2004 Annual Report - Public Works & Property Vacation

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l*".r 2004 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS AND PROPERTY VACATION COMMITTEE OF THE SOUTH BEND COMMON COUNCIL Pursuant to § 2-10 of the South Bend Municipal Code, the following 2004 Annual Report of the Public Works and Property Committee is filed which highlights activities of this calendar year. Duties: The Public Works and Property Vacation Committee is charged with "overseeing the various activities performed by the Building Department, the Department of Public Works and related public works and property vacation issues"pursuant to § 2-10 (i) 8) of the South Bend Municipal Code (Emphasis added). Members: There are four (4) Council Members on this Committee, namely: Council Member Kirsits who serves as Vice-Chairperson, Council Member Pfeifer, Council Member Coleman, and myself as Chairperson. Meetings: This year the Public Works and Property Vacation Committee held twenty(20) Committee meetings throughout the year. Highlighted Activities: The primary activity of the Public Works and Property Vacation Committee was to review proposed vacations of public property which is governed by Chapter 18, Article 5 of the South Bend Municipal Code entitled "Procedures for Vacation of Public Ways and Public Places", as well as governing state law. As the Council is aware, Indiana Code § 36-7-3-13, provides for the following criteria when reviewing a proposed vacation request: 1. Whether the vacation would hinder the growth or orderly development of the unit or neighborhood in which it is located or to which it is contiguous; 2. Whether the vacation would make access to the lands of the aggrieved person by means of public way difficult or inconvenient; 3. Whether the vacation would not hinder the public's access to a church, school, or other public building or place; and 4. Whether the vacation would hinder the use of a public way by the neighborhood in which it is located or to which it is contiguous. A series of joint committee meetings were also held with the Personnel and Finance Committee to review the proposed ordinance which addressed various budget, salary, purchasing and proposed appropriations including capital needs throughout last year.