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•CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK <br /> be in agreement with them. But, the important process is that it is a shared and collective <br /> opportunity. <br /> She went on, That is what I see tonight as. It is an informational opportunity on this big topic of <br /> climate change. Then our second (2nd) meeting to be held on February 27th, when we reconvene, <br /> is really to look at continuing the conversation about what we value as a community and how we <br /> want to express that, if you would, in a possible ordinance or some type of legislation from my <br /> peers on the Council. I thank you all for coming tonight. I appreciate the information exchange <br /> that is going to occur tonight as well as over the course of our second(2nd)meeting. From a Health <br /> and Public Safety standpoint, I think it is pretty obvious why this is kind of in my wheelhouse,my <br /> interest and members of my Committee. Having said that, I would like to give the floor to <br /> Councilmember Teshka. <br /> Co-Committee Chair Jake Tesha stated, First(1st) of all, I think we should put Climate Change on <br /> the agenda for every meeting because the attendance is outstanding. It is awesome to see all of you <br /> here and especially so many youths. I am a father of a three(3) year old boy and a one(1) year old <br /> girl and I am very interested in hearing what you all have to say about looking toward the future, <br /> the things discussed tonight, and they impact my children's future, as well. In terms of the Utilities <br /> Committee, the things that we look at are some of the things that some people might take for <br /> granted, right? The fact that you walk into your house and you're able to flip on a light and the <br /> light comes on or you flush your toilet and the water goes down. Those are some of the things the <br /> Utilities Committee looks at. We also look at things such as storm water. You may have heard <br /> recent discussions about storm water and what happens to the water when we have a five hundred <br /> (500) year flood, right? Where does that water go? How does our infrastructure meet the standard <br /> of taking care of those issues? Those are things that are discussed within the context of my <br /> committee and that is one(1) of the reasons why we decided to have this joint meeting because so <br /> much of what, I think, we are about to discuss impacts the way our utilities are used and offered <br /> as well as how we construct them moving forward. What type of utilities do we continue to invest <br /> in? What kind of energy do we continue to invest in? Here in the near future, in the context of my <br /> committee, we will have an update from AEP about some of the things they are doing in terms of <br /> the power grid. They are working on a twenty(20)year plan, as well, so,it is a pleasure to be here. <br /> I would like to echo Councilmember Broden's sentiments that we are primarily here to listen <br /> tonight. This is one(1)of a two(2)-part meeting. We want to listen to you and see where we might <br /> go from there,open up this dialogue and broader conversation within our community and see what <br /> types of actions we might be able to take. So, thank you all for being here. <br /> Co-Committee Chair Broden then gave the floor to the presenters. <br /> Common Council Briefing on Climate Change: Understanding Climate Change in South <br /> Bend <br /> Julia McKenna, 400 Peashway Street, stated, I'm seventeen (17) years old and a senior at John <br /> Adams High School. I was asked tonight to give some introductory remarks seeing as this is a <br /> project I have been working on for the past five (5) years, since I was in eighth (8th) grade and it <br /> has finally come to fruition. I thought I would give some context on why we are here tonight, why <br /> I've asked so many people to join me and how we got to this state of communal activism you see <br /> before you. I attended Good Sheppard Montessori school for elementary school all the way through <br /> eighth (8th) grade. That is a school that is focused on land-based learning and sustainability. As <br /> EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION 1 INCLUSION 1 EMPOWERMENT <br /> 455 County-City Building 227 W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f574.235.9173 TTD574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov <br /> 3 <br />