Hren
Hello and welcome to ask the mayor on WFIU. I'm Joe Hren. This week we're in Columbus with Mayor Mary Ferdon. Hello, welcome. Happy New Year, first show of 2025, how are you feeling?
Ferdon
I'm feeling great. And happy new year to you. As as I noted it's little cold and wet here, as it is throughout this region. So we made it through Sunday and yesterday and back to somewhat of a normal day today.
Hren
How much snow did Columbus get?
Ferdon
We think anywhere in the neighborhood from, you know, 10 to 12, nine to 12, depending upon where you are in the county, I think the northern most part of the county got a little bit more, but we never really saw the wind that was projected. So that's great.
Hren
So when you're looking at, you know, almost a foot of snow, it was, it was over a couple of days. What's the the city strategy in getting out to clean streets?
Ferdon
Yeah, we spent a lot of time kind of talking that through. On Friday, my team of Public Safety and Department Public Works met Friday afternoon, and then on Friday morning, or excuse me, Sunday morning, they started putting some salt out. I think our snow started in about noon on Sunday and so they had guys in Sunday afternoon, and then they pulled them out, pulled them back home, I think about 10 o'clock or midnight on Sunday evening, and then brought them back Monday morning, starting at four. Came in in different shifts. So we've got a very experienced Department of Public Works director and team. And so they just, they watch what's coming, and so they salt, and then they, they try not to overdo because, because we had snow that came in waves, that you want to make sure that you guys were fresh, the ones who are running the heavy equipment, right? And so the great thing about nowadays with Zoom and WebEx that we're able to do a lot of that work, so the teams are able to talk a lot about what's going on. So I feel very fortunate that we have such a great Public Safety and Department of Public Works team. Unfortunately, there are still a few people today, it's Tuesday, early afternoon, who are, maybe their streets haven't been plowed out, but the main thoroughfares have, are open. And, like I said, life is pretty much back to normal, but it'll take a couple days.
Hren
Yeah, and I know there was a warning travel status now a watch, of course, that'll be adjusted maybe later to an advisory. I mean, you want to keep people safe, but also keeping people in. It hurts your downtown businesses, too. So it's it's kind of a balancing act, isn't it?
Ferdon
It truly is, and we talked about that yesterday, because as the county commissioners, along with our emergency management director, they're the ones who ultimately make the decision about what travel level advisory that should they should call. But it's we're fortunate, Bartholomew County, that we work very well with them. And so commissioners were calling me throughout the weekend, kind of updating me on on what their thoughts were. And so they actually moved from a red level to an orange level last night at eight in preparation to be able to bring the third shift crews back into our manufacturing plants, which is great. So it is, it's a constant, you're making decisions all the time and trying to keep people safe, but also understanding that every day that the roads are closed, that business isn't happening. And it hurts the small business owners. It hurts the manufacturers. And then there are people who just don't get paid if they can't go to work. So, trying to balance all that is really tough.
Hren
And warming stations, for those who are unhoused or need a place to go, is that something the city and county provide?
Ferdon
The city does provide that. We have the ________ center, which is our former parks admin space. That's a warming center. United Way has people that that come in and use that. We also have Stride Center, which is a local mental health drop-in space that we had a number of people who spent yesterday at. The city transit service, even though the bus wasn't running yesterday, we provided vans to get people to and from our Brighter Days homeless shelter for their night stay, and then got them back to where they needed to be today. So it's, again, that's a partnership that we have with United Way, and we work with Brighter Days than the Love Chapel. And so it seems to work, as long as everybody understands we don't want people. We want as few people out walking in this kind of weather as possible.
Hren
Speaking of talking about public works, there's a cities moving forward on a building, renovations I assume, that will house the Public Works. Can you give an update for us?
Ferdon
Sure. We have our public works, our current facility has, I think we've been in for 25 to 30 years. We've outgrown it. We have a lot of our large equipment that sits out in the weather all the time. And so, last year, we, we took advantage of an opportunity. There was a facility that was open on Arcadia, off of International Drive, which is on the south, north, northwest side of the city. And so with redevelopment, the help of redevelopment commission, we were able to purchase that, and then we're putting some renovations in it. And so we'll be able to move our, our Department of Public Works, I think by third quarter of 2025. We're adding a salt warrant out there. And the great news again, is all of our equipment will be housed and so that, you know, we've we spend, you know, half a million plus for some of these trucks. And so having it sit out in all kinds of weather is just, it hurts it. And so being able to keep it under, under a roof, and being able to have access to it will be a big, will be a big bonus. So we're looking forward to that, being able to do that move later this year.
