4796-19 A Resolution of the Common Council of South Bend, Indiana, Encouraging continued and increased public engagement between the Public and the Redevelopment Commission

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Whereas,the Common Council's standing Community Investment Committee is charged with overseeing the various activities of the Community Investment Department and programs directed by this Department; and Whereas,the mission of the Common Council is: "To make certain that our City Government is always responsive to the needs of our residents&that the betterment of South Bend is always our highest priority"; and Whereas,The City of South Bend, including the Common Council and the Redevelopment Commission,is committed to delivering excellent services to its residents, including transparency of data and internal performance management information through the City's core values of excellence,accountability, innovation, inclusion and empowerment; and Whereas, among the 2019 goals of the Redevelopment Commission are: 1)to improve resident engagement on City services and direct neighborhood association support; 2)to increase meaningful information available on City services, including better accessibility of information online; and Whereas,among stated priorities of each of the Common Council,the City and the Redevelopment Commission are: transparency,public engagement and the City's growth; and Whereas,the Redevelopment Commission's currently schedule of regular meetings at 9:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month may make it difficult for many citizens of South Bend to attend and voice their opinions regarding agenda items; and Whereas,the Common Council believes that the mission of the Redevelopment Commission,together with the missions of the Common Council and the City, would be better served by changing the scheduled time for Redevelopment Commission meetings to a time 4:00 p.m. or later; and Whereas,the Council acknowledges and appreciates the added burden and inconvenience placed on the members of the Redevelopment Commission,its staff,volunteers and petitioners by such a change,but believes that such a change is in the best interests of the citizens of the City; and Whereas,it is important that citizens not only be given an opportunity to attend the Redevelopment Commission meetings,but also have an opportunity to address any agenda item by directly responding to a petitioner's presentation and hearing any rebuttal; and Whereas,the Redevelopment Commission has played a vital role in the development of the City in recent years and it is anticipated that this vital role will continue into the future. Section I. A change in the scheduled meeting time for the Redevelopment Commission from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or later may provide more citizens of South Bend an opportunity to attend the meetings while being respectful of the Commission, its staff,volunteers,and petitioners. Section II. The Commission should adopt rules and procedures by which any person attending such meeting is able to engage the Redevelopment Commission per agenda item. Section III.The Common Council strongly encourages the Redevelopment Commission to approve and adopt the recommendations of the Common Council, effective July 1,2019. Section IV. This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon passage by the South Bend Common Council and approval by the Mayor. 11Wir Tim Scott, Council President South Bend Common Council rartSkfiliti l°I10I2ol1 Not A5-1o. ADOPTFn wt-2 r I t 1 (9