11-30-10 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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SPECIAL MEETING NOVEMBER 30, 2010 We have lost sight of where we want to be. He stated that we have heard tonight about vision and he talks about that vision with his players making it to the Major Leagues. Mr. Haley stated that he has a vision in the Council to do the right thing step up to the plate and do the right thing. Rob Kuhn, 51415 Stoneybrook Dr. Granger, Indiana, stated that he is here today to speak for the youth of today and future. He stated that he has been involved with Harris Twp. Baseball and Softball in Granger, Indiana for eleven (11) years. He stated that he has managed the team and spent three years on the Executive Board and the past two years as the President. One of the benefits that the Silverhawks have offered to their league is called a Night at the Cove. He stated that this a valuable fund raiser for the league and gives the children the opportunity to enjoy attending a night of baseball right here in South Bend. He doubted than anyone would disagree that organized sports is a great tool to teach our youth the humility of losing and the graciousness of winning. They also learn the responsibility of learning to interact with others while learning both team and individual play. There is no doubt that the lessons learned from an organized sport will aid them in their future. Time spent at the Coveleski Stadium watching great baseball honors one of the great past times that they have had and gives time spent with family and friends. He stated that he has spent time at the Cove with his two boys and wife and they treasure that time together. He stated that they were a part of the adopt a family program which allows players time to spend with families allowing the players to explain the greatness of the game and the effort it takes to make it to their level. He stated that it was a treat for his boys to be around the players. Mr. Kuhn advised how does this tie into the funding for the Cove, he stated that if current trends continue kids will not learn how to interact with their peers or communicate with each other. He stated that he fears we will lose our youth the impersonal electronic games and continue the trend of obesity. He stated that he also fears of losing a game that promotes exercise, team and individual play. We need to continue to invest in the Park system in South Bend like the Cove and encourage parents to spend time there. Many of the improvements will aid in attracting youth there. Dick Nussbaum, 210 S. Michigan Street, South Bend, Indiana, complemented Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand for her first-class job of legal work in this conflict question. He stated that he spent 10 years as the ethic officer for the City of South Bend as the City Attorney and was also the ethic’s officer for the Lt. Governor’s Office for about six years. He stated that he feels like he know a little something about ethic’s law within the State of Indiana. A valid question was raised there was some ideas as to how that should be handled. He stated that he feels that the Council got the best answer and the best piece of work that could be asked from the Council Attorney. Mr. Nussbaum stated that Mark Haley, has been the manager for the Silverhawks for the past five years and that is something that is unheard of in this business. Usually what the managers do is they try to move up the ladder and try get to the Major Leagues too. He stated that Mark Haley has had that opportunity as well, but has turned it down so he can raise his family here in South Bend. So when he gets a little emotional, he puts his actions where his mouth is. He has made a commitment here in South Bend and should be thanked for that. He stated that there has been some discussion about Ft. Wayne. He stated this past year in 2010 South Bend had drawn approximately 120,000 fans. Ft. Wayne drew about 380,000 fans and for his money, South Bend is a much better sports town then Ft. Wayne. But they have a first class facility in Ft. Wayne and is really the only reason in his mind why they have drawn 380,000 and we have drawn 120,000. About five years ago the City of Ft. Wayne made a decision. They had a facility that was out on Coliseum Blvd. and someone mentioned at the last meeting: location, location, location, was important, because he was talking about that facility on Coliseum Blvd., and the City of Ft. Wayne with a Republican City Council made a decision that that facility was not going to make it. And so, they decided that that facility that was built in 1994 to abandoned that facility and authorized construction on a new facility in 2007 and opened in 2008. It is really one of the great facilities in Minor League Baseball right now. Mr. Nussbaum stated that he has been to all of the minor league parks in the Midwest and some others as well. Mr. Nussbaum stated that the improvements that are being asked for the Cove are not going to bring the park to the level of Ft. Wayne, that’s just not going to happen. He stated that the list of amenities being asked for will bring the field to the point that Mark Haley 15