08-08-11 Common Council Meeting Minutes

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 8, 2011 s/Derek D. Dieter Member of the Common Council Councilmember White, Chairperson, Health and Public Safety Committee, reported that this committee did not hold a Public Hearing on this bill this afternoon due to limited time constraints and therefore sends it to the full Council with a no recommendation. Councilmember White stated that she would have liked to see a report like the one that was given to the Council on SBACC on Miracle Park. Council President Dieter asked everyone present tonight please be cognizant of their behavior. This is a very emotional issue on both sides. th Mayor Stephen Luecke, 14 Floor County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd, South Bend, Indiana advised that this bill before the Council tonight is just a statement of policy, he is not asking for any monies to be appropriated. He stated that the Redevelopment Commission has already appropriated the $1.5 million dollars for this facility and as they went out to bid and found the project will cost $1.9 million dollars. He stated that they are prepared to go back to the Redevelopment Commission for the additional $400,000. He stated that they had deferred action on the additional appropriation because the Council sent a letter asking them to do so. He stated so that what he is asking is for a thumbs up or down for this facility. He advised that this bill commends and supports South Bend Animal Care and Control (SBACC), a City program which has provided excellent services in the care of animals within the City since 1996. Mayor Luecke noted that this Resolution further recognizes that the current SBACC facility at 105 N. Olive Street is inadequate to provide housing and other services for the thousands of animals its handles each year. Most importantly, in light of all this, the Resolution endorses the building of a new facility through the South Bend Redevelopment Commission and supports the Commission’s appropriation of $400,000 in TIF funds to complete financing for construction and related costs of a new SBACC facility at 521 Eclipse. Mayor Luecke stated that a budgetary analysis was conducted for South Bend Animal Care and Control by Crowe Horwath on August 8, 2011. A copy is on file with the Office of the City Clerk. Catherine Toppel, Director, Code Enforcement and Gary Libbey, South Bend Animal Care and Control presented a power point presentation. A copy is on file with the Office of the City Clerk. Ms. Toppel stated that she has been Director of Code Enforcement since 2002. She stated that South Bend Animal Control was founded in 1996. They believed that they could provide more effective services for the residents of our community. The currently handle over 4,000 animals a year and over 7,000 calls for service. Officers available on call 24/7 even on Christmas. She stated that they partner with local rescue agencies such as Pet Refuge, Pets Connect and Brown Mackie College. She stated that their current building is over 100 years old. It was originally designed as a fire station. She state that space is limited and that the building in not handicap accessible. Poor ventilation prohibits odor control and an outdated kenneling system requires excessive labor to keep clean and keep out disease. She stated that the new facility will be at 521 Eclipse Place in Kennedy Park. It was the former Housing Development Corporation and recently served as a site for Code Enforcement cleanup crews. The new facility will triple the size of SBACC’s existing facility and, officials, believe, and increase adoptions and volunteerism. The new building will be ADA compliant. She stated that the new facility will have a secure area for the quarantine of bite case animals, a treatment area for sick and inured animals, and a secured area that is protected from the elements for after-hours drop-offs. There will be a confined area to unload animals from vehicles, storage space for food and other supplies, training, meeting and cleanup facilities for staff. She stated that they began research for the new facility in 2006, discussion with architect in 2007, toured 3 facilities. In 2008, the Board of Public Works approved the contract, bid for construction canceled in 2009 due to HB 1001. In 2010 the Redevelopment Commission approved TIF funding for the project. She stated that the attorney’s have said that this is an infrastructure project and that is what TIF monies are for. She stated that the new animal shelter will be a public facility 26