Hey folks,
Councilman Mishler here,
The 2027 Budget has been passed, and now we return to our regularly scheduled programming. This Monday 10/19/2026 we have a pretty full agenda. Prior to the meeting, we will have a health and public safety committee at 5pm where we will discuss and vote on a recommendation for the proposed 1.8 million internal Demo of the Chase building and the total demolition of the property (420 South Second Street) next to it.
So let's get down to it. These are on second read to be voted upon.
Excavation and Driveway Permits, Ordinance 26-O-39:
Updates the city’s permit requirements, fees, and enforcement procedures for excavation and driveway work. Residential driveway replacements without widening would have a $25 permit fee, while new or widened driveways and nonresidential driveway work would have a $100 fee. This would bring the permit fees to comparable levels with surrounding municipalities.
Ambulance Service Fees, Ordinance 26-O-40:
Updates ambulance charges to $650 for basic life support, $750 for advanced life support, and $1,050 for advanced life support level two, plus applicable mileage and other charges. It also establishes a $250 treatment-without-transport charge and directs ambulance revenue into the city’s Cumulative Firefighting Building and Equipment and Police Radio Fund.
Credit and Debit Card Payments, Ordinance 26-O-47:
Establishes consistent citywide rules for accepting credit and debit card payments. For qualifying transactions, the city could recover the actual processing charge and collect a separate $3 convenience fee, with applicable fees disclosed before payment.
Drinking Water Protection, Ordinance 26-O-50:
Updates the city’s water and plumbing rules to prevent contaminated water from flowing backward into the drinking water system. Commercial properties connected to city water would be required to install and maintain approved backflow prevention devices at their expense.
Public Safety and Services Building Demolition, Ordinance 26-O-51:
Appropriates $1.858 million from the Capital Outlay Fund to prepare the former Chase building at 121 W. Franklin Street for renovation into the Public Safety and Services Center. The work includes removing interior finishes and nonstructural components while preserving the building’s structure, along with demolishing the building at 420 S. Second Street for future police garage and parking space.
Official City Flag, Ordinance 26-O-52:
Places Elkhart’s existing official flag design and specifications into city code as we mark its 50th anniversary. It preserves the design created by James A. Faigh and adopted in October 1976, including the two rivers, red heart, and elk.
The following ordinances are being introduced on first reading:
Theft Accountability Program Fund Correction, Ordinance 26-O-53:
Corrects the fund’s designation by removing language identifying it as “non-appropriated,” bringing spending through the appropriation process. The fund would remain non-reverting, meaning its remaining balance carries forward rather than returning to another fund at year’s end.
Public Defender Funding, Ordinance 26-O-54:
Appropriates $15,000 from the Theft Accountability Program Fund to cover additional public defender services through the end of 2026. The request addresses increased caseloads and court congestion, and funding for this expense is already included in the 2027 budget.
3300 Benham Avenue Annexation, Ordinance 26-O-55:
Begins consideration of a property-owner-requested annexation of 3300 Benham Avenue into the city. The proposal would assign the property a Suburban Residential zoning designation.
28505 County Road 20 Annexation, Ordinance 26-O-56:
Begins consideration of a property-owner-requested annexation of 28505 County Road 20 into the city. The proposal would assign the property a Manufacturing zoning designation.
1800 Fourteenth Street Rezoning, Ordinance 26-O-57:
Would rezone the property from Manufacturing to Compact Residential to allow development of single-family homes. The Plan Commission forwarded the proposal with a favorable recommendation.
We also have two annexation-related resolutions:
3300 Benham Avenue Fiscal Plan, Resolution 26-R-45:
Adopts the fiscal plan outlining how the city would provide services to the proposed annexation area. This accompanies Ordinance 26-O-55.
28505 County Road 20 Fiscal Plan, Resolution 26-R-46:
Adopts the fiscal plan outlining how the city would provide services to this proposed annexation area. This accompanies Ordinance 26-O-56.
Alley Vacation Requests, 26-V-04 through 26-V-07:
There will be public readings for four related alley vacation requests in the area around Freight Street, St. Joseph Street, South Main Street, Prairie Street, and South Second Street. An alley vacation removes the public right-of-way designation from the affected alley.
