City Of Indianapolis Launches IPhone Application

CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS LAUNCHES IPHONE APPLICATION
Potholes, high weeds and grass, trash collection issues, stray animals can now be reported via RequestIndy Mobile

INDIANAPOLIS – Mayor Greg Ballard today announced the launch of RequestIndy Mobile, a free application for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices that allows users to report problems and request city services from the Mayor’s Action Center (MAC).

“RequestIndy Mobile offers yet another way to connect with city government. Now, in addition to calling the MAC and submitting requests online through the RequestIndy portal, people are able to report issues as they spot them,” Mayor Ballard said. “This is the next phase of development for the MAC in its mission to deliver outstanding customer service, and I am pleased to be able to tell residents, ‘We have an app for that.’”

RequestIndy Mobile features include:

  • Ability to attach an optional photo of the issue
  • Ability to specify issue location via GPS, GIS map or street address
  • Status check to track submitted issue to resolution
  • Users can provide details about issues when they are reported, such as the description of a stray dog or whether a pothole has caused property damage
  • Application is fully integrated into the City’s enterprise-wide service system, including work management systems for every city department
  • RequestIndy Mobile is currently supported on iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch devices running iOS V 3.1.3 and higher. Some older devices will not be able to access all features of the application, and devices lacking either a GPS or camera will experience slightly limited functionality; however, users still will be able to successfully submit requests.

    RequestIndy is available for free at the Apple App Store by browsing the store. Users also may download it via the App Store in iTunes

    The application will continue to be tested throughout launch phases.

    Help IPL Keeep The Lights On

    Indianapolis Power & Light Company (IPL) has undertaken a community awareness initiative called “Keep the Lights On” to identify street lights with problems, and get those problems corrected.

    IPL counts on assistance from the public to let them know where there’s a light that:

    Is not lighting at night
    Is burning during daylight hours
    Has equipment defects, like a lens that’s loose and hanging, or a plate that’s come off the light pole.

    There are two convenient, simple ways to report a street light with problems:

    Call IPL’s “Lights Out Day or Night” number, 261-8111, and let them know the location of the light …
    – or –
    Visit IPLpower.com/Power Outages for an online form where you can report a street light problem.

    IPL has a handy brochure about reporting street light problems that it would like to share with customers via neighborhood organizations.

    If your organization would like IPL to send you some of these brochures, contact Matthew McCardle, IPL’s community relations manager, at matthew.mccardle@aes.com, with a contact name and address where you would like the brochures sent.

    Mayor’s Invite – Bike Ride

    MAYOR INVITES FAMILIES TO PARTICIPATE IN JULY 16th BIKE RIDE

    Two-mile ride through Garfield Park promotes fitness for families and teaches bicycle safety

    INDIANAPOLIS – (June 29, 2011) Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard invites families to bring their bikes and helmets to Garfield Park on July 16 from 9 a.m. to noon for the “Indy Style Mayor’s Family Bike Ride, presented by Gray Goat Sports.” The two-mile route through the park will include stops along the way to participate in fun activities and learn about bicycle safety. Prior to the ride, Grey Goat Sports will offer bicycle safety inspections, and participants will have a chance to meet WISH-TV’s Indy Style hosts Andi Hauser and Tracy Forner.

    “Indianapolis is a bicycle-friendly community, and this family-friendly event is designed with Indy’s next generation of bicyclists in mind. Garfield Park provides an ideal setting for families to ride together and for kids to learn the rules of the road,” Mayor Ballard said.

    Riders will follow a path that weaves through historic Garfield Park and offers plenty of opportunities to hop off their bikes. At interactive stops, participants will be able to create a craft at the Arts Center, explore fitness activities on a playground, encounter critters at the Conservatory, and learn about bike safety from volunteers with the David S. Moore Foundation.

    Enjoy music, prizes, snacks and more at the “Indy Style Mayor’s Family Bike Ride, presented by Gray Goat Sports.” Bicyclists of all ages are encouraged to participate in this free event. Helmets are required for all participants.

    WHO: “Indy Style Mayor’s Family Bike Ride, presented by Gray Goat Sports”

    WHAT: Family bike ride with interactive stops

    WHERE: Garfield Park, Corporate Pavilion, 2432 Conservatory Drive

    WHEN: Saturday, July 16, 2011

    Bike route open from 9 a.m. to noon. Last bike inspection ends at 11 a.m.

    Holiday Trash Collection

    Trash Collection Schedule Adjusted for July 4th Holiday

    Curbside recycling and trash collection will operate on a slide schedule
    during the holiday week

    INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Department of Public Works (DPW) would like to remind residents that there will be NO curbside recycling, residential or heavy trash collection on Monday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.

