ELEVATE CARMEL

Thanks to decades of strong Republican leadership, Carmel has been recognized as the best place to live, work, raise a family and retire. Our community’s future requires a leader with a strong commitment to excellence and the experience to develop, inspire and support a team capable of executing a comprehensive plan.

My vision for Carmel becoming the best-run city in America resonates with our residents, business owners and visitors. We have had conversations for months about Carmel’s future and a new administration delivering on:

• World-class public safety
• Increased community engagement
• Robust economic development
• Data-driven, transparent operations
• Fiscal discipline
• Strong neighborhoods and schools
• Senior living

To expand on those themes and provide a glimpse into how I will lead once elected, I am presenting to you this Elevate Carmel Vision Plan. I cannot wait for the opportunity to be this community’s next visionary leader and work alongside you to take our community even higher.

I will instill a spirit of performance, communication and cooperation from Day One. I’ll use data, invest in people and deliver exceptional services to ensure we have a safe, secure community to protect our quality of life.

• Establish a Mayor’s Advisory Council on Public Safety with intergovernmental involvement.

• Provide public safety team members with exceptional training, equipment and supplies to provide a high level of service to the community while keeping public safety personnel safe.

• Amplify recruitment efforts to boost candidate sourcing and fill our talent pipelines with dedicated, community-oriented public safety prospects.

• Establish a workforce development program to recruit area personnel to apply for fire/EMS and police jobs.

• Ensure school resource officers have the tools and training they need to maximize the value delivered to the school district employees, students and families.

• Develop a plan to add a seventh fire station to ensure response times remain within an acceptable range.

• Increase the number Mental Health Resource Officers and/or have officers obtain mental health training certifications.

Carmel’s next chapter will be built upon fiscal discipline. As mayor, I will budget responsibly to prioritize essential services, support our outstanding quality of life and amenities, keep property taxes in check and better prepare us for the future.

• Complete a comprehensive independent financial audit of all city-related entities and investments to identify ways in which we can operate more efficiently and effectively for our stakeholders while providing outstanding city services.



• Commit to a fiscal plan that specifies the actions necessary to improve the financial position of our city, including debt reduction and revenue and expense projections to identify potential imbalances.

• Create options for fiscal flexibility in case revenues or expenses are impacted by circumstances outside of our control.

• Institute zero-based budgeting for my first year in office to reset the budgeting process.

• Develop a clear understanding of our short- and long-term expenses, including maintenance needs not currently quantified.

• Build a long-term plan for the sustainable operation of city utilities with competitive fees.

We have an amazing community, but together, we can do more. I will ensure we will serve as a model of how a city can use community input to unite and thrive.

• Launch a comprehensive survey to provide every Carmel resident and team member with a voice in our city’s future.

• Use survey data to inform the city’s first community-endorsed strategic plan.

• Put action plans and scorecards online for residents to engage in the city’s progress.

• Provide residents with more opportunities to participate in city activities, including serving on newly formed committees regarding transportation, arts, financial investment and more.

• Reinvent the Mayor’s Youth Council to involve students in the development of legislation, budgets and projects.

• Pursue funding and development of an international center that will enhance economic development and appreciation for our vibrant cultures and backgrounds.

• Implement an easy-to-use system for residents to report non-emergency concerns that will improve accountability and follow-through in resolving issues.

Carmel’s livability and favorable business environment have made our community a destination for families from around the world. I will ensure Carmel remains a strong and vibrant community and that we maintain our low taxes, educated workforce and high quality of life.

• Create a data-driven economic development department focused on business recruitment and retention to attract high quality jobs and keep our taxes low.

• Invest in a business liaison position to provide a dedicated resource for Carmel businesses and enhance business expansion and retention efforts.

• Develop strong alliances with area mayors, commissioners and other leaders to ensure Hamilton County grows its presence as an economic engine and bright spot for Indiana.

• Work with local organizations and One Zone Chamber of Commerce to create programs that will better position local small businesses to thrive.

• Evolve sister-city relationships to increase foreign investment into and exports out of our community.

• Launch a Communiversity – a virtual post-secondary organization – where area large employers serve as learning labs and partner with world-class educational institutions.

• Attract and retain well-educated and diverse talent in Carmel.
  

