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dotnniwzit9. d?tatLorrs eominittez <br /> The June 14,2004 meeting of the Community Relations Committee was called to order by its <br /> Chairperson,Council Member Charlotte D.Pfeifer at 4: 23 p.m. in the Council Informal Meeting <br /> Room. <br /> Persons in attendance included Council Members Dieter,Pfeifer,Kelly,Puzzello,Varner, <br /> Kuspa, and White; City Clerk John Voorde,City Attorney Charles Leone,David Frank, Terry <br /> Bland of the South Bend Tribune,and Kathy Cekanski-Farrand, Council Attorney. <br /> Council Member Pfeifer noted that when citizens have concerns that they are properly heard by <br /> the Council. Council President White assigned this topic to the Community Relations <br /> Committee. <br /> David Frank of 50520 Burtonwood Drive in South Bend provided a 6-page handout addressing <br /> "participatory democracy"(copy attached). He noted that he had met with some of the members <br /> of the County Council and had a community meeting recently at Perkins. He was the owner of <br /> Franks Red Hots for fifteen years and thereafter had a radio program for two(2)years entitled <br /> "Stand Up America". <br /> Mr. Frank stated that community and communication are the keys to success. Concerns today <br /> include: lack of health care,health care that is too expensive, 50%high school drop out rate, <br /> high divorce rates,high bankruptcy rates,high credit card balances,increase in use of illegal and <br /> legal drugs,violence in school,2 1/2 million people in jail, diabetes, cancer, spousal abuse,gun <br /> violence,etc. He then reviewed his"Plan of Implementation"(attached). He noted that the <br /> preliminary cost would be $600,000 which he would like to be equally divided between St. <br /> Joseph County and the City of South Bend;and that the program would need many volunteers. <br /> Council Member Puzzello inquired whether a Council agenda would be used. Mr. Frank stated <br /> that the program would be more issue oriented and that the community could tap into many new <br /> voices. <br /> Dr. Varner inquired about the data base and the pool of people,suggesting that cable access tv <br /> would be a good test option of the concept with a call back feature,before making a major <br /> investment. He noted that even though Mr. Frank shows much enthusiasm,that demonstrating <br /> the project on a smaller model would be helpful when assessing the overall need. Mr. Frank <br /> stated that not all persons have access to cable tv. <br /> Council Member Pfeifer noted that fifteen minutes had been allocated for the presentation and <br /> that perhaps Mr. Frank could return at a later date. She then inquired whether he had contacted <br /> Mayor Luecke. Mr. Frank stated that he called the Mayor's Office six(6)times and received no <br /> return calls. <br /> Following discussion,Council Member Pfeifer suggested that Mr. Frank come back for a <br /> meeting of her committee on July 12th. <br />