City Council July 6, 2026

The City Council of Muncie held a meeting on July 6, 2026, which included significant procurement-related discussions primarily focused on economic development and capital improvement projects. A key agenda item was the consideration of a five-year tax abatement request by Astimo Indiana, Inc. for approximately $9.4 million in new manufacturing equipment to support expansion and modernization of their facility. The council received detailed presentations on the company's operations, investment plans, job retention and creation, and community engagement efforts. The tax abatement was recommended favorably by the tax abatement committee and subsequently approved by the council, with an estimated company savings of about $259,668 and a projected new tax increment of $34,564 for the city. Additionally, the council discussed and tabled resolutions related to the Fire Station Number Five project, with plans to address these in committee for further review. The meeting also covered zoning ordinance amendments, including the adoption of the McKinley Neighborhood Overlay District aimed at guiding future development with design standards and community input. The council received updates on a comprehensive zoning code rewrite project intended to modernize and streamline city development regulations. Public comments addressed community concerns including homelessness and local governance issues. Overall, the meeting involved multiple procurement and policy decisions impacting local economic development, capital projects, and urban planning.