02-08-10 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 8, 2010 RESOLVE INTO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE At 7:04 p.m. Councilmember Oliver Davis made a motion to resolve into the Committee of the Whole. Councilmember Varner seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. Councilmember Puzzello, Chairperson, presiding. Councilmember Puzzello explained the procedures to be followed for tonight’s meeting in accordance with Article 1, Section 2-11 of the South Bend Municipal Code. Councilmember Puzzello stated that a brochure may be found on the railing in the Council Chambers explaining those procedures. PUBLIC HEARINGS BILL NO. 06-10 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, APPROPRIATING $142,000 RECEIVED FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR THE WEED & SEED PROGRAM Councilmember Rouse, Chairperson, Community and Economic Development Committee, reported that this Committee held a Public Hearing on this bill this afternoon and voted to send it to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. th Ms. Pam Meyer, Director, Community Development, 12 Floor County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill. Ms. Meyer advised that this bill would appropriate the second year of funding for Weed & Weed site #2 Northwest from the Department of Justice (DOJ). The grant award of $142,000 is for the period of October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010. She stated that these funds are being used for programming related to the Weed & Seed required areas of Law Enforcement, Community Policing and, Prevention, Intervention and Treatment activities. Included in this year’s funding are police patrols, the time of a targeted prosecuting attorney, graffiti paint over supplies, Bridges Out of Poverty classes, a billboard art contest for youth, and items related to an after school program. These activities are continuing the multi-year effort for Site #2. Councilmember Rouse asked when the next proposal and discussion is going to take place if and when there is money that becomes available for the Weed & Seed Program. Ms. Meyer stated that they would begin to prepare the actual application in the next coming weeks and the actual application is due sometime mid March. Councilmember Rouse stated that there was some discussion during the Community and Economic Development Committee Meeting that the deadline is coming up quickly and wondered how it can be addressed with a grass roots effort to inform the public and get the information regarding this grant out there. Ms. Meyer stated that the way that the Weed & Seed Program is structured is that there is a steering committee which is a requirement of the program and dictates pretty much who in terms of position sits on this committee. She noted that there are people from various neighborhood groups, churches, agencies or others who have activities within the Weed & Seed Area who also sit on this committee. She stated that there are also subcommittees that are required and have other people who are residents of the area that are not on the steering committee who are involved in this process. Ms. Meyer stated that the way that it is supposed to work is that those people are vehicles and are to report back to their various organizations to pass on that kind of information. She noted that the Weed & Seed Program is a very structured program and that there are only certain kinds of activities that can be applied for. She stated that many people come to the meeting and think that the weed & seed money can be used to rehab a house or make improvements to 2