The AroundFortWayne Blog

Mitch Harper at Fort Wayne Observed is reporting that Clifford Clarke, the City’s Chief Information Officer, has resigned.  I wondered where he was during last evening’s City Council meeting when the contract was discussed and given approval.  I found it very odd he wasn’t in attendance for such an important event.  You may read Harper’s post here.

From Indiana News Center:

By Jeff Neumeyer
Story Published: Aug 26, 2008 at 7:59 PM EDT
Story Updated: Aug 26, 2008 at 9:35 PM EDT

FORT WAYNE, IN (Indiana’s NewsCenter) — The Georgia based company that is overseeing the Harrison Square condominium project says it will roll out a brand new marketing effort next week, to try and get the troubled housing complex out of the doldrums.

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The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society’s Annual Open House was held August 16th and 17th.  The restored NKP 765 Steam Locomotive was not under steam as in past years.  The crowds were thin, but this allowed for an opportunity to get up close and personal with the 765 and various other rolling stock the Society owns.  A selection of photos taken around the facility and also a C&NW Railroad Speeder that was available for short rides.  There is also a new video posted on the AFW YouTube Channel.

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ATOS Origin IT Contract

In tonight’s City Council meeting, the ATOS Origin IT Contract was passed.  The ordinance was passed out of committee with a 6-2 vote.  Councilmen Mitch Harper and Tim Pape voted no.  I was out of the room and missed most of the final vote so I cannot give you a certain final vote.  However, I believe I heard Mitch Harper state that he’d made his objections in committee and would now vote yes.  Karen Goldner is at the Democratic National Convention and of course did not vote.  Also missing was Clifford Clarke, Fort Wayne CTO.  Hopes were expressed by the Council that local jobs would not be lost.  In tonight’s audience was former City Councilman Dr. John Crawford - a strong supporter of the IT contract.

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Click here for the photo set.

Work on the downtown King Gyros continues.  The restaurant is now closed as work on the kitchen progresses.

In a previous post, I mentioned that a Gardner’s Restaurant used to sit on the premises.  Special thanks to Kristina Frazier-Henry for providing the above photo and article from the News-Sentinel.  If you’ve never visited Kristina’s website, Child of the Fort, please do so!  It’s a wonderful website with lots of historic photos and insights!

Last Wednesday, trucks began delivering bricks for installation on the new ballpark at Harrison Square.  Bricklaying has commenced on the Ewing Street side as well as the eastern most end of the ballpark. 

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The final Barr Street Quotes have been installed.  This project has been dubbed, “Talking Sidewalks” by the City.  One of the reasons for the Barr Street project was to make the area more pedestrian-friendly.  According to Tom Cain with the City of Fort Wayne:

We hope to partner with the History Center or other cultural institution Downtown to make backstories on all these quotes available to inquiring minds, perhaps in the form of a brochure.

The above from comments Mr. Cain wrote in response to my original post.  Without further ado, the quotes in the last quarter of the now completed project.

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The photo set was taken August 13th 2008 and includes . A special thank you to Jim Iddins with Weigand Construction.

Last Monday, August 18th, the City of Fort Wayne raised the Tainter Gate at the Hosey Dam to allow river levels in the city to drop.  This is done in order to allow maintenance work to be done in multiple locations around the city - see the press release included below.  Within hours of the gate being raised, river levels at the Spy Run Creek and St. Mary’s River confluence had dropped dramatically.

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A selection of photos from the Lucas Oil Stadium Opening held last Thursday, August 14, 2008.  The photos are provided courtesy of El Mexicano. 

Dan Jehl wrote on the AFW Calendar Blog:

[...] I must say something about the official “Opening Ceremonies” of the new Lucas Stadium for the Colts in Indianapolis on Aug. 14.  Fort Wayne was well represented and can be proud of just how and what came down there.

This was the “big” showing of the new stadium.  The RCA Dome will now be all gone.  Besides the usual speeches and people recognition of the Mayor and others,  there was musical entertainment.

