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ICITYOFSOUTHBEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK
<br /> Mr. Corcoran replied, Yes. They were a part of the budget. The descriptions and salaries were set
<br /> at that time.
<br /> Committeemember Broden requested an updated version of that. She continued, I would suggest
<br /> with regard to a couple amendments on this, section two (2) mentions the Council's Chair of the
<br /> Zoning and Annexation Committee related to our discussions earlier about building expertise
<br /> within the Committee level and then also continuity, I think if we were to look at adding Council
<br /> Chair and Vice-Chair within that to read, "...the Department shall, with the Council's Chair and
<br /> Vice-Chair of the Zoning and Annexation Committee..." I think that would help. If you would,
<br /> please, consider that. I do think, and I appreciate the schedule that you shared here. That is helpful.
<br /> I do wonder,that was actually one(1)of my questions regarding section three(3) and that is about
<br /> the tentative schedule. Now that I see it here in plain sight, that helps with my comfort level. In
<br /> section four(4), "...the Department and Common Council shall work together to ensure that the
<br /> South Bend Plan Commission..." and should that also read and the Board of Zoning Appeals?
<br /> "...is properly staffed to implement and administer the South Bend Zoning Ordinance." Shouldn't
<br /> it be inclusive of both?
<br /> She continued, And then one (1) thing I guess I hadn't considered heretofore, I'm glad for the
<br /> previous discussion about the overall cost of the services that we are and have been receiving, I
<br /> guess I would like some additional information. When we talk about fifty percent (50%) of the
<br /> work load leaving the Area Plan Commission, I think my immediate thought is,ok,well then,that
<br /> fifty percent(50%)work load shifts to your department,ok?And then,you know,these new people
<br /> are onboarding. And I think I've shared those comments before about bandwidth and capacity to
<br /> be able to absorb that workload. And then two (2), I guess a real kind of down in the weeds thing,
<br /> is what does that represent in terms of hours? I mean, characterize that for me. Because I think
<br /> while we could be supportive of this,really at the end of the day,on a petition to petition basis,we
<br /> want to make sure these advisory services, and that is always something to keep in mind, that
<br /> capacity will be there and will continue to be there but I think we all should be cognizant of the
<br /> number of hours that has or,you know, will require. And I appreciate,too,the perspective of what
<br /> if we were just to update everything and still remain in the Commission?Would that make it easier
<br /> for the Commission members on the two (2) different entities? Also, how would that impact staff
<br /> timing? So,just a little bit better gauge for me, and I think for the Council as a whole, on kind of
<br /> that workload. I like the timing you've put forth here. I like that it's transitional and, frankly, over
<br /> the balance of this year, but, you know, what does it really mean?
<br /> She went on,Then, something I had overlooked heretofore is the professional services component
<br /> in terms of a lawyer. Is that a one (1) for one (1) exchange? What are we anticipating in terms of
<br /> our budget going forward. So,it kind of gets down to some basic fundamental questions but I want
<br /> to make sure we're not missing, you know, when we talk benefits of going this direction, I want
<br /> to make sure that we understand if we go that direction,what are the actual costs that would accrue
<br /> to the City under this proposal.
<br /> She continued, And then my last piece is, and maybe it's two (2) part, is, philosophically, South
<br /> Bend makes decisions by South Bend citizens. I get that and I'm sensitive to that but I'm also
<br /> sensitive to the role of the public and then also the autonomy and the ability to make decisions
<br /> independently. I liked your point Councilmember Davis about having served on the Area Plan
<br /> Commission and, you know,having that ability to speak a little bit more freely to some issues that
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