06-13-11 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JUNE 13, 2011 Councilmember Henry Davis asked Mayor Luecke to do the right thing, regardless if they don’t put the board together. Councilmember Henry Davis asked if the 1.2 million dollars is not given to the St. Joseph High School property would it stop the development. He stated that he was told no. So why are still asking for this. Mayor Luecke advised that they are investing a million dollars to bring a 35 million dollar investment into the community. He stated that they have not reached the full 35 million dollar fund raising goal at this point, and adding another 1.2 million dollars on top of on what is an extraordinary goal is a very difficult challenge. He believes that it is appropriate for the City to be a partner with them as they move forward. Councilmember Henry Davis asked if they were getting any tax revenue from this. Mayor Luecke stated no. The site is currently a tax exempt site and it will continue to be a tax exempt site. He stated that they don’t any tax revenue from the South Bend Community School Corporation projects that have been suggested that they invest in as well. Councilmember Henry Davis stated that is comparing apples to oranges, public versus private institutions. Public school is what we all pay for through out tax dollars and checks that we earn or maybe even not, but we still pay for it. Private institutions are what we pay out extra if we choose to go to those institutions. He stated that there is a choice either or, but the public is allow to us or given to us just by being a resident of the City of South Bend. So you can’t compare the two. Mayor Luecke stated that Councilmember Davis was very insistent upon the City spending money to put traffic signals at a private school. Councilmember Henry Davis stated that it was for the safety of the children walking across a busy highway. That it would be in the city’s best interest before a lawsuit was filed because someone got hit by a motorist going 50 mph down the street with no police patrol is a hazard to the whole community. He stated that he was very persistent on that issue and thanked Mayor Luecke for his help on that. He stated that he feels that was the right thing to do. However, he does not feel the same way about St. Joseph High School when they are already going to spend 35 million, what is 1.2 million to them. They have already got it. Mayor Luecke stated no they don’t. Councilmember Henry Davis stated that there are better places to spend that money and he could go on for days about District 2, about the things that they need over there and for the city to act like it is nothing is a shame and he is embarrassed. Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski stated that at the Personnel & Finance Committee Meeting a suggestion was made that perhaps the Public Benefit Test which was set forth in Mr. Leone’s the City Attorney’s memorandum be included as part of the amendment to the bill where it is limiting to the four (4) items. The purposed language would go in Section I right after all for items Site Consolidation for 1.2 million; Utility Relocation $60,000; River walk Repairs $50,000; Equipment Investment $40,000 and right after that the Council could consider the following language: “The site consolidation appropriation of $1.2 million dollars is subject to a written agreement setting forth in detail the public benefits which shall be provided to the citizens of South Bend. Such public benefits must include, but shall not be limited to the use of the outside athletic field by the South Bend Community School Corporation and other public entities on dates when St. Joseph High School does not have a conflicting scheduled event; and to have access to other limited indoor venues during the Summer on dates when the school does not have a conflicting scheduled event. Such written agreement shall be filed with the Office of the Clerk.” She stated that is a separate amendment in light of the discussion that took place between 13