Council in early October as Ordinance 2021-10 and was adopted 6 in favor and 1 opposed.

Approval of construction of Holliday Farms Clubhouse: The Plan Commission voted 7 in favor and 0 opposed to construction of a two-and-onehalf story clubhouse in the rural planned unit development district for Holliday Farms. The project’s developer is Westfield-based Henke Development Group.

The approximately 78,000-square-foot clubhouse will feature a cafe, restaurant, banquet room, golf pro shop, golf locker rooms, golf simulator lounge and other amenities on 8.59 acres at 3950 Club Ridge Estates.

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