The Monday, March 23rd 2026 Valparaiso city council meeting began with the Redevelopment Commission’s annual report required by Indiana code. The Redevelopment Commission (RDC) is primarily funded through Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts. A TIF district is a defined area where increases in tax revenue are set aside for redevelopment projects in that same area. When a TIF district is created the current property values are frozen at a base value. Property taxes on the base value still go to the usual places but as the property in the district is developed the taxes from the increased value go to the RDC and are used for redevelopment and economic projects in that district. The RDC also gave over 700,000 in grants to local schools, funds the Valpo community grants and this year gave a 564,000 dollar grant to Paradise Community Homes to buy land for affordable housing.
The council had one resolution and four ordinances on the agenda all dealing with city business. Resolution No. 6, 2026 revoked the downtown liquor license issued by Resolution No. 13, 2025. The liquor license which was the last one available downtown was for a planned move of Radius into the old Chase Bank building on Lincolnway. Downtown liquor licenses can not change location so the city had to issue a new one to Radius’s planned new location with the promise of turning the license for his current location over to the city once moved. This revocation has no effect on the current liquor license for Radius’s present location. It is unconfirmed at this time but it has been said that Radius plans to move into the Pikk’s Inn location which closed after they had planned on moving into the old Chase location. An employee of Radius informed me “nothing is certain at this time, there is a lot going on.”
Resolution No. 1 and 4, 2026 were both already before council and were brought back to be in compliance with how the city advertises appropriations of tax funds. Both were carried to the next meeting for second reading and another vote. Ordinance No 8, 2026 was up for second reading and final vote. This ordinance appropriated funds for part time hourly work on city meeting minutes and passed.
The last ordinance for the evening was Ordinance No. 9, 2026, this ordinance appropriates 10,000 dollars from the cigarette tax fund to the Human Relations Council (HRC). Before the HRC was reconstituted a budget was normal. The HRC now, instead of advising the Mayor, is an advisory body to the city council and Councilman Jack PuPillo had some questions on what the funds would be used for. Councilwoman Emilie Hunt who authored the Ordinance said the only use that is currently planned is an annual membership fee to the Indiana Human Rights Consortium which is a consortium of 27 Human Rights Commissions in Indiana costing 100 dollars. Any other planned usages the council would be apprised of and the Board of Works would vote on. This ordinance was carried to next meeting for second reading and final vote.
The next City Council meeting will be held at City Hall on April 13, 2026, 6:00pm. Valparaiso will also host an open house for the Eastside Master plan for the community to preview the updated version of the Eastside Campus Master Plan Tuesday March 31, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm at Valparaiso City Hall, 166 Lincolnway.
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