The Fall 2022 Broad Ripple Village Association (BRVA) public meeting and election was held at St. Luke's Midtown, 6185 Guilford Avenue [J5 on map], on November 1st. There were around 50 in attendance. BRVA members were handed the slate of candidates for the BRVA Board of Directors. Each member can vote to accept or reject that slate. The results of the election will be released later.

BRVA Executive Director Jordan Dillon opened the meeting at 6pm and introduced Rev. Mindie Moore of the new St. Luke's Midtown United Methodist Church, where the meeting was being held (the old Broad Ripple United Methodist Church building). Rev. Moore announced that the Midtown location for St. Luke's will open on December 4.

Jordan listed upcoming events and activities. She said that the 2022 Lights Up! event will be December 4 from 3pm to 5pm around Rainbow Bridge, Guilford Avenue at the canal. There will be no parade this year due to the street construction. There will be a residential decorating contest.

There are two Art Walks planned for Spring and Fall 2023. Working with the Penrod Society the BRVA will replace the old Broad Ripple logo-ed art piece currently on the north side of the Runners Forum building at Westfield Boulevard and Guilford Avenue with new public art.

Next, Steve Kerr from Wheeler Mission described the new route for the 2022 Drumstick Dash that will be held on Thanksgiving Day, November 24.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Neighborhood Impact Lieutenant Gregory Scott answered questions about public safety. One question was about what the residents can do to help safety. Scott replied that registering home security cameras/doorbells with IMPD through the B-LINK program helps. This program allows IMPD to be aware of neighborhood cameras in case of an incident where video could be useful. Then IMPD contacts the resident to ask if the recorded video could be viewed to help the investigation. Scott also added that several IMPD camera and license plate readers have been installed recently in the Broad Ripple area.

Lt. Scott asked residents to contact IMPD before posting on the NextDoor app as IMPD cannot view NextDoor posts.

When asked about motorists driving on the Monon Trail, Scott stated that IMPD is working with DPW and Indianapolis Greenways to find a solution. Currently, there is only an Indianapolis Greenways ordinance prohibiting cars from the trail. This makes it difficult for IMPD to enforce.

Last on the agenda were Lane Wolf, Public Information Office for Department of Public Works (DPW) and Chris Harrison, Resident Project Representative from 7NT (BR Avenue construction management). Lane said that the current sewer replacement phase of Broad Ripple Avenue is wrapping up. Following the street resurfacing, the sidewalks will be closed so they can be rebuilt. Pedestrians will use the street to access small bridges to each of the affected businesses during this phase.

The latest BR Avenue info can be found here https://www.indy.gov/activity/broad-ripple-avenue-improvements.

Lane also said that the replacement of the Westfield Boulevard canal bridge that was scheduled to occur this winter has been delayed until the following winter (2024).

There were questions from the audience. One was about adding a street light to the dark and dangerous Monon trail crossing at 71st Street. Another was about adding a 3-way stop sign at the intersection of Westfield Boulevard and 64th Street. Jordan answered that the problem with parked cars on Westfield blocking visibility when making a turn has been helped a bit by removing a couple of those parking spots by marking them with yellow no parking curbs.

Jordan closed the meeting and said the BRVA will announce the election results in the next week or so.