07-24-06 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JULY 24, 2006 RESOLVE INTO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE At 7:20 p.m., Councilmember Pfeifer made a motion to resolve into the Committee of the Whole. Councilmember Dieter seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. Councilmember Kelly, presiding. Councilmember Kelly explained the procedures to be followed for tonight’s meeting in accordance with Article 1, Section 2-11 of the South Bend Municipal Code and that pamphlets were available to the public, which outline the Council rules and procedures, and are located on the railing in the Council Chambers. PUBLIC HEARINGS BILL NO. 36-06 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, ANNEXING TO AND BRINGING WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, CERTAIN LAND IN GERMAN TOWNSHIP, CONTIGUOUS THEREWITH: COUNCILMANIC DISTRICT 1, MICHIANA LUTHERAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, INC. & NICAD, INC., NIMTZ PARKWAY AND OLIVE ROAD JUST 1/8 MILE WEST OF THE US 31 BY-PASS Councilmember Kuspa, Chairperson, Zoning and Annexation Committee, reported that this committee held a Public Hearing on this bill this afternoon and voted to send it to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. Ms. Jacqueline Sells Homann, President, Board of Directors, Michiana Lutheran Education Association, Inc., Attorney at Law, 600 Key Bank Building, 202 South Michigan Street, P.O. Box 4577, South Bend, IN 46634, made the presentation for this bill. Ms. Homann advised that Mr. Phil McClure is also present who is the Facility Chairperson, Michiana Lutheran Education Association Inc. MLEA is association of Lutheran Churches here in this area. They have been operating Resurrection Lutheran Academy since 1998. The current school is located at St. Paul Lutheran Church on Auten Road, and are outgrowing this facility. So several years they have been looking for a suitable location for the school in the South Bend/Mishawaka Area. They went through a number of feasibility studies to determine what would be the best location those feasibility studies identified both the northwest portion of South Bend as well as the Southwest portion of Mishawaka as possible locations for the school. This location seems to be the obvious location to put Resurrection Lutheran Academy. In light of the feasibility studies that had already been done. They have been working for several years for the proposed development on Resurrection Lutheran Academy at this location. The location is on Nimtz Parkway and Olive Road. They own a portion on Olive Road and most of the frontage is on Nimtz Parkway. They have been working with a developer and an architect regarding this development. They do meet the requirements of the Indiana Code and believe this annexation will be good for South Bend because it will support the Blackthorn Development and the northwest residential developments. They have had the opportunity to talk with some of the neighbors, who are happy to have them there, they think. They have not received any negative comments from any of the neighbors. They believe that it is good for the educational system in the area of South Bend. The northwest portion of the city, does not have a lot a parochial or private school opportunities there. They believe that this is an appropriate spot to offer some additional educational opportunities in that area. They are into the design phase for the school, which they hope to open by fall of 2007. They are proposing a 23,000 square foot school with grades ranging from pre-school through eighth grade. It will house 220 children, with room to expand on the site, and also have room for sports facilities, such as soccer, baseball fields, and also house a junior high size gymnasium inside the school facility. They are happy to work with the City and its requirements to make sure that they meet all 6