CARMEL, Ind. — The Carmel City Council on Monday recognized the 50th anniversary of the city’s transition from a town to a city, honoring four surviving members of the first city council who took office in 1976.

The council adopted a resolution honoring former councilors David Coots, Jane Ryman, Fred Swift and Jim Garrison, who attended the meeting. The four were part of the original seven-member council that began governing after Carmel residents voted in 1974 to become a fourth-class city. The first council meeting was held Jan. 5, 1976.

“That success was built on the foundation laid by that first council,” said a council member who made the presentation. “They navigated the new state laws, they set the tone for our governance and they managed the shift from a small town atmosphere to the city infrastructure we rely on today.”

Swift, speaking to the current council, said: “I think this is the best council we’ve had in all those 50 years.”

The council also approved a consent agenda that included claims and payroll totaling more than $50 million, as well as minutes from the Dec. 15 regular meeting and Dec. 30 special claims meeting.

In other business, the council adopted on third reading a comprehensive update to the Unified Development Ordinance fee schedule, Ordinance Z-702-25. The update, the first since 2003, covers application fees, building permit fees and new services.

The council held public hearings and approved two property-related vacations. The first vacated a public alley at 310 Second Street NE to allow replatting of a double lot. The second vacated a 10-foot easement at 751 Oswego Road that was missed during a previous vacation. Legal staff noted process improvements to avoid future omissions.

Council members acknowledged $16,087,254.37 in encumbrances rolling from 2025 into 2026. Chief Financial Officer Zach Jackson said approximately $4 million to $5 million from the 2024 general fund budget of about $143 million went unspent and will revert to the general fund. Jackson said spending those funds would require additional appropriation ordinances.

During public comment, resident Jack Feldman expressed disappointment over earlier committee meeting times, saying they reduce public involvement. He suggested earlier agenda posting and a more robust public comment app.

Council members also discussed improving the insurance claims process for city property damage, following a report of a damaged roundabout that took several days to be reported to the street department.

The meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.