10-17-01 Public Works and Property Vacation & Health & Public Safety

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Commute .port: ,3roittt tontinittu ifiluting of tit 1DubXvc Works' an Prop4rtp Vacation Qommitt t at* fix ttaltb & ubzit *dap tommitt*i The October 17, 2001 joint committee meeting of the Public Works and Property Vacation Committee and the Health & Public Safety Committee was called to order by Public Works and Property Vacation Committee Chairperson David Varner at 9:35 am in the Council Informal Meeting Room. Persons in attendance included Council Members: Kelly, Varner, Pfeifer and Kirsits; Citizen Member Khadijah Muhammad, Citizen Member Isabel Gonzalez, Mayor Stephen J. Luecke, Police Chief Larry Bennett, Fire Chief Luther Taylor, Assistant Chief Bert Prawat, Director of Public Works Gary Gilot, City Engineer Carl Littrell;Mark Catanzarite,John Sabinash of the Zimmerman Design Group of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Joseph Zwietzynski, Amy Lesko Hrivnak, Victor Saavedra, Bruce Hudson and Stephen P. Kromkowski of DLZ;Terry Bland of the §6O0 Vent( trVibUttt, and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Council Attorney. Council Member Varner thanked everyone coming to the joint committee meeting which was called to receive the first of a series of updates on the Municipal Services Facility. Mayor Luecke thanked the Council for the opportunity to discuss the most appropriate facility for the police and fire departments. The Mayor noted that this topic has been "on the table since he was on the Council in 1988". It is hoped that the facility would meet the needs of the City of South Bend for the next 30-40 years. There are many possibilities with regard to the appropriate concentration on the current site as well as consideration of a new site for the fire department. Mayor Luecke also noted that concerns and updates on Fire Station#2 and Fire Station#9 would also be discussed today. Fach Committee Member was given a copy of the October 2001 "South Bend Municipal Service Facility Renovation--Program and Schematic Design" report prepared by DLZ Indiana. LLC and the Zimmerman Design Group (copy attached), as well as a one-page summary setting forth the "Agenda for briefing the South Bend Common Council"(copy attached). Gary Gilot, Public Works Director, then reviewed the aerial photograph of the site and highlighted problems which focus on trying to put"10 lbs into a 5 pound bag", parking problems and security issues. He then introduced representatives from the Zimmerman Design Group and DLZ Indiana, LLC who have been hired by the City for this project. Mr. Steve Kromkowski of DLZ noted that the process as been inclusive of the staff and the administration in both the police and fire departments. He noted that a survey was sent to both departments, and that representatives from both departments toured other facilities in order to properly develop a program. Square footage and spacing needs were evaluated in order to maximize efficiency and utilization of space. The proposals represent a reduction on the police side of 25 % and a reduction on the fire side of 15 %. Mr. John Sabinash of the Zimmerman Design Group noted that currently the police department is very open and is basically a 30 year old structure. Security is one of the key issues. When reviewing the fire department, he has asked people to "think outside the box" so that the needs of the community would be addressed for the next 20 to 50 years. Mr. Zimmerman then summarized portions of the report. He noted that many of the police services that are currently being outsourced would be brought back into the police department. The planning includes the