08-23-04 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 23,2004 scheduled them for demolition. Along Michigan Street, there will be the New Central Fire Station to join along with the New Ivy Tech State College and the Juvenile Justice Center. Further east is the Boys and Girls Club and the new YWCA. Another hard working neighborhood group is the Miami Village Association. The improvements along the Miami Street Corridor are a tribute to their efforts. The construction of new and affordable homes in the southeast neighborhood has been moving a pace. Many new homes have been constructed and to compliment that project a water park has completed by the City and provides a wonderful recreational facility for families and children in the southeast area. Much has been accomplished but much more needs to be done. However, with the joint effort provided by neighborhood groups and the City we will continue to make major strides forward in the 3rd District of South Bend. RESOLVE INTO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE At 7:05 p.m., Councilmember Coleman made a motion to resolve into the Committee of the Whole. Councilmember Varner seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of seven (7) ayes. Councilmember Coleman, Chairperson, Committee of the Whole, presiding. Councilmember Coleman noted that this is the portion of the meeting in which members of the council meet as the Committee of the Whole in order to hear presentations and public comment on bills that are presented for ordinance consideration. Each bill that will be heard tonight will have a Public Hearing and after the hearing on each bill, the committee will vote on the disposition of the bill, which typically is sent to the full Council with either a favorable or an unfavorable recommendation. He noted that the South Bend Municipal code requires that the Chairperson describes the procedure for the hearings. The Committee operates in accord with the Council Rules and Procedures and Roberts Rules of Order and Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand who serves as the Parliamentarian. The procedure for the Public Hearing for each bill is conducted as follows: 1. The title of the bill is read by the City Clerk. 2. Reports are presented from the pertinent Common Council Committee and/or the Area Plan Commission. 3. A formal presentation in favor of the bill which is not subject to a time limit is heard. 4. Comments are heard from members of the public who wish to speak in favor of the bill. Each such member is limited to five (5) minutes for his/her presentation and must begin by stating his/her name and residential address. 5. Any formal presentation against the bill or Resolution which is not subject to a time limitation is heard. 6. Comments are heard from any members of the public wishing to speak against the bill. Each member of the public speaking against the bill is limited to five (5) minutes for his/her presentation and must also begin by stating his/her name and residential address. With respect to those individuals speaking against, the total time for comments by members of the public speaking against the bill is the amount of time that was used by those speaking in favor of the bill or thirty (30) minutes whichever is greater. 7. A five (5) minute rebuttal period is allowed for the persons who gave the formal presentation in favor of the bill after which the public portion of the hearing is closed. 8. Finally, the Council portion of the hearing takes place in which members will discuss the bill and vote on its disposition PUBLIC HEARINGS 2