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Renovation began on the downtown King Gyros this week.  The facade will be replaced as well as a stainless steel kitchen installed.  I’d earlier reported that a patio will be added along Jefferson Boulevard.  I misunderstood it’s position - it will be placed starting at the Southeast corner of the building and stretching Northwards taking up 2 and a half parking spaces. 

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I have obtained the presentations made by Clifford Clarke, Fort Wayne CTO, and Karen Goldner, City Councilwoman.  Ms. Goldner’s presentation is available as either a webpage or Power Point presentation.  Mr. Clarke’s presentation was given to me as a pdf file.  The Journal Gazette is also providing a copy of a presentation on the contract here.  This give those who wish to follow the audio recording something to follow with.  The audio recording may be downloaded here. 

Fort Wayne Politics Posts and video clips:
IT Contract Held But Will Likely Pass Next Week
Goldner Presentation Against IT Contract
Tim Pape Grills City CTO Regarding IT Contract
Harper Speaks About Overuse Of Consultants During IT Contract Discussion

Media Coverage:
City holds off on deal with French firm - Journal Gazette
Another presentation on the contract - Journal Gazette (I am thinking this wasn’t authored by the JG, but provided to them, although nothing in the documentation or links proves this.)
Vote delayed for info tech outsourcing - News-Sentinel

The Fort Wayne City Council approved a motion by Councilman Tim Pape to hold the ATOS Origin IT contract until next Tuesday.  Those voting in favor of the holdover included: Marty Bender, Karen Goldner, Mitch Harper, Tim Pape, John Shoaff and Tom Smith.  Voting against holding the contract: Liz Brown, Tom Didier and Glynn Hines.  Some of the reasons for holding the contract included missing appendices, incorrect passages in the contract and the feeling the Council had that they were being told they had no choice but to pass the contract.  Reasons for the missing sections in the contract were that they weren’t missing, but could be found in the RFP - they just needed to be transferred over to the contract.  The Council was told they would have the missing information and a list of anything that couldn’t be resolved by next Tuesday in hopes it would be approved that evening.

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A press release from the City’s website:

City to share information with downtown property owners about proposed zoning changes
Two Public Meetings Scheduled

The City of Fort Wayne Planning Department will host two open houses designed to inform downtown property owners about proposed changes to zoning classifications and a Zoning ordinance amendment affecting downtown districts.

On August 21st from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM at the History Center (302 East Berry Street), and again on August 27th from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM at the Main Library (meeting room A; 900 Library Plaza), property owners will have a chance to learn more about proposed changes to the zoning ordinance that affects the downtown area.

Owners have received letters, alerting them to the times of the public open house opportunities and describing the intent of these zoning initiatives.

The major areas of focus of the open houses will include: rezoning of certain areas and amending the existing ordinance to clarify permitted and special uses and development standards. Existing businesses which do not conform to the proposed new standards will be allowed to continue their operations and expand in the future if desired; the new regulations apply to new development and redevelopment in the downtown area.

The primary objectives of this effort are:

• To implement the recommendations in the Downtown Blueprint and the Around the Square plans
• To create better tools to promote quality, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use development projects in the downtown area
• To expand our downtown zoning districts to be more consistent with the existing development patterns

From Yesterday’s USA Today:

[...] A growing number of Major League Baseball teams are seeing the value in going on the roof, aiming to replicate the old-time charm of the rooftop seats built by homeowners outside Wrigley Field in Chicago.

[...] “Rooftop seating hearkens back to a lot of good things in baseball … Wrigleyville, Fenway Park,” says Jeff Overton, executive vice president of business operations for the Padres.

These freewheeling sections appeal to 20-something hipsters who come to socialize as much as watch sports. Some have sky bars, dunk tanks and mechanical bulls. Their party-hearty atmosphere makes them a magnet for singles who like to mingle. Of course, there’s always the possibility fans could get carried away. Like the topless blond woman — “wearing nothing but a thong and a smile,” according to the Toronto Sun— who casually enjoyed a Blue Jays game from a Renaissance Hotel outfield suite overlooking Rogers Centre in July.

[...] The rooftop movement dispels “the notion baseball needs to be viewed from box seats, or luxury suites to be enjoyed,” Dee says. “They made the rest of the park come alive.”

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