Attendance at the July public meeting of the Broad Ripple Village Association (BRVA) was light due to the wonderful weather that evening. There were only about 20 people at the meeting. Hot Box Pizza provided a table full of pie for all attendees.

Lt. Jerry Leary from Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) was first on the agenda. Lt. Leary explained how difficult it is to attend all of the public meetings as there are 300 neighborhood and Crime Watch groups to cover. There were five meetings to attend on this night.

Lt. Leary discussed plans to add a second resource officer to handle complaints. The goal is to have all complaints acknowledged in some way. Currently more than 1000 complaints are received per month.

Lt. Leary mentioned a tagger (vandal that uses graffiti) that was recently caught and tied to 12 other complaints. These people are often released when the "prosecution fades away." He explained that the felonies get priority over simple B-misdemeanors. Leary updated the audience on several crimes - a murder in December, an armed robbery at the liquor store and another robbery at the sno-cone shack, a resolved rape on Broad Ripple Avenue, and others.

Leary said that the drop in crime is encouraging. "You have a Major (Dave Allender) who knows how to turn things around."

The next agenda item was announcement and committee reports. BRVA president Ellen Morley Matthews stated that the August 19 public BRVA meeting will be at Broad Ripple High School due to unavailability of the Indianapolis Art Center on that day. The meeting will be at 7 P.M. in the mini-auditorium. Ellen said the BRVA is trying to get Mayor Ballard to attend the August meeting.

Committee Reports:

Beautification - Rich Bees discussed the rained-out cleanups and the need for volunteers to help clean up the Village. Brenda Rising-Moore announced that grant money was received for ReArtFormation, a project to recycle products into recycling containers.

Business Division - Elizabeth Marshall announced the Sidewalk Sale event.

Farmers' Market - Carolyn Savill said that the Broad Ripple market won an award in NUVO. She added that Tree Boy from Channel 13 made an appearance.

Land Use and Development - No issues currently before the committee.

Special Events - Envision Field Trip & Visioning session 4 - Tom Healy described the field trip and the fourth Broad Ripple Visioning meeting.

Ripple Effect 4-Mile Run/Walk - Ellen Morley Matthews said this year's Ripple Effect will be Sunday, August 31, at 7 P.M. An after-event party is planned for behind Union Jack Pub. About 360 people entered last year. It is hoped this year's event will draw 500 to 600.

Historic Home Tour & Broad Ripple Lights Up! - Sue Zilisch stated that volunteers are being actively recruited for the September 27 home tour. Volunteers receive a free ticket to the tour and a t-shirt. Tickets will be available at five Marsh stores, Hubbard & Cravens Coffee Company, and Old National Bank. Lights Up! will be an all-day event this year on December 6. The tree lighting is scheduled for 6 P.M. that evening.