04-09-18 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING April 9, 2018 Ms. Hunsberger replied, Well, if you're standing in front of our property, on the sidewalk, I will come outside and ask you to leave. I'm not going to call the police but in our experience,that has worked. Councilmember Tim Scott stated, I understand what you are saying but no one has a right to tell anyone to not be in a public right of way. Also, did you look at any other location along Lincoln Way West and what was the involvement level of our Department of Community Investment? Ms. Hunsberger replied, This was the only property we looked at. The reason for that is because we are funded by the community of South Bend and we had donors who were ready. We knew we needed an expanded location on the West Side of South Bend. Our Chapin Street facility is not adequate. We had donors who were willing to fund the purchase of the property because of its location. Councilmember Jo M. Broden asked, If this is a written commitment, it stays with the land, correct? Mr. Palmer confirmed, That is correct. Councilmember Jo M. Broden followed up, So that means if your services aren't successful and you leave that location, anybody who comes in after you, that same written commitment would stand. How would that be handled? Ms. Smith replied, Prior to us changing the actual zone map,the written commitment would have to be recorded in the Recorder's Office and fully executed. That would then tie it to the property in perpetuity and would show up in any title or deed work that would then be done. If it wanted to be removed, they would have to go through the public process. The written commitment is enforceable by the City, the City Legal Team, the Department needed to enforce it as well as property owners within three hundred(300) feet of the property in question. Ms. Hunsberger replied, We are not leaving. Councilmember Jo M. Broden followed up, I understand that, I just wanted to have the impact and depth of the commitment to be understood. Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston asked, Is it possible to get a list of all your Centers that are located next to abortion clinics?The point you make is interesting and I would like to do more research on that. Ms. Hunsberger confirmed, Yes. Councilmember Oliver Davis asked, If your neighbors decide to buy another property, will you then follow them? Will we see this happen again? Ms. Hunsberger replied, We have several criteria for choosing a location. You will notice that in South Bend, our Chapin Street location has never been next to an abortion clinic. So we opened there because we needed a neighborhood clinic and wanted to be able to serve women well. This location for us hits our criteria for high visibility and it is easily accessible for the women we need to serve. It will also be a large Center for us. Whether or not the proposed abortion clinic opens its doors, we will open there and we will stay there. Councilmember Oliver Davis followed up, So if they move up the road and open up, you will not move? Ms. Hunsberger replied, No. Councilmember Oliver Davis followed up, Secondly, is there any consideration to keep your Chapin Street facility open? Ms. Hunsberger replied, You asked that question at the earlier meeting. We are committed to the clients who come to us at Chapin. Many of them use several Centers because that location is too 11