05-10-10 Common Council Meeting Minutes

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING MAY 10, 2010 are currently provided by South Bend Animal Control, and will blend in with the balance of the uses within Kennedy Park. Mr. Mike Danch, President, Danch, Harner & Associates, 1643 Commerce Drive, South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill. Mr. Danch advised that this rezoning is to allow for the new Animal Shelter for the City of South Bend. The location is at the southwester corner of Kennedy Park. He stated that the existing building will be added onto along with reducing the 2 ½ acres of parking area down to 30 spaces. Visitor parking will be on the south side of the building. On the north will be a secure parking lot for the City employees. Access will be off Eclipse Place. th Ms. Catherine Toppel, Director, Code Enforcement, 13 Floor County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, Indiana, spoke in favor of the bill. Ms. Toppel advised that she wanted to address the noise issue. She stated that there will be no outdoor runs. All kennels will face inward and be open above (skyward), but not visible from the street. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. The following individuals spoke in favor of the bill: Ms. Valerie Schey, 1314 E. Wayne Street North, South Bend, Indiana, spoke in favor of this bill. Ms. Schey advised that she is Founder and President of CARE of South Bend. She stated that after moving here she began volunteering at various shelters and after some not so pleasant experiences at the St. Joseph County Human Society, she started volunteering at South Bend Animal Control and found them to much more cooperative. At that time she noticed that Animal Control needed to raise money and donations to help build a new facility for the many animals that the City takes in each year. Ms. Schey stated that she founded C.A.R.E. (Community Animal Rescue Effort of South a not for profit, 501(C) 3 organization that was incorporated in June of 2008. She stated that it was created to serve an unmet need for the South Bend Animal Shelter, C.A.R.E. works to support South Bend Animal Care Control (SBACC) through volunteer and fundraising activities. The funds raised will go toward providing assistance with the cost of medical care for the animals at SBACC. She noted that some of those expenses are spay and neuter surgeries, routine, as well as, emergency medical care (when needed) and assistance for the animals in the care of SBACC Foster Homes. Ms. Schey reiterated the desperate need for a new facility. Mr. Bill Sykes, 18927 Darden Road, South Bend, Indiana, spoke in favor of this bill. Mr. Sykes advised that there would be numerous benefits to having a new shelter. Children could go on field trips to educate them on animal care and welfare. They would experience first hand the compassion that the staff at SBACC has towards the animals they take in. He urged the Council’s favorable recommendation. Mr. Tony Trica, 139 Camden Street, South Bend, Indiana, stated that there is great need for a new shelter. The present facility is in inadequate condition, due to its age of 100 years old and original construction as a fire station. He stated that SBACC treats over 4,000 animals yearly from over 7,000 annual service calls. There was no one present wishing to speak in opposition to the bill. Councilmember Henry Davis asked if there had been collaborative talks with the owners of Bosch/Honeywell to clean-up their parking lots of the overgrown vegetation. 5