James Brainard - Mayor of City of Carmel

Name: In Office: Address: Telephone: Website:

James Brainard 1996 - Present One Civic Square, City Hall Carmel, IN 46032 317-571-2401 www.carmel.in.gov

Mayor Brainard is focused on better land use planning that encourages
instead of discourages walking and alternative transportation.  Zoning has been “automobile focused” since World War II, and as a result most suburban residents cannot walk anywhere they need to go.  However, Carmel is a leader in “new urbanism” with both greenfield  and redevelopment projects that include mixed use housing, and walking and biking paths where a resident can live, shop, play and work within a ten minute walk.

Doubling in size in less than a decade, Carmel is home to nearly forty new roundabouts and many reconstructed streets and boulevards with many new trees. New E85 and bio-diesel stations mark cleaner auto emissions opportunities, for the public, schools, and private use.  Park land during the Mayor’s terms has increased from 40 acres to 700 at present.  A 2005 Executive Order requires new City vehicles purchased to be alternative fuel or hybrid vehicles when such are reasonably available in the marketplace.

Wind Energy is at the forefront of current projects as a meteorological
tower is being erected for specific measurements to determine the
number and size of wind-driven electric generators.  A solar-powered
dryer which also uses 80% waste methane gas from the city wastewater treatment plant to help dry waste solids for other uses is new.  A new bus route will provide transportation for Carmel workers in and out of the City, and Mayor Brainard is Chairman of a regional multi-city mass transit committee which is looking at transportation alternatives including light rail options.   Green and LEED housing and commercial building projects are presently being considered for the future of Carmel, along with solar panel and roof options.

The Mayor and other City officials drive hybrid vehicles and flex fuel
vehicles.  The supply of alternative fuels will increase dramatically over
the next year as new plants under construction in Indiana become fully
operational.

Snapshot of Cool Achievements

• 2007: A bus transit system expanded to transport Carmel workers to and from the major business centers will begin in the fall.  Soy bio-diesel fuel (B20) has become the standard diesel fuel for public school buses and city fleet vehicles, providing substantially cleaner exhaust emissions.  $400,000 in new trees have been planted in the City of Carmel.  A new central and local water and exercise park  center directly accessible by citizens walking or biking via the Monon Trail linear parkway was opened in the spring.
• 2006: The first E85 fueling stations opened for use in flex-fuel vehicles, which are expected to be used widely in the mid-western United States.  A city-wide smoking ban was implemented in the City of Carmel as one of the objectives of cleaner air and healthier citizens.
• 2005: Mayor Brainard issued an Executive Order requiring all new City vehicles purchased, be alternative fuel or hybrid vehicles when such vehicles are available in the marketplace.
• 1998: Beginning of major efforts to install intersection Roundabouts which increase traffic flow, reduce emissions and accidents, and require less energy for traffic signal infrastructure. Also, incorporating new urbanism guidelines into developments and planning and overlay zoning became a focus.
• 1996: Dramatic expansion of the park acreage, and movement to complete the Monon Trail linear park for walking and biking paths.  Efforts to develop a City Center with cultural facilities that could be accessed by walking and biking began. 

A Cool Quote

“My sincere hope is that Carmel, Indiana will be known as one of the
best American cities in which to live; that it will have world class facilities which enhance its quality of life and family-friendly environment, while still being affordable and maintaining low taxes for its citizens, and while providing such benefits in a clean and healthy environment for its highly motivated and educated citizens.”