05-23-94 Public Works & Property Vacation

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COMMITTEE REPORT PUBLIC WORKS AND PROPERTY VACATION COMMITTEE TO THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND: The May 23, 1994, meeting of the Public Works and Property Vacation Committee was called to order by its Chairperson, Council Member Stephen Luecke, at 3:30 p.m. in the Council Informal Meeting Room. Persons in attendance included: Council Members Slavinskas, Kelly, Luecke, Ladewski, Washington, Duda, Coleman, Zakrzewski, Puzzello; Citizen Members John Oxian and William Eagen, Maureen Dabrowiak, Don Porter, John Leszczynski, Gretchen Bolan, and Lawrence Prout. Juanita Muhammad was a late arrival. The first item on the agenda was to review Bill No. 49-94, which is a vacation request for an alley at Pleasant/27th Streets. The purpose of the vacation is to allow the petitioner to have access to his garage. Mr. Lawrence Prout, the petitioner, stated that he was the only person using this alley, he intends to build a new garage and needs access, the City does not plow this alley, and that there was considerable noise and unwanted traffic there in the evenings. Council Member Duda reported that there was unanimous approval from the various Departments. Council Member Duda made a motion to send this favorably to the Council, seconded by Council Member Washington. The motion carried. Juanita Muhammad was a late arrival questioning this alley vacation. She was representing her mother, Maria Vega, 1214 S. 27th Street, next door neighbors of Mr. Prout. She informed the Council that her father must use a wheelchair; and that her family uses the alley to load up the wheelchair to transport him various places. It would be a hardship for them not to have access! Council Member Washington inquired if there was another access point for him to be transported. Miss Muhammad replied that the alley is their normal transportation point, as he must be carried from the house to the car. Miss Muhammad inquired as to whether "Handicapped Signs" could be placed in front of their home. Council Member Luecke reported that the Public Works handles handicapped parking. Council Member Slavinskas mentioned that closing of the alley does not mean that they would not have access, since they would gain half of the property vacated. He suggested that perhaps they could negotiate with Mr. Prout and have paperwork drawn-up by an attorney for agreement on accessibility. This agreement should also be recorded in the County Recorder's Office.