01-13-03 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 13, 2003 (24%) across the board raise which will yield the same amount of money for two (2) years and they can then counter again after that two (2) years. Ms. Kathleen Kaiser, 51840 West Gatehouse Drive, South Bend, Indiana, informed the Council that the St. Joseph River is a dirty river due to the fact that the wastewater treatment facility dumps raw sewage into the river every time there is a half inch of rain. She noted that the Cost of Service Study recommended a rate increase for the maintenance of the water treatment facility and funds to address the CSO issues. The biggest users are going to face the biggest increase. The ordinance presented tonight is a concession to the big users and transfers their share of the increase to a bond revenue. This is fiscally irresponsible and unfair to the average taxpayer. Worst of all, it is ecologically shortsighted because it does not address the CSO issues. Ms. Kaiser asked that the Council accept the rate structure that Crowe Chizek initially came up with in the interest of fairness to all and its responsibility to be good stewards of the St. Joseph River. Mr. Mark Lorenz, 2607 Winding Oak Drive, Plymouth, Indiana, Vice -President- Support Services, St. Joseph Regional Medical Center with hospitals located in Plymouth, Mishawaka and South Bend stated that everyone has seen the news stories about the need for the increase in rates after a fourteen (14) year period of no rate adjustment. He asked the Council to vote noon this particular bill as they have not had sufficient time to take a look at it and the various rates presented. Mr. Lorenz noted that they believe it would increase their rates by fifty-three per cent (53%). This would result in them either needing a reduction in other costs or increasing their prices the same as other businesses. This increase will have similar effects on other health care organizations, academic institutions and the business community at large. One thing that they all abhor is instability. They need to be able to predict and plan. While they compliment the Mayor and the Council for this alternative bill, they need additional time to study its impact. They also need to make sure that this alternative would address the ecological problems that were attempted to be solved in the first place. They simply do not know what impact this bill will have to solve those problems because they have not had sufficient time to analyze the information. Mr. Mark Eagan, President, Chamber of Commerce, 401 East Colfax Avenue, South Bend, Indiana, noted that the Chamber represents organizations that are area businesses that employee ninety six thousand (96,000) people who live and pay taxes in this community. Working people are not part of a special interest group and everyone is affected by the issue being discussed. The issue is complex and the efforts of the Council and the Mayor to look toward a better solution is appreciated but the best solution has not yet been found. Mr. Eagan stated that the Chamber endorses the twenty-four per cent (24%) across the board adjustment and encourages that within the next sixty (60) days that the group being put together look at the long term solutions. He noted that they realize that the cost of living in the community increases and they are not opposed to that. However, because of the length of time that has passed since the last increase, to try to make that all up in a recessionary economy will not be a win for anyone. Mr. Eagan encouraged the City to continue to be progressive and to involve all citizens. He noted that an earlier presentation on the issue of gangs was addressed and the community saw how much research and community involvement went into that issue and encouraged the Council to take that same kind of approach with this issue. There was no one else present wishing to speak in opposition to this bill. In rebuttal, Mayor Luecke thanked the Council for their time and energy in participating in these 0