Hren
Okay, I was just gonna ask the timeline. So you're hoping that that'll be done by the end of the year?
Ferdon
Yes, So I, I don't know what it takes to move, not only Department of Public Works, but all those, all those big, big trucks, maybe they'll let me drive a few back and forth, right?
Hren
You probably could have helped fill in last night and drove a little bit.
Ferdon
No, I do not have my CDL. I choose not to.
Hren
Yeah, quite a long weekend and maybe a much deserved rest the next couple of days. I don't think, I don't think, I think it's just supposed to be cold. I don't think we're supposed to get any more snow.
Ferdon
Right, and that goes back to what you were saying earlier. It is supposed to be very cold, with potentially even sub, not only sub freezing temperatures, but potentially sub zero. So we'll continue to have warming shelters throughout the community, and making sure that people get transported between the shelter and the warming centers. And then, you know, I'm just going to take this plug, just to say that it's really important for people to take care of their animals and their pets. And so our local Columbus Animal Shelter is making sure that we we help people out. We've got our animal Animal Care officers out helping people if they have lost pets that are, if they find, find pets that needs homes, making sure we get them sheltered. Because this, this weather, is really hard on those little furry guys.
Hren
I wanted to just get a quick update, because the last time we talked about the new DORA district, I think that was last fall. It was going to be, had to go through state approval, and just never followed up on that. Did anything change? Is that something that will take effect this year in 2025?
Ferdon
Yeah, it was approved in 2024 so I believe we'll see the, see it start being used, probably this spring of 2025. So I'll give you an update the next time we talk, but we haven't had any event that's used it yet. As you know, you have to have a specified area. That's the DORA area. You have to have specified, you have to get certain number of signatures of not only the the tenants, but as well as it can't be any, you have to have sign off by any churches or school buildings in the DORA area or close to it, which we have. You have to have special glasses, which, I think those have been made already, so we'll probably use it sometime this spring.
Hren
Yeah, and I should have explained a little bit more for those who maybe didn't catch that last show and we talked about it, but DORA is a designated area for alcoholic beverages that you can move from from place to place, as long as you're in that approved area. And it's really to help economic development, right?
Ferdon
The DORA stands for Designated Outdoor Recreational Area to your point, you can, you can have an open can, or it has to be a certain glass which states DORA on it. You can have an open glass that you can move down this, down around the designated area with an open glass of alcohol.
Hren
And I know Terre Haute's doing the same thing. They applied as well. So something that will probably see more communities take, take advantage of. Something new, I just realized, I guess, I guess, it's not new. It's just something that that keeps taking different forms, and it's about downtown parking. And I know we talked about this with [former Columbus] Mayor Lienhoop, and I think with you last year too, but the Columbus parking commission wants to suspend enforcement of is it three hour time limit downtown? But the city really isn't on board with that. So can you give us an update on where that is?
Ferdon
Right. So the parking commission just recently approved an RFP to go out for a parking app, moving towards something that they have talked with a number of vendors about it, and feel really comfortable that that's kind of the next phase. And so the parking commission and along with approving that RFP, which is a request for proposal, they also made a recommendation that that the city suspend our parking enforcement for the next couple of months in the downtown area. That came in front, that came from the parking commission, I think a week, two weeks ago, maybe even three weeks ago, last week, the Board of Works took that up. We only had three out of the five members, and so the Board of Works voted that up to approve the RFP, but it voted down the the request to stop all parking enforcement until we can get the full Board of Works contingent, which I think will happen next Tuesday. And so it wasn't so much the city disagreeing with it. It's just that it's a big move. You have to be careful when you have one commission who's, who's making a recommendation before you vote that down, you want to make sure that the board that's doing that, or in this case, the Board of Public Works, understands the imple-, implications. So we'll, we'll deal with that next week,
Hren
Okay, and just so I'm on the same page when you're talking about a parking app, is that a paid per hour, like meter parking, but on an app?
