05/14/07 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING MAY 14, 2007 catering commissions. A buck coming in to the NFF is a buck, no matter what the source. And, to give the Tribune its due, what objectivity can we expect from a paper whose editorial board has pumped out 25-30 fawning editorials over the years in support of the financially-challenged Hall? I have no doubt that the ditors really believe that the Hall had a "profit" in 06. The truth, however, cannot be ignored that the Hall can only operate with a large subsidy of tax dollars, as these figures from the attached operating statement show: Total Operation Expenses $1,601,973 Total Operating Revenue (less South Bend's subsidy from two Taxes: Hotel-Motel and PSDF) 1,128,259 Actual operating loss for the Hall On its own merits 473,714 But don't look for this headline anytime soon in the Tribune: "Hall's huge loss paid by local government." Or, even "One-third of Hall's revenues comes from taxes." It is important that South Bend and St. Joseph County officials look at the Hall's operating reports with this thought in mind: How is the Hall doing on its own merits, i.e., without subsidies from local government? The ten-year operating projections for the Hall prepared by the Economic Research Associates of Chicago in 1993 were used to "sell" the Hall to the public. On the revenue side there was no mention of tax money, direct subsidies from South Bend or even sponsorships that would be needed for the Hall's operation. For years 6-10 of the projections, the Hall was predicted to have annual net income of $543,000 to $561,000. The Hall's operations have always been substantially in the red and remain so. What the Tribune printed last week was highly misleading. And, lest we forget, South Bend taxpayers paid another annual installment of about $1.4 million for the 17-year bond issue to pay for the Hall and its exhibits. This is in addition to the two taxes totaling $570,271 for the Hall's operations. Councilmember Dieter asked Councilmember Puzzello, as Chairperson of the PARC Committee to set up and update meeting from Mr. Walls regarding the College Football Hall of Fame. COMMENTS FROM MR. STEPHEN RANGE CONCERNING PIT BULL TERRIERS Mr. Range stated that he is here tonight representing The American Muscle Foundation. The purpose of being present tonight is to stimulate awareness to the citizens of South Bend and make clear to the Legal Department, the Residential Neighborhood Committee of the South Bend Common Council, and to the Department of Code Enforcement, that the City of South Bend is in violation of the Municipal Code Article 2. (Animal Control Commission) and Section 5-3 (Establishment and duties of the Animal Control Commission) from beginning to end Section 5-6 (Meeting, Agendas, and minutes of the Commission) Establishment, and duties, are not being met. Foremost, the membership of the Animal Control Commission according to municipal code Article 2. Section 5-4 does not have reality or being. Mr. Range submitted the following letter: I, Stephen Alexander Range will like to show my undivided comment at this time in becoming a member of the Animal Control Commission, if at all possible Chairperson of the Animal Control Commission of South Bend, and to ask the South Bend Common Council Members according to Section 5-4. (Membership and quorum of Commission) to appoint me a member of the Animal Control Commission. But having much more significance and denomination at this time is the harmful, heartless, and inhuman domino effect this have on South Bend Citizens. South Bend Citizens civil liberties, privileges, constitution and municipal code rights are being desecrated by Animal Control and the Department of Code Enforcement because the Animal Control Commission is not in attendance. 30