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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 8, 2011 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Councilmember White, Vice-Chairperson, Personnel & Finance Committee, reported that <br />this Committee held a Public Hearing on this bill this afternoon and voted to send it to the <br />full Council with no recommendation. <br /> <br />th <br />Mayor Stephen Luecke, 14 Floor County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., South <br />Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill. <br /> <br />Mayor Luecke read the amendments into the record: The title should read: An Ordinance <br />of the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana appropriating $200,000 for a <br />Planning Study in Support of Investment in the Miracle Park 2011. The second <br />paragraph should read: It is necessary to appropriate the funds to make this planning <br />study in support of this investment expenditure. Section I should read: Section I. The <br />sum of $200,000 is hereby appropriated and set aside within EDIT Fund #408 for <br />purposes of investment in a planning phase design study for Miracle Park. The scope of <br />this professional service contract will include alternative site analysis and selection, <br />programming, schematic design, design development engineers, estimate and resource <br />development for public and private funds to build and operate the facility for special <br />needs population. Mayor Luecke thanked the Council for the opportunity to come <br />tonight and ask for the change to the bill as they have continued to look at being able to <br />move forward with development of Miracle Park and Challenger Fields for the City of <br />South Bend. He stated that they feel it makes sense at this point to step back and do some <br />further analysis. He stated that they had an initial site that they were looking at for this <br />park, and then there was an offer of donation of land. As they investigated that they <br />found that there was some significant infrastructure costs that would be associated with <br />placing the park at that location, so rather than ask the Council to appropriate the 1 <br />million dollars at this point they would ask for an appropriation of $200,000 to pay for a <br />study that would do those things that he had mentioned. <br /> <br />Phil St. Clair, Superintendent, Park Department, 321 Walter Street, South Bend, Indiana, <br />advised that there are folks here tonight that believe in this project with their whole heart <br />and sole. Mr. St. Clair stated that after watching the video on the City winning the All <br />America City Award how it demonstrated so successfully how the city problem solved <br />their way through three key issues in this community. He stated that the City has another <br />problem and that is access for all in the community. He stated that they began to realize <br />that in the Parks with the first grant opportunity at Potawatomi Park several years ago. <br />They saw the need and then saw the result s of being able to create a park in part that was <br />able to answer the needs for special needs population. He stated that they have been <br />working with Miracle Inc. which is a firm that has designed Miracle Parks around the <br />nation. He stated that Indiana has yet to have a Miracle Park in the state. He stated that <br />they have been looking to them as their source of information. They have indicated that <br />typically most populations around 6% of the kids between the ages of 5-18 have some <br />sort of impairment that doesn’t allow them to active outdoor play like other kids in the <br />community do. They know if they use that number, that number is roughly 3,000 kids in <br />the area, and that is a fairly big number they also know that there are some local agencies <br />who are here tonight, some were not able to attend, have been working very hard to <br />provide services for these youngsters very successfully. Nonetheless, it is never enough. <br />They also know that it is a tough but very necessary part of their mission in parks is <br />providing opportunities for all in the community. Often that means that they have to <br />provide recreation opportunities that are not always profitable, if they would profitable <br />private businesses would be doing them. Mr. St. Clair stated that they look at as a part of <br />their mission is to be able to provide services for all. He stated that they have been <br />talking about this project for several weeks and looking at a possible site at the airport <br />that they though initially would be a great start with a donation of the land as it turned out <br />they are still looking at that as a possibility. As they looked at it the infrastructure cost is <br />double of what the core component cost of what the park would be. They know that it is <br />not feasible to spend 6, 7, or 8 million dollars on the park. They have asked to proceed <br />with an in house study as well as bringing on an expert consulting firm to work with the <br />city to design on what would be the best outcome for the community with regard to <br />Miracle Park. He reiterated what Mayor Luecke stated earlier that there are a number of <br />things that they will be looking at as part of the plan, site selections, market analysis as in <br /> 9 <br /> <br />