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CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK <br /> Committee Chair White replied, No,today was the first(1St) one(1). <br /> Committeemember Broden followed up, That might be helpful so that we can coordinate. <br /> Council President Scott announced, We'll send out an email at least a week ahead of time. <br /> Committeemember Broden stated, I would just say your 2019 Budget Hearing recommendations, <br /> I think are on point. I think you did an outstanding job shepparding that through. I do think there <br /> are some recommendations in terms of Council participation throughout the process in terms of <br /> actual attendance at meetings. I mean, there should be ways to work around that. I don't want to, <br /> I mean, in terms of Committee forums, I think those are important to have and I'm not going to <br /> make an assumption that just because somebody is not sitting at that hearing that they're not up to <br /> date and not engaged. I think that is an important point especially given the resources we are <br /> provided,generally after the meeting,and then any opportunity to view visuals or to hear the audio. <br /> So, I think as long as those continue,that is good. I do like the specific educational things that you <br /> have plugged in already in 2018 and then going forward into 2019. The specific education topics, <br /> I think that's great. I would like to make sure that we get the timing and maybe look at something <br /> more first(1St) quarter, I think going all the way to June 2019 is kind of a measure and an update, <br /> you know, from a departmental level, that might be a little too late. I guess I'm looking more for <br /> a quarterly formalized update. And that concern is really driven out of the sort of really huge catch- <br /> me-up that was done the last quarter of 2018 by the Administration. I think those were significant <br /> changes and the dialogue was really good. I felt comfortable in voting for those changes, but I <br /> don't see why that couldn't be done on a quarterly basis with that level of discussion. <br /> She went on, And then I do think, kind of my last point, if Council had, and we had discussed in <br /> the process and believe we also funded it, but we funded a position for professional services <br /> relative to the budget and I do want to emphasize, at least from my standpoint, that would be a <br /> smart expenditure on our part. Because that does give us some independence from the <br /> Administration and another set of eyes, especially as we look toward 2020. There are debt <br /> questions but then also the 2020 fiscal cliff stuff, I do think that level of independence would be <br /> good. I do know that other cities are engaging professionals to work with their Common Councils <br /> for that same purpose. <br /> Council President Scott replied, I will work with Committee Chair White and we'll draft the <br /> question to the Council as to what they want to see on that because I believe this Council needs to <br /> develop that scope and not me, personally. We will do that soon like in the next couple of weeks <br /> because if we want to get that going, we have to define that person and go from there. <br /> Committeemember Broden continued, And then my last point is about overall clarity in terms of <br /> what can be presented and when by the Administration as a full package to the Council. I think <br /> while there has been information given out, you know, per department, I would agree with <br /> Councilmember Teshka's input about overall context for the full budget. I think that really matters. <br /> So, you know, it gets to be kind of late in terms of switching things around and sort of that last <br /> window of opportunity where we could look at some changes I think. What you've built into here <br /> a two (2)week look back or cushion. I think those types of things would be helpful. <br /> EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT <br /> 455 County-City Building 227 W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 1574.235.91.73 TTD 574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov <br /> 3 <br />