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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 8, 2011
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<br />Helen Maillioux, 18389 Gardenia, South Bend, Indiana
<br />Tom Kinnucan, 51930 Juniper Road, South Bend, Indiana
<br />Wayne Curry, 1050 Burns, South Bend, Indiana
<br />Doris Ann Doyle, 5914 Aberdeen, South Bend, Indiana
<br />Heather Downey, 55788 Redtail Ct. South Bend, Indiana
<br />Laura Williams, 18485 Garwood Ct., South Bend, Indiana
<br />Dan Harshman, 1839 Wilbur Street, South Bend, Indiana
<br />Carol Martin, 625 South St. Mishawaka, Indiana
<br />David Cobb 1440 Rosemary Lane, South Bend, Indiana
<br />Kevin Weinberg, 527 Summit Drive, South Bend, Indiana
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<br />The following individuals spoke in opposition to this bill:
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<br />S. J. Szabo, 1355 Mishawaka, Avenue, South Bend, Indiana
<br />Greg Burkowski, 20155 Roosevelt Road, South Bend, Indiana
<br />Frederick Hohman, 20797 Gatehouse Drive, South Bend, Indiana
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<br />In Rebuttal, Mayor Luecke stated that Mr. St. Clair and his staff have done an
<br />extraordinary amount of work to define the scope of this potential development. They
<br />have done it in their space time which they don’t have, they have done it relying on
<br />volunteer time from consultants and have taken really as far as they believe they can
<br />relying solely on staff and that volunteer activity. Mayor Luecke stated that is why they
<br />are asking for funding to be able to hire professional support to define some of these
<br />parameters that are of importance to all of us, such as site location, scope of the project,
<br />potential partners, funding sources, a business plan for this park as they move forward.
<br />He stated that he believes this is an appropriate investment on the part of the community
<br />and will allow them to look at doing phases to allow them to look at the opportunities to
<br />provide access for all and they believe that this is a significant part of the population who
<br />ought to have the opportunity for recreational facilities as well.
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<br />Phil St. Clair stated that their experience with the access for all grant at Potawatomi
<br />which was a significant project and the end result was $900,000 spent. He stated that
<br />they had a steering committee, including local stakeholders that would have the most to
<br />gain with the up grades at Potawatomi. He stated that they are meeting with several
<br />agencies in town and with Challenger Little League. He stated that if he counted
<br />everyone that he has talked to regarding this project that has a tie in with a group that
<br />would benefit from this that number is roughly 250 people. He stated that they have had
<br />a lot of discussion and they know the folks that they need to bring to the table to get more
<br />specific detail and they have had some discussion with some people that don’t have
<br />special needs concerns but are willing to help in other ways. He stated that they need a
<br />plan, they have worked internally they have also worked with the stakeholders and don’t
<br />think for a second that the stakeholders haven’t had any input at all with as to where they
<br />are at this point in time. There is a lot more that has to be done. He stated that they need
<br />the benefit of some revenue and resources to sit down and plan and get the detail to the
<br />Council that will allow for the actual funds for the construction.
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<br />Councilmember Puzzello advised that this is the 1 public hearing on this bill and the
<br />first of quite a number to come. She stated that there have been discussions with those
<br />people who have the knowledge of what it takes to make this project come to fruition,
<br />preliminary studies have been done now its time to make sure that it has been in a way
<br />that will suite the city’s situation. Now is the time to have the public hearings and
<br />appropriating the money for consultants to review what has been done to date. They can
<br />start with finding a site, a better location. She stated that she very much wants everybody
<br />to come together on this project. She stated that South Bend is the largest City in the
<br />region and with that they have the responsibility to have a lot of inclusion and accept all
<br />different kinds of situations and people. She stated that she people visiting from out of
<br />town that were of Russian Orthodox Religion and was very surprised when she was told
<br />that South Bend has a Russian Orthodox Church. She stated South Bend has something
<br />to offer to all people and Miracle Park will add to that inclusion. Children of special
<br />needs throughout the region need a place to work and play and hone their skills just like
<br />everyone else does. She stated that she believes as being the largest city in the region, we
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