City of Indianapolis-Department of Business and Neighborhood Services

One of DBNS’ goals is to take advantage of educational opportunities that reflect our mission and prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion. Earlier this week, we completed department-wide training with the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana (FHCCI). The training reviewed fair housing law and historical housing barriers, including redlining and racial covenants. Because of the nature of our department and the services we offer, our work sometimes overlaps with the results of those barriers. As public servants, it’s important to understand these issues and how they affect the people and the communities we interact with every day. Thank you for the opportunity, FHCCI!

Our fifth and final neighborhood cleanup of 2024 is in the books. Last week, more than 30 volunteers collected litter from some of the streets, sidewalks, and alleyways in Martindale Brightwood. While cleanups aren’t “glamorous," they help beautify neighborhoods and show residents we’re not afraid to jump in and (literally) get our hands dirty. Thank you Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. for providing support for this year’s cleanups. Thank you City of Indianapolis - Department of Public Works (Indy DPW) for providing the dumpsters. And a huge thank you to all our volunteers! We appreciate all you’ve done to make our city a better, more beautiful place.

Tomorrow, tomorrow! We'd love it if, tomorrow, you join us for our final neighborhood cleanup of the year. From 9 a.m.-noon, DBNS and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. will be tackling litter in Martindale-Brightwood. Meet you at Oscar Charleston Park bright & early! P.S. KIB will provide the snacks. A lot of snacks. All the snacks.

Congratulations to Deputy Director Amy Wunder! At the #INAFSM conference last week, she received the 2024 Excellent Strides in Floodplain Management Program Award from the Indiana Association for Floodplain and Stormwater Management. While most people think of our friends at City of Indianapolis - Department of Public Works (Indy DPW) in regards to stormwater facilities, DBNS is the administrator for floodplain management standards and ensures compliance within Marion County. For more than two years, DBNS has been working to improve the city’s drainage program. This includes expanding and elevating our Infrastructure & Stormwater division, which is led by administrator Alena Jones and program managers Cameran Giles and Nathan Conley. These advancements would not have been possible without Deputy Director Wunder. Because of her leadership, we have stronger flood damage prevention and a division led by people who care about the city and are determined to protect residents and businesses from the effects of potential floods. Shannon Killion, PE, Stormwater Administrator for DPW, was also recognized at the conference for her efforts in the Outstanding Project Award category. Congratulations Amy and Shannon!

It's official. Yesterday, we broke ground on the new Indianapolis Animal Care Services (IACS) shelter. The new shelter is a win for IACS staff and volunteers and, of course, the animals and their well-being. A big thank you to everyone who celebrated in person with us yesterday! We are grateful for all the partners who helped make this long-awaited shelter a reality, including AFSCME-Local 725, Friends of Indy Animals, the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, the Lilly Endowment, and the Indianapolis Colts.

Reminder: Our permitting and licensing system is down for maintenance until Monday morning, April 15th, as we complete the final steps of our system migration. The system will be unavailable to staff and the public while this maintenance occurs. Services will resume Monday, April 15th. Requests on RequestIndy can still be submitted during the maintenance period.

Our permitting and licensing system will be down for maintenance beginning Thursday, April 11th, at 5PM until Monday morning, April 15th, as we complete the final steps of our system migration. The system will be unavailable to staff and the public while this maintenance occurs. Services will resume Monday, April 15th. Requests on RequestIndy can still be submitted during the maintenance period.

The Department of Business and Neighborhood Services is closed today for the Presidents Day holiday. Need help before we reopen tomorrow at 9 am? Not sure how to use the portal? Check out this video: https://loom.ly/cujRptw

???IN CASE YOU MISSED IT??? The Department of Business and Neighborhood Services will be closed TOMORROW (2/19) for Presidents Day. Our offices will resume normal operations starting at 9 am Tuesday, February 20th. 24-hour online access is available via the citizens access portal: https://lnkd.in/dx9Qatmy

???MARK YOUR CALENDAR??? The Department of Business and Neighborhood Services will be closed Monday, February 19th, for Presidents Day. Our offices will resume normal operations starting at 9 am Tuesday, February 20th. 24-hour online access is available via the citizens access portal: https://lnkd.in/dx9Qatmy