Ferdon
Right. Yes, it's something that many communities have gone to and you know, Bloomington, Carmel, Indianapolis, every, everywhere we look. Obviously, we don't have parking meters anymore, but we have parking kiosks, and those can be really difficult for people to find in the snow, and trying to walk down the street just to find the kiosk. So this new parking app is something that you, you do, actually, on your phone. I've done it in many communities, as you probably have, and so our parking Commission has spent a lot of time meeting with vendors, and so they have really identified what they want this app to do. And I apologize, I can't remember all the details, but, so that RFP, actually, I think, went out last week. So hopefully, by the end of this month, the first of February we'll have proposals in, they'll make a decision. And so, because there's no physical structure and there shouldn't be any law, it shouldn't take a long time for the Board of Works to approve that and the parking commission to approve that vendor and get that up and moving. So hopefully, by, probably the beginning of the second quarter, we should see that in place.
Hren
And then really quick, are those spots already have kiosk paid parking? Or is this expanding the paid parking in downtown Columbus?
Ferdon
We don't have parking meters and we don't have kiosks right now, all the parking parking enforcement is done by an individual who keeps track on on a specific piece of software, but it's basically walking around the designated areas that have parking times, the three hour times, and that's what has that's what's created a lot of the controversy. So I don't think there's a perfect way to do parking, quite frankly, but we're going to keep trying, and hopefully we'll get it right this time.
Hren
Okay, so, so people would pay to park, the downtown parking?
Ferdon
Yeah, and the nice thing about this app, just like the current parking we have, which is always the first hour is free, so we can choose to make the first hour free or the second hour free, and then, but just because the hour is free doesn't mean it wouldn't count into that three hour parking time. So that'll change up a little bit with the app.
Hren
Yeah, and I remember when Bloomington started and went back to metering the I remember Mayor Cruzan at the time said, well, he said it wasn't for the money, but it was for keeping cars circulating and not just sitting in a spot all day, too. So it's more, right, than just putting a quarter in the kiosk?
Ferdon
Right, there's always a balance, particularly in the city, Columbus side, right, is we want to keep those parking spaces open and moving so that somebody coming into the into downtown who wants to run in and meet someone for a cup of coffee for an hour can come and go with reasonable distance. We don't want employees who are there for eight or nine hours to use the parking spaces that could be used for somebody just running in and out of a business, going in and out to of an attorney's office or something like that. So it's, but it's a it's a constant balance. By the same token, we also have, we have also the number of parking garages here in the community. So it includes helping people understand the value of a parking garage, which allows free parking, and then that gives your visitors, not only people coming and going for an hour or two, but your out of town visitors a place that they can park and walk, wander around and spend money. Parking is really economic development. I'm trying to find and trying to find the right balance is really difficult, but we'll, we'll continue to try because, you know, bottom line is, I'm thrilled that we have a parking issue because that means people like to be here, right? People are downtown for a reason, and they're spending money and they're doing business, so that's always a bonus.
Hren
All right. Well, one more question, just top three things. Here we are, 2025. What are you looking for? Your major points of interest this coming year?
Ferdon
Right. Well, we'll continue to work on housing. I think you and I have talked in the past. We've got some housing projects moving forward. Excited about that. We are finishing up the campus at Nexus park, so we've got a lot of the landscaping done, and we hope to have probably our kind of last ribbon cutting there, and in later this spring, April or May timeframe, also working on long-term strategy around our Animal Care Shelter. Want to replace that. The one that we have is just not not usable. It's just too small, and it needs to be set up differently. So we've we spent a lot of time in '24 kind of doing research. So we hope to move forward with that in 2025. As you know, our aviation tower will move forward, and so we hope to break ground on that in this year. And then we're also doing a working on a new accessible ramp for City Hall. And next time you're here in person, I'll kind of show you what we're looking at there. We also have the, should get the report out, on the Columbus downtown 2030 study as well as our Transportation Studies. So really have a lot, a lot on our plate, which is pretty exciting. And then it's the unknowns, the unforeseens, right? That'll always take up a lot of time, so you just go with the punches with those.
Hren
Any other announcements?
Ferdon
No, I don't think so. I'm very excited about what we see happening in 2025 and you know, hope this little bit of weather is the only thing that we have this winter. Quickly, quickly, head into spring.
Hren
Thank you so much for your time, and hope to see in February. Good, good to see you, Joe. Thank you.
Ferdon
And be back in person.
Hren
That's right.
Ferdon
Thank you, bye.
Hren
Bye.
