Tom Cherry

"We have been trying pretty diligently to catch the city up in terms of appropriate costs, in particular, making sure that, quite frankly, developments are paying for themselves, the city is getting compensated adequately," Mayor Austin Bonta told council members.

The city of Portage is easing some regulations on contractors and businesses. An ordinance adopted by the city council last week removes the requirement for contractors to take a written test and for some smaller projects to be overseen by a general contractor.

Plans for a new Portage subdivision continue moving ahead. Providence Real Estate Development has been looking to build a combination of single-family homes, cottage homes and paired villas on 120 acres north of County Road 700 North between 450 and 500 West.

Portage Mayor Austin Bonta presided over his first city council meeting Tuesday. "What I could say is that the first two days has been like drinking out of a fire hose, but I absolutely love it," Bonta said during his first mayor's report. "It has just been such a joy."