11-14-11 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 14, 2011 BILL NO. 66-11 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, APPROPRIATING $60,000 IN CITY GENERAL FUND #101 CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT FOR ILLEGAL DUMPING CLEANUP ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED BY SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT AND REIMBURSED FROM GENERAL FUND #101 TO SOLID WASTE OPERATING FUND #610 IN 2011 Councilmember LaFountain, Chairperson, Personnel & Finance Committee reported that this committee held a meeting this afternoon and it was the consensus of the committee to send this bill to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. th Mayor Stephen Luecke, 14 Floor County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill. Mayor Luecke advised that the administration has determined that an increased occurrence of illegal dumping activities has developed in the city whereas, clean-up activity expenditures is beyond the 2011 budgetary scope of city operations responsible for the expenditures of illegal dumping clean-up activities. He stated that this bill would allow for the creation of an additional crew within the Solid Waste Department operation, to perform the clean-up activities. The appropriation would cover personnel costs for additional crew, equipment operations costs (fuel and repair), landfill tipping fees and other miscellaneous expense. This appropriation would provide funding to operate the additional crew through the end of 2011. Mayor Luecke advised that the funds will be appropriated from the General Fund, Code Enforcement Department, and reimbursed to the Solid Waste Fund, whose employees will perform the clean-up activities. th Catherine Toppel, Director, Code Enforcement, 13 Floor County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, Indiana, gave a power-point presentation. A copy is on file with the Office of the City Clerk. Councilmember Dieter asked a question on the power-point presentation regarding vouchers being given to residents who need to have items pick-up. Ms. Toppel stated that the voucher would be good for 1 dump truck full. She noted that there would be communication to the residents on how the program works. Councilmember Dieter asked how much to fund this program fully. Mayor Luecke stated that it would be approximately $250,000. Councilmember Oliver Davis wanted to make sure that new administration and transition team would be made aware of this. Councilmember Henry Davis thanked the Mayor, Catherine Toppel, and Karen White, Chairperson of the Council’s Health and Public Safety Committee, who held numerous meetings to address illegal dumping. He stated that he looked forward to the results of this program and getting more results in the future to end illegal dumping. Councilmember White thanked the members of her Health and Public Safety Committee. She stated that they need to continue to address the issues that affect the quality of life for all citizens of South Bend. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. The following individual spoke in favor of this bill: 13