06-13-11 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JUNE 13, 2011 with a format in terms of how they assess the funding process. What standard does the Council have, what are the goals for the community and not just certain segments of the community, but the community at large? She stated that the Council has a responsibility to make sure that South Bend the total city is the best for all of the citizens. She reiterated again that in terms of the Family Dollar Store, she heard from St. Joe High School tonight that whether the funds are given or not they are going to build. She stated that she appreciates their commitment to building downtown. She stated that the administration needs to look at other means in terms of supporting St. Joseph High School with out taxpayer dollars. She stated that they need to use those dollars quite differently. She stated that is where she is at in terms of the planning process they need to articulate the process to the community, to the constituents and need to have ample opportunity for input and need to schedule special meetings so that individuals can come and that they can be heard and the Council can respond to them as well. She challenged the Council to give full consideration to the point that she has raised as well as the administration. Council President Dieter stated that he appreciates everybody’s comments regardless of what side they are on. He stated that unfortunately he thinks that this can turn out to be one of the biggest problems that South Bend has and that is the basic acceptance of mediocrity whether it’s east side; west side they are starting to divide the city into east, west and he stated that he can tell everyone right now that the City of South Bend Police Department spends at least 70% if not more of it’s resources overtime, manpower etc. on the west side of town. He stated that is the fact of the matter. Developing he stated that he cannot really speak to that; however, they try to do as much as they can on Lincolnway, and at LaSalle Square. He stated that with this specific issue people that either just don’t like St. Joe High School or the Catholic Religion which is fine, but in the end, he doesn’t think they should hold anything against a fine institution such as St. Joe and what they are trying to do there and if they would have not raised that money which is a phenomenal amount of money, he couldn’t imagine it is almost half of what the city budget comes up. He stated that he doesn’t know of any other private company or business that could raise that much money. He gives them credit and if the City of South Bend can help them, if they could have helped someone else in the same predicament which they did with the Kroc Center, so the precedent has been set, the City did help them with a million dollars, and then the City should help St. Joe. The use of the field which will be great and appreciates the offer that the St. Joe High School Community will make for that is great. The facilities in the public schools are use by St. Joe and they are not free, St. Joe has to pay to use those facilities. He stated that he believes it is a fabulous idea that the public schools will be able to use the facilities at St. Joe. On Friday nights when either St. Joe doesn’t play there or even on Saturday night when they do there would be things going on at that side of town on weekends and during the week. He stated that yes there could have been much more communication to the Council when this started and there could have been a better way to purchase that property along time ago and the City could have gotten it a lot cheaper, so that’s not the Council’s fault and he is not sure of who’s fault that is and is not his to judge. But in the end, it will be a great thing for South Bend totally and that they are going to make the commitment that all the public would be able to use the facility so once this does come up for a vote he will be in favor of it. Councilmember Rouse stated that unfortunately the whole education environment has changed when HEA 1003 was passed the separation of tax dollars becomes sort of hazy, because you can get a voucher and spend it in the private sector and that includes Catholic Schools. He stated that he is hazy on the accusation that money isn’t spent on the West Side when the natatorium is on the West Side. The Kroc Center is located on the West Side; Ignition Park is west of Michigan Street and located on the West Side. He reiterated that he is a little hazy when Councilmember’s state that they are not investing money on the West Side of South Bend. He stated that he doesn’t quite understand how to partner with a 35 million dollar facility and take 1.2 million as a partnership and use that facility for the South Bend Community School Corporation. He stated that he thinks it would be remiss not to pass this bill with the MOA’s and the MOU’s that have been suggested to this body. It is not so that the only investments are going up on the east side of South Bend, there are investments going up all over this great city. He stated that he 23