11-10-12 Residential Neighborhoods Committee

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Residential Neighborhoods Committee 2005 South Bend Common Council The November 10, 2005 Residential Neighborhoods Committee began with its Chairperson, Council Member Timothy Rouse boarding the Transpo trolley for a tour of South Bend's Neighborhood Partnership Centers at 2:45 p.m. just outside the County-City Building on Jefferson Street. Others present included Council Members Kuspa and Kelly, Pam Meyer, Director of Planning and Neighborhood Development; Sharon T. Kendall, Executive Director of the Department of Community and Economic Development,Mrs. Kopola,Marco Mariani, Citizen Member Martha Lewis, Greg Miller and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand,Council Attorney. River Park Neighborhood Partnership Center: The first stop was the River Park Neighborhood Partnership Center located at 2625 Northside Boulevard, South Bend, Indiana 46615, where Sally Overmyer, Chris Dressel and Committee Members Nancy Collins and Betty Hawn greeted the Committee. Council Member Rouse thanked the River Park Neighborhood Partnership Center for accepting our request to visit and learn more about their operations. Sally Overmyer, their Coordinator, provided handouts which included the November-December 2005 River Park Newsletter, a map of the neighborhood area in which they serve, a list of the 2005 Committee Members, and a copy of the November calendar of events which included such activities as KARE, Crime Prevention, Code Enforcement, neighborhood meetings, visits by a health nurse and such other activities as euchre and yahtzee(copies attached). Chris Dressel, the Community Development Planner, who works with the Partnership Center, reviewed the handouts. He noted that they are working on a new brochure. Two of the Committee members are also VIP members. As a part of the "Neighbors Helping Neighbors" program they helped a 100 year old man. The Residential Enhancement Program is for owner-occupied homes where assistance with improvements up to 50% could be made, with this program not being income based. In response to a question from Council Member Kuspa, it was noted that there is a 13-member board and that they moved from this location in October of 2002. Council Member Rouse inquired about the location of the center, noting that it was his understanding that the outreach was to take place over a 6-8 block area. Mr. Dressel summarized the blocks on the map and noted that the current location for the center had been empty since 1987. Council Member Kelly noted that he believes that this location is much better than the previous one on Mishawaka Avenue. He sees it as being good for the neighborhood. November 10,2005 Residential Neighborhoods Committee Page 1 of 3