    All residential trash, heavy trash and curbside recycling routes will run one day behind for the entire week. Monday routes will be serviced on Tuesday, July 5; Tuesday routes will be serviced on Wednesday, July 6; and so on. Friday routes will be serviced on Saturday, July 9. All services will return to normal schedules on Monday, July 11.

    For more information, please contact the Mayor’s Action Center at (317) 327-4622 (MAC).

    Indy Parks Presents Vintage Movie Night Summer Series

    INDIANAPOLIS – Indy Parks and Recreation’s Garfield Park Arts Center (GPAC) continues its Vintage Movie Night series with three new titles for summer!

    In June, laugh while watching the “W.C. Fields Comedy Night,” a compilation of some of his best short films including “The Fatal Glass of Beer” (1932), “The Golf Specialist” (1930) and “The Dentist” (1932).

    In July, check out “Sabaka” (1953) starring Nino Marcel, Boris Karloff and June Foray. This film is filled with drama and suspense and purportedly shot in India. June Foray is notable for being the voice of Rocky the Squirrel.

    In August, enjoy “The Hoosier Schoolmaster” (1935) with Norman Foster and Charlotte Henry. This rare film may be the only surviving projectable print.

    Vintage Move Nights is an ongoing monthly film series brought to you by the GPAC and presented by vintage film historian Eric Grayson. Tickets are available for $3 at the door or in advance by calling (317) 327-PARK. For more information on Indy Parks summer programming, please visit www.indyparks.org

    What: Vintage Movie Nights
    Where: Garfield Park Arts Center
    2432 Conservatory Drive
    Indianapolis
    When: June 18, July 23, and Aug. 20
    8 p.m. start time

    Enjoy Family Fun This Summer At Indy Parks Concert Series

    Eagle Creek Park events will feature music that both kids and adults can enjoy

    INDIANAPOLIS – The City of Indianapolis Parks and Recreation Department this summer brings family-friendly musicians to light up the stage at the Marina at Eagle Creek Park with the “Family Fun” concert series starting June 25. Kids and parents will be dancing and singing along as they enjoy this unique concert experience together.

    The Verve Pipe, Saturday, June 25 at 10 a.m.
    · Do you remember singing along with “The Freshmen?” This energetic rock band from East Lansing, Mich., has multitudes of fans and hits and is now touring the nation with a new album of fun, quirky and original family songs.

    Milkshake, Saturday, July 9 at 10 a.m.
    · This Grammy-nominated band is on a mission: to create great rock music for kids. An exciting departure from traditional kids’ music, the band’s distinctive sound and look has been featured on Noggin, PBS Kids and Discovery Kids.

    Justin Roberts, Saturday, July 23 at 10 a.m.
    · Called “The Paul McCartney of kids’ music” by USA Today, Roberts performs comic and soulful songs with creative twists-and-turns that parents will enjoy as much as their children. Truly one of the “all-stars” of the indie family music scene!

    General admission ticket prices are $6 or $2 off pre-sale if purchased by midnight prior to the day of the concert. Children ages 2 and under are free. For more information visit www.indyparks.org. For tickets, please call (800) 838-3006.

    Change To Board Of Zoning Appeals Voting Procedures Increases Transparency

    INDIANAPOLIS – City-County Councillor Aaron Freeman and Department of Metropolitan Development Director Maury Plambeck announced today that they have worked with the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) to provide more transparency on the BZA decisions. Effective June 7, the secretary of the BZA will now read each board member’s name and vote after each vote.

    Prior to this change, the BZA’s votes were available for public inspection after the meeting. Though this process complied with state law, it had the unintended consequence of making it more difficult for the public to know the outcome of a BZA decision.

    Councillor Freeman, who represents District 25, which includes all of Franklin Township and portions of Warren Township, spearheaded this change with Director Plambeck.

    “The shift to a more immediate presentation of each vote at the Board of Zoning Appeals is a small step, but it is yet another step forward in our quest for more transparency,” explained Councillor Freeman. “I am pleased we moved forward with this change, and I will continue to be work closely with Mayor Ballard’s administration to find any opportunity to find ways to be more open and transparent in each and every part of local government.”

    The BZA holds public hearings and makes decisions on variances of the zoning ordinances, special exceptions specifically allowed by the zoning ordinances, appeals of administrative decisions, and approval petitions for modifications of previously approved petitions. Because of the large number of petitions filed in Marion County, there are three divisions of the BZA.