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<br />RRGITLAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 13. 1982
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<br />BILL NO. 96 -82 A BILL TO VACATE THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED PROPERTY: ALL
<br />I= THAT PART OF THE FOURTEEN (14) FOOT WIDE PUBLIC ALLEY
<br />EXTENDING FROM MICHIGAN STREET ON ITS WESTERLY BOUNDARY TO
<br />fit THE FIRST FOURTEEN (14) FOOT NORTH -SOUTH PUBLIC ALLEY ON
<br />ITS EASTERLY BOUNDARY, SAID ALLEY LYING SOUTH OF AND
<br />ADJACENT TO LOT NUMBERED 62 IN THE RECORDED PLAT OF
<br />BOWMAN'S FOURTH ADDITION TO THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, ■
<br />INDIANA.
<br />As there was no one in the Chambers to make the presentation for this bill, Council
<br />Member Taylor made a motion to continue public hearing to the last item, seconded by
<br />Council Member Beck. The motion carried.
<br />BILL NO. 100 -82
<br />A BILL TO VACATE THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED PROPERTY: THE 1ST
<br />NORTH -SOUTH ALLEY WEST OF MICHIGAN STREET RUNNING NORTH
<br />FROM THE NORTH RIGHT -OF -WAY OF THE 1ST EAST -WEST ALLEY
<br />NORTH OF MADISON STREET FOR A DISTANCE OF 132' MORE OR LESS
<br />TO THE PROJECTED RIGHT -OF -WAY LINE OF THE MICHIGAN -MAIN
<br />CONNECTOR ADJACENT TO LOTS 166, 167 AND LOTS 158, 159 OF
<br />THE ORIGINAL PLAT OF SOUTH BEND. ALSO, THE 1ST EAST -WEST
<br />ALLEY NORTH OF MADISON STREET RUNNING WEST FROM A POINT 6'
<br />WEST OF THE 1ST NORTH -SOUTH ALLEY WEST OF MICHIGAN STREET
<br />TO THE EAST RIGHT -OF -WAY LINE OF THE MICHIGAN -MAIN CONNECTOR
<br />ADJACENT TO LOTS 165 AND 166 OF THE ORIGINAL PLAT OF SOUTH
<br />BEND.
<br />Now is the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above bill, proponents and
<br />opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Ron Olson, representing the Town
<br />Tower Motel, indicated that they proposed to take a vacant building and make it into
<br />a budget office building. He indicated they needed the alley vacation in order to
<br />provide more parking. Council Member Crone made a motion to amend the bill, in
<br />Section I, by adding to the end of the word "property ", with the herein described
<br />east -west alley conditioned upon permanent easement rights being granted by the Town
<br />Tower Motel Corporation for ingress and egress over that portion vacated, seconded
<br />by Council Member Zielinski. Joseph Kernan, City Controller, indicated there might
<br />be a problem with this amendment. Council Member McGann made a motion to recess in
<br />order to study the site plan, seconded by Council Member Szymkowiak. The motion
<br />carried and the meeting was recessed at 7:50 p.m., and reconvened at 7:55 p.m. Council
<br />Member Crone withdrew her motion and made a motion that public hearing be continued
<br />until February 27, and refer this back to the Board of Works, seconded by Council
<br />Member Taylor. The motion carried.
<br />BILL NO. 88 -82
<br />A BILL APPROPRIATING $500,000 FROM THE 1982 COMMUNITY BLOCK
<br />GRANT FUND TO SUPPLEMENT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CAPITAL
<br />FUND TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA,
<br />THROUGH ITS DIVISION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
<br />Now is the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above bill, proponents and
<br />opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Jon Hunt, Director of Redevelopment,
<br />made the presentation for the bill. He indicated the purpose of this appropriation
<br />was to transfer money to the South Bend Development Corporation to allow them to
<br />participate in a financing plan to retain Robertsons in downtown South Bend. He
<br />indicated there was no certainty the project will succeed, even with this appropriation.
<br />He indicated this will be an opportunity to retain an important business in the
<br />downtown area and to retain it under local ownership, which is important. He indicated
<br />that the success of the project was in the hands of the private sector. He indicated
<br />that�`Wickes may take the position of simply liquidating and moving out. He indicated
<br />that favorable action of the bill would at least create an opportunity to retain
<br />this-business. He indicated that if Robertsons closed it would have a tremendous
<br />adverse effect on the remaing small businessmen in the downtown area, as well as the
<br />Century Mall Project. He indicated there had been much discussion and debate about
<br />the protection of the present employees. He indicated that the Mayor, the Development
<br />Corporation, and the Council have made it clear that they hope, and will try in
<br />everyway possible to see that those employees have an opportunity to remain at the
<br />store. He indicated that 'no body knows what is going to happen, with the employment
<br />situation at this point. He indicated they had been told by the representative of
<br />the investment group that financial institutions he has been dealing with will except
<br />no restrictions on this appropriation bill that will effect any business plans; any
<br />management rights; and that would effect the economic or financial feasibility of
<br />the .project. He indicated there was a disagreement over what could be put in the
<br />bill, that would assure to the greatest extent possible that the present employees
<br />wnuld he nrntected. He indicated thev were offerina an amended bill. He indicated
<br />there were three issues the Council wanted addressed: 1. The Council retain some
<br />control- over the money in terms of where that money should go; 2. That the money be
<br />retarrr--in the City of South Bend; 3. To build in some language that would project
<br />the .,current employees. He indicated that should this bill be voted down we will
<br />lose't'he opportunity to retain Robertsons. He indicated that if additional restrictions
<br />were, placed on the bill, it will cause the investor group to lose the financial
<br />institutions. Council Member Taylor made a motion to accept the amended version of
<br />the bill, seconded by Council Member Serge. The motion carried. David Liberman,
<br />1928 Tnwood, indicated that Robertsons was failing cause of poor management. Harold
<br />HuettI' president of USCW Local 37, representing a good many of the employees of
<br />Robertsons, indicated they were in favor of keeping Robertsons in South Bend, but
<br />they want some assurance that the present employees would be kept on the payroll.
<br />He indicated that the present employees were willing to have their representatives
<br />meeting with any new investment group and negotiate a different contract that would
<br />have concessions. Phil Crone, 301 Donmoyer, Chairman of the UAW: Action Council,
<br />indicated the real question is whether the Council has the courage to tell any investor
<br />who wants public funds that those funds would not be available unless they were
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