03-22-10 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING MARCH 22, 2010 PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR COMMENTS FROM NANCY KING REGARDING TRANSPO INCREASING FARE’S Nancy King, 4145 Park South Blvd., South Bend, Indiana, spoke regarding TRANSPO increasing their fares. Ms. King stated that there are people who are transitioning out of poverty and struggling to make ends meet who need the services that TRANSPO provides. She stated that now is not the time to increase fares. She noted that TRANSPO’s budget has increased due to salaries and benefits and that should be the first place to look to cut. She urged TRANSPO to look to other means. COMMENTS FROM GEORGE LANE REGARDING MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS George Lane, CEO & Chairman, Citizens for the Accountability of Government, Inc., 2405 Division Street, Mishawaka, Indiana, Mr. Lane stated that the way appointments made to Boards/Commissions are made are lopsided. He used the Redevelopment Commission as an example. He stated that the Mayor has three (3) appointments and the Council has two (2). He stated that makes the voting lopsided and in favor of the Mayor. COMMENTS FROM DAVE FRANK REGARDING PUBLIC ACCESS MICHIANA Mr. Dave Frank, (no address given) spoke regarding Public Access Michiana. Mr. Frank stated that the City of South Bend is in the worst shape that it has been in over 60 years. Mr. Frank commended Mr. George Lane, CEO & Chairman, Citizens for the Accountability of Government, Inc. and his efforts in giving the citizens of Michiana a voice in their community. COMMENTS FROM RITA KOPALA REGARDING PUBLIC ACCESS MICHIANA Rita Kopala, 66559 Ivy Road, Lakeville, Indiana, stated that she agrees with Mr. Lane that the City of South Bend needs public access. She stated that she attends many meetings, county, state, city, and township meetings all or most of the time. She stated that sometimes the news reporters are there and sometimes there is no coverage at all. She stated that the South Bend Tribune has gotten a lot thinner and reporting on those meetings sometimes never gets printed. She urged the Tribune to get the facts not their version of what they think is happening. Ms. Kopala stated that if she wants to read a story she will go to the library. She stated that without Public Access Michiana the only source of information is the newspaper and they need to get the facts out to the public. COMMENTS FROM NORMAN MILCHERSKA REGARDING ACCOUNTABILITY Norma Milcherska, 20025 Jewell Avenue, South Bend, Indiana, spoke regarding accountability. He commended Councilmember Henry Davis for his actions tonight. He stated that he is in the same pickle trying to get rid of a dictatorship. Mr. Milcherska stated that he lost five (5) cousins in WW II trying to rid a dictatorship. Mr. Milcherska also spoke of the Alamo which was a battle for “Freedom of Choice.” He urged the Council to pursue Public Access Michiana because South Bend needs a voice in the community. COMMENTS FROM JERRY NIEZGODSKI REGARDING LASALLE SQUARE Mr. Niezgodski spoke regarding LaSalle Square Shopping Center. He stated that the Mayor had earmarked Tax Incremental Finance (TIF) dollars from the Airport Economic Development Area (AEDA) in the amount of $2.5 million dollars for the LaSalle Square shopping complex. Mr. Niezgodski stated since then the AEDA has been expanded a couple of time once allowing the Portage Prairie Development into the AEDA and again tonight with Bill No. 10-15 which was continued until the April 12, 2010 meeting of the Council to allow Ignition Park South, Ignition Park West, Ivy Tech/Gorny Plaza and Airport Industrial Park, Phase 2 into the AEDA. He stated that he was in favor of allowing Portage Prairie with some reservations. He stated that to date there has been monies spent in 2008 and 2009 on LaSalle Square but needed to confirm the dollar amounts. Mr. Niezgodski stated that the Council supported these TIF dollars to be used at LaSalle Square and urged the Council to follow through on their commitment. 16