09-25-06 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 25, 2006 Councilmember Varner stated that one of the responsibilities and duties as a Councilmember is to see to it that when an issue like the greenhouse comes up, that the Council has all the information presented to them, and good information is essential in making the right decision. The Council has an obligation to look into the Greenhouse issue deeper. An honest chance needs to be given and that has not happened. All options need to be looked at whether or not to keep the greenhouse open or having to close it, because it may not be fiscally responsible to do so. Councilmember Puzzello, stated that because this part of the budget has to be passed by st the 1 of October, she did not think that the Council would have time to look at the Greenhouse issue properly to see where cuts could possibly be made to keep it open. She stated that she is in favor of passing the budget as it stands now, with no funding for the greenhouse, however, when the Mayor and the Administration look at possible funding opportunities that the Council be involved in that process and the best Committee is the PARC Committee, headed by Councilmember Dieter, to be part of the process in finding money to keep the Greenhouse open. Councilmember Kelly stated that this is not an easy thing to do. There has been an outpouring of citizen support for the greenhouses and conservatories. He stated that the rd Council should do all in their power to save them. This exists in the 3 District, which he noted that he was elected to represent, so this is a passionate issue for him. Many, many citizens of the District have signed a petition indicating their support and now the next questions is the support of finding money. That is the critical issue here, no question about it. To maintain the greenhouse and conservatory in the right fashion will take a lot of money, and how the City goes about getting that, whether it is by foundations, grants, or donations, this is an issue that is near and dear to his heart. He noted that the greenhouse and conservatory have been a part of the community for a great number of years and he would like keep it that way. Councilmember Pfeifer stated that it is always a good thing when community members get excited and become involved in issues that are of concern in the City. She stated that she does not have a problem passing this bill the way that it has been presented. She stated that she has every faith that the Administration and the Council will work together and do everything possible to resolve the Greenhouse issue. Councilmember Dieter thanked Mayor Luecke for reconsidering looking at the Greenhouse and Conservatory and stated that he believes very confidently that the funding can be found through the community and various departments like the Historic Preservation Commission and through grants and donations. th Mayor Luecke, 14 Floor County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, Indiana, stated that he committed in the Committee Meeting this afternoon, that the Administration will put together more detailed figures within a thirty (30) day period, to bring back to the Council, along with Councilmember Dieter, Chairperson, PARCS Committee will be a part of that process, along with Catherine Hostetler, Director, Historic Preservation Commission to include her in the process as well. Mayor Luecke stated that Phil St. Clair, Director of the Parks Department, has had architects in the buildings before to look at a number of different scenarios. Mr. St. Clair had them there before to inquire on what it would take to completely renovate the entire complex or what would it take to move the entire complex. The Park Department contemplated moving this facility into the Zoo. The direction at this point is to say, what are some different options, if the greenhouse is removed and the conservatory is kept. What would the cost be, not only to do the needed repairs, but also to try to estimate an operating budget? Another option would be to keep some of the original greenhouses plus the conservatories, and then what would that cost be? Both capital and operational cost. The Mayor reiterated his commitment to come back to the table with that. Mayor Luecke stated to Council President Rouse that he could not commit that the Administration would have a resolution to what he is asking for. But the Mayor stated that he would come back with numbers that talk about what is needed to do it, and then engage and enter into conversation with the Council about finding resources to do that together. The key issue here is not the capital side, generally you can get dollars to make repairs or 8