12-10-12 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 10, 2012 Mr. Neal advised that this bill would allow for the appropriation of additional funds for operational expenditures necessary for the City to provide services to its citizens which were not anticipated at the time the City budget was adopted. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Rev. Greg Brown, 1238 Diamond, South Bend, Indiana, advised that he is in favor of this bill and urged the Council’s favorable consideration. There being no one else present wishing to speak in favor or in opposition to this bill, Councilmember Dieter made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council concerning this bill. Councilmember Oliver Davis seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of seven (7) ayes. BILL NO. 63-12 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AMENDING CHAPTER 1, SECTION 104 OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE ADDRESSING “SIX COUNCILMANIC DISTRICTS” Council President Dieter, Chairperson, Council Rules Committee, reported that this committee met this afternoon on this bill and sends it to the Council with a favorable recommendation. Councilmember Karen White advised that as a member of the Special Committee for Re- Districting she is pleased to sponsor this bill. She stated that Councilmembers were requested to recommend South Bend residents to serve on this special committee which is bi-partisan, diverse in race, gender and location of their residences. She stated that Council President Dieter appointed five (5) persons to serve, Karl G. King, Jesusa Rivera, Theresa Sedlack, Jack L. Smith along with her to make recommendations on re-drawing the boundaries of the six (6) Council Districts. She noted that Karl G. King served as the Chairperson of this committee, and has spent countless hours reviewing the most recent census data. The special committee reviewed a total of three (3) options. All options met the state law criteria which required each Council District to be composed of contiguous territory; reasonably compact; have as nearly as possible, equal population. Ms. White noted that this option was #3 and was the least intrusive. Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Council Attorney, advised that redistricting of the Common Council’s six (6) councilmanic districts is required every ten (10) years based on data from the most recent U. S. Federal Census. The 2010 U. S. Census data revealed that the population of the City of South Bend, Indiana, was 101,168. She stated that Indiana Code §36-4-6-3 sets forth the governing state law addressing the division of six (6) districts for second class Indiana cities. It requires the city legislative body to pass an ordinance addressing councilmanic districts during the second year after the year in which a federal decennial census was conducted. It further requires that the six (6) districts be established which are: Composed of contiguous territory, except for territory that is not contiguous to any other part of the city; reasonably compact; do not cross precinct boundary lines, except as authorized by law; and contain, as nearly as is possible, equal population. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Glenda Rae Hernandez, 702 South St., South Bend, Indiana, advised that she did not believe the Council or the Special Committee got the word out to get more of the public involved in this process. In rebuttal, Councilmember White stated that she too was disappointed that there wasn’t much media coverage or participation, however, they met the open door law requirements and provided transparency during the process. 5