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<br />REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 10, 2012 <br /> <br />Be it remembered that the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana met in the <br />Council Chambers of the County-City Building on Monday, September 10, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. <br />The meeting was called to order by Council President Dieter and the Invocation and Pledge to <br />the Flag were given. <br /> <br /> <br />ROLL CALL <br /> <br />COUNCILMEMBERS: <br /> <br /> <br />st <br />Present: Tim Scott 1 District <br />nd <br /> Henry Davis, Jr. 2 District <br />rd <br /> Valerie Schey 3 District <br />th <br /> Fred Ferlic 4 District <br />th <br /> David Varner 5 District <br />th <br /> Oliver J. Davis 6 District, Vice-President <br /> Derek Dieter At-Large, President <br /> Gavin Ferlic At-Large <br /> <br />Absent: Karen L. White At-Large, Chairperson Committee of the Whole <br /> <br /> <br />OTHERS PRESENT: <br /> <br /> Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand Council Attorney <br /> John Voorde City Clerk <br /> Janice I. Talboom Deputy <br /> Mary Beth Wisniewski Chief Deputy <br /> <br /> <br />REPORT FROM THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON MINUTES <br /> <br />Councilmember Scott made a motion that the minutes of the August 27, 2012 Meeting of the <br />Council be accepted and placed on file. Councilmember Oliver Davis seconded the motion <br />which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. <br /> <br />SPECIAL BUSINESS <br /> <br />Sara Stewart, Executive Director, Unity Gardens advised that it’s a program that promotes both <br />volunteerism and healthy eating at the same time. She stated that the Unity Gardens project <br />began in the South Bend area in 2008. In 2008, Unity Gardens started with a single garden, <br />today there are a total of 48. Unity Gardens are located in neighborhoods and at schools, and <br />churches anyplace that volunteers are willing to come together to grow and harvest healthy food. <br />Ms. Stewart stated that while the Unity Gardens project has succeeded in eating up a lot more <br />space, what it really needs is more “time.” She stated that they grow food in a big way, with 48 <br />Unity Gardens but in order to grow food all year round it’s time for us to get a greenhouse so that <br />way they could keep the people engaged in community gardens that are already engaged for the <br />season. She stated that plans call for a modest greenhouse to be built at the LaSalle Square Unity <br />Garden on South Bend’s west side. She stated that their funding comes from donations but right <br />now we have a unique opportunity because we’re in a contest on Facebook, a Chase Bank <br />contest. The Chase Bank Community Giving Facebook page will provide $5 million in grants to <br />community organizations across the country, but only those that get the highest number of online <br />votes. The top prize if $250,000 which would certainly create jobs and a self-sustaining way to <br />grow food. She stated that even last place receives $10,000, she stated that would give them <br />th <br />enough to get the structures up and start growing. She stated voting started on September 6 and <br />th <br />continues through September 19. She stated that the link to cast a vote for the Unity Gardens is <br />https://fb.chasegiving.com/charity/view/ein/27-0901122. <br /> <br /> <br />REPORTS OF CITY OFFICES <br />There were no reports from City Offices at this time. <br />1 <br /> <br /> <br />