It is important that we do not lose what makes Carmel special – an easy-to-get-around, safe, family-supportive community. I will develop our community in a way that protects our strong, vibrant neighborhoods, does not overburden our streets and supports our high quality of life.

• Develop a Housing Task Force to complete a comprehensive review of housing inventory and needs.

• Engage routinely with the school superintendent and school board members to collaborate on how the city can effectively support our high-ranking schools so they continue to be among the best in the state for academics, opportunities and athletics.

• Invest in neighborhoods to improve lighting, sidewalks, curbs, amenities and drainage.

• Be more proactive in seeking residential input and encourage developers and project owners to seek feedback from area homes prior to presenting a plan commission.

• Increase greenspace by securing donated land, acquiring property and working more collaboratively with developers and builders to increase open space and preserve healthy trees.



• Create a neighborhood liaison position that would help new and existing residents and HOA leaders access a dedicated individual for assistance with city services.
  

I will ensure Carmel becomes agile, data-driven, innovation-minded and customer-focused with employees who are aligned, supported and valued. I will invest in a long-term commitment to improving our policies, processes and technology to enhance transparency.

• Prioritize workplace culture initiatives to ensure team members are clear on purpose, aligned around objectives and working together to best serve our community.

• Invest in IT resources and personnel to push innovation and reduce the cost of service delivery for taxpayers through data-informed decision-making.

• Create an online portal to enhance transparent operations, allow better reporting of problems and provide feedback regarding the provision of city services.

• Use public-private partnerships to encourage innovation and efficiency.

• Communicate regularly with county, state and federal elected officials to ensure that proposed legislation is favorable to Carmel and that we maximize opportunities to put our tax dollars back to work in our community.



• Provide more transparency around commission and community development corporation activities, including broadcasting and archiving all public meetings.
  

Developing a community with a high quality of life for its residents is critical to attracting talent, visitors and growth. I will ensure our quality of life remains among the very best in the country.

• Create an empowered Arts Commission that will assist in completing a Performing Arts Strategic Plan to support our arts ecosystem and a Public Art Master Plan to guide in investment, selection and placement of public art.

• Work with local businesses to improve sponsorship and philanthropic support of arts programming.

• Continue our investment in our world-class amenities to encourage social gathering and protect our home and business investments.

• Provide greater access to quality recreation by continuing investment in parks and playgrounds and ensure that park impact fees support park infrastructure.

• Improve our transportation network by expanding bike share stations and enhancing our options for on-demand transportation.



• Develop more trails and multi-use paths to enhance and encourage outdoor enjoyment and multi-modal transportation options.
  

I support investing in infrastructure to ensure our assets are safe, efficient and reliable. I will invest in changes to improve pedestrian and cycling safety.

• Initiate a capital improvement program that identifies, prioritizes and supports the design and construction of infrastructure improvement projects.

• Evaluate the implementation of Safe Streets for All or a similar program to promote safe transportation, healthy mobility and social interaction.

• Secure resources and new technologies that extend the service life of our existing infrastructure and reduce the overall cost of maintenance.

• Collaborate with the State of Indiana to improve its roads where they impact Carmel (I-465 and US-421/Michigan Road) and with Hamilton County to implement effective improvements along 146th Street on the east side that preserve our neighborhoods, reduce noise, improve paths and improve safety for motorists.

• Research any potential options for the conservation of resources within water and sewer utilities to reduce operating costs.

• Preserve and plant more trees to improve tree canopies, reduce heat islands and beautify the city.
  

I will take an active role in ensuring our community supports residents who are at or nearing retirement age to make Carmel an easier place to grow older and thrive.

• Enhance collaborative efforts to bring more senior housing to the market, ensuring a portion of it is attainable.

• Expand physical, recreational and educational activities for older adults through partnerships with Prime Life Enrichment and Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation.

• Improve online offerings and create a resource center to ensure older adults and residents with disabilities have access to support services so they may continue living as they choose in our community.

• Reimagine our volunteer program to create more meaningful opportunities for seniors and other residents to serve our community.

• Partner with community agencies to protect seniors against fraud, abuse and neglect.

• Empower active aging in our community by ensuring our physical environment (including lighting, signage, sidewalks, etc.) is accessible for those with limited mobility.
  

I want to hear your ideas on how we can Elevate Carmel.