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REGULAR MEETING <br />DECEMBER 8, 2003 <br />WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the citizens of South Bend, Indiana that TEA -21 or its <br />successor be fully funded for at least an additional six (6) years in order to preserve the present, and <br />enhance the future, quality of life and economic development within the community; and <br />WHEREAS, it is further in the best interest of the citizens of South Bend, Indiana, that any <br />reauthorization for TEA -21 guarantee ninety -five per cent (95 %) return of funds contributed by the <br />taxpayers of the State of Indiana to the Highway Trust Fund and further that all motor fuel taxes <br />collected be deposited into the Highway Trust Fund for distribution to the State of Indiana to <br />improve and maintain transportation systems. <br />WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the citizens of South Bend, Indiana, that any reauthorization <br />legislation continue the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund with full support of the <br />fixed- guideway modernization, urbanized area formula, and new starts programs. <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by The Common Council of the City of South Bend as <br />follows: <br />Section 1. The Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana hereby encourages the <br />extension of TEA -21 and any reauthorization legislation that would, in effect, fully fund TEA -21, <br />or its successors, for a period not less than six (6) years. <br />Section 2. A copy of this Resolution shall be sent to the following persons: <br />Honorable Evan Bayh <br />Honorable Richard Lugar <br />Honorable Chris Chocola <br />Section 3. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after the date of its adoption by <br />the Common Council and approval by the Mayor. <br />s/Karl King <br />Member of the Common Council <br />Councilmember King thanked the Council for allowing this discussion to occur. He stated that the <br />purpose of this Resolution is to encourage members of Congress who represent this area to support <br />a reauthorization of the bill that is known as the Transportation Equity Act for the 21 st Century, or <br />TEA -21. Funding from TEA -21 and its predecessor transportation bills have provided a wide range <br />of benefits for our community. It supports the operation of MACOG which is the area transportation <br />planning agency, it supports a number of initiatives that occur throughout our area and in South Bend <br />in particular these funds have been used for some valuable and enjoyable Rails to Trails projects and <br />other things that have gone on in the community. It is one of the few federal programs that allows <br />money to come back in that it is funded by contributions to taxes to the highway trust fund from fuel <br />tax and other sources and the reauthorization bill currently being considered by Congress would <br />return ninety -five per cent (95 %) of the funds contributed by the State of Indiana into the Highway <br />Trust Fund back to funding uses for improvement and maintenance projects of the transportation <br />systems here in the state. Councilmember King noted that the St. Joseph County Council at its <br />November meeting passed a Resolution encouraging members of Congress to support the <br />reauthorization bill. The Resolution presented tonight is identical to that of the County Council. <br />Councilmember King encouraged the South Bend Council as well as the St. Joseph County Council <br />and the Mishawaka Common Council to send a Resolution to inform Senator Bayh, Senator Lugar <br />and Congressman Chocola of the desire to see this transportation act reauthorized. <br />A Public Hearing was held on the Resolution at this time. <br />The following individual spoke in favor of this bill. <br />-35- <br />