04-23-01 Residential Neighborhoods

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Qommittt Zport: Itegitfential ig jborioo's Qtommittu The April 23, 2001 meeting of the Residential Neighborhoods Committee was called to order by its Chairperson, Council Member Karl King at 6:14 p.m. in the Council Informal Meeting Room. Persons in attendance included Council Members Aranowski, Pfeifer, Kelly, King, Varner, Ujdak, Coleman, Kirsits and White; Sherece Tolbert, Terry Bland of the *)UU) Ve zribun*,and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Council Attorney. Council Member King welcomed everyone to the meeting and then noted that the first item to be which is a resolution to adopt the Keller Park Neighborhood discussed was Bill No. 01 37 h $ P Strategic Action Plan. Sherece Tolbert of the Community & Economic Development Department made the presentation. Ms. Tolbert noted that the Keller Park Neighborhood Association hired McKenna Associates, Inc. to prepare a Neighborhood Strategic Action Plan which would reflect the vision and goals of the neighborhood. She stated that the initiative is very neighborhood driven and that the consultant has worked well with the Association. Some of the key activities which are a part of the Portage Avenue Commercial Corridor Initiative include: establishing a partnership relationship with the South Bend Community Schools for the future utilization of Brown Elementary School; establishing gateways into the neighborhood;establishing pedestrian ways throughout; beautifying the neighborhood; and permitted assisted living developments commonly referred to as "Granny Flats". Council Member King stressed the need to "put extra muscle behind the neighborhood plans" so that they do not become eight (8) plans just put on a shelf. He recommended that the plans be linked together so that Redevelopment would prioritize such proposals for funding. Council Member Pfeifer praised the work of Ms. Tolbert and her hard-work of spearheading this project, along with Council Member Aranowski, the District Council Member and all of the Keller Park Neighborhood Association participates. Council Member Aranowski stated that the residents in Keller Park and the Keller Park Neighborhood Association have worked very hard. He noted that they have "raised the bar" for developing how such programs should work. Council Member White noted that Brown School is currently being considered by the South Bend Community School Corporation as being re-opened as an elementary school. She then inquired about how the concerns of the neighborhood were ranked. Ms. Tolbert noted that there ranking are based on the priorities recommended by the responses received. Council Member King thanked Ms. Tolbert for becoming the ombudsman for the project, and welcomed the opportunity to stay pro-active through this Committee. Following discussion, Council Member White made a motion, seconded by Council Member Coleman that Bill No. 01-37 be recommended favorably to Council. The motion passed. •