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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 12, 1974
<br />COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED)
<br />Miss Virginia Guthrie, Consultant and member of the Board of Directors of the Civic Planning
<br />Association, stated that the waiting time increase was 50 %. She questioned this, and Mr. Groves
<br />stated that the waiting time is very infrequently invoked. He indicated that the waiting time doe;
<br />involved the use of gasoline, as well as time. Miss Fanny Grunwald, 227 South Frances Street,
<br />wondered how much time the passenger would be allowed to enter the cab. Mr. Richard Ellis, Preside
<br />of Courtesy Cab, stated that Mishawaka's rates were higher; likewise, many other cities the size o:
<br />South Bend. He indicated that he does not turn the meter on for short periods of time. Mr. Kevin
<br />Butler, Attorney at Law practicing at 1221 St. Joseph Bank Building, indicated that he was repre-
<br />senting South Bend Cab and Indiana Yellow Cab. He stated that an understanding had been worked
<br />out and agreement had been reached on the amended ordinance. He requested that the effective date
<br />of the ordinance be September 1, 1974. Councilman Newburn wondered about the cost involved for
<br />those disabled persons in the handling of packages, etc. Mr. Groves stated that the drivers would
<br />display common decency and courtesy in occasions of that type, and he felt sure the drivers would
<br />not take advantage of a handicapped person. Councilman Szymkowiak also expressed concern for the
<br />handicapped and the elderly in the handling of groceries, etc. Councilman Kopczynski stated that
<br />the taxicab business was a private business. He felt that some of the points made were out of
<br />order because if the people did not feel the cab companies were doing their jobs, they did not
<br />have to ride that cab. Councilman Serge expressed support of the increase in the waiting time and
<br />felt that sometimes, the passengers take advantage of that.
<br />Council President Nemeth made a motion to further amend the ordinance to show an effective date of
<br />September 1, 1974, seconded by Councilman Kopczynski. The motion carried. Councilman Taylor then
<br />made a motion that the ordinance, as amended, be recommended favorably to the Common Council,
<br />seconded by Councilman Kopczynski. The motion carried.
<br />ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $150,000.00
<br />FROM THE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE GRANT FUND.TO
<br />A NEW FEDERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND
<br />ACCOUNT, PROGRAM F.A. 62, SOUTH BEND PUBLIC
<br />TRANSPORTATION CORPORATION SUBSIDY, ACCOUNT
<br />NO. 631.0, "GRANTS AND SUBSIDIES ", TO BE
<br />ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
<br />ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE OF THE CITY
<br />OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.
<br />This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and
<br />opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. Robert J. DuComb, Sr., Legal Counsel for
<br />the Public Transportation Corporation, made the presentation for the ordinance. He stated that
<br />the administration was requesting the appropriation of $150,000 for the PTC. He talked about the
<br />problems that the PTC has had with the frozen tax rate. He stated that a compromise had been
<br />accepted; however, the PTC still had been "left short of revenue" for operating expenses. He
<br />indicated that no other source of revenue was available other than the fares and a small amount of
<br />money from the fuel tax. He talked about the inflation problem and the rising costs in fuel, etc.
<br />He stated that no bids had been received on fuel, and this was just one of the problems the PTC ha
<br />been faced with. He indicated that the request for funds would not allow for expansion but would
<br />enable the PTC to operate at a necessary level of service.
<br />Miss Virginia Guthrie, Consultant and member of the Board of Directors of the Civic Planning
<br />Association, stated that the Civic Planning Association has recognized the present problem but was
<br />concerned about the future of the PTC. She hoped the company would consider a modest increase in
<br />the fares in order to increase its revenue. Mrs. Janet Allen, 125 West Marion Street, felt that
<br />every time fares are increased, the income goes down because customers are lost. She felt that, is
<br />adequate bus service to and from the outlying areas was available, more income would be realized.
<br />Councilman Kopczynski asked about the administration of the program. Mr. DuComb stated that,
<br />legally speaking, the money must be allocated from the administration. Councilman Kopczynski askei
<br />if the Department of Administration and Finance would be involved in the actual administration and
<br />use of the funds. Mr. DuComb felt the ordinance was correct in its present wording and felt there
<br />would be no problem. Mr. James Roemer, City Attorney, stated that the administration has the
<br />responsibility to the federal government for proper spending of the funds; therefore, the administ:
<br />tion must "administer" but not make the decision on day -to -day spending, etc. Councilman Parent
<br />wondered about the possibility of cutting back routes rather than using revenue sharing funds. Mr
<br />DuComb stated that employees would have to be laid off and additional revenues would be lost. He
<br />was not sure what kind of a loss would be realized if routes were cut back. Councilman Horvath
<br />asked about the steps being taken for next year if the income was not sufficient to meet expenses.
<br />Mr. DuComb stated that the PTC was hopeful that the legislature would come up with operating
<br />subsidies for the various public transportation corporations out of state funds. If this would no-
<br />be available, a cutback would have to be made at that time. Councilman Horvath asked about the
<br />purchase of additional buses. He wondered about the possibility of purchasing mini - buses. Mr.
<br />DuComb answered by stating that the mini -buses have been tried in other cities. Unfortunately,
<br />95% of the overhead of the mini -buses was the driver. He talked about experimenting with smaller
<br />buses in certain areas. He stated that full capacity was needed sporadically and the mini -buses
<br />would not be adequate during those periods of time. He also mentioned that maintenance of the min:
<br />buses was a problem. Councilman Serge felt the bus business would improve, and he talked about the
<br />route signs being installed. Councilman Kopczynski indicated that the assistant manager was now
<br />taking over in the absence of the manager. Mr. DuComb stated that that was correct as the manager
<br />had resigned because of illness, and a board had been established to find a method of new manage-
<br />ment. Councilman Kopczynski asked if the bus corporation intended to change the type of managemen-
<br />Mr. DuComb indicated that he could not speak on behalf of the board because a recommendation had nc
<br />been made. Councilman Szymkowiak stated that the budget must be cut where necessary if income was
<br />not above operating expenses. He felt the assistant manager should be retained to carry out the
<br />program. Councilman Parent commended the Public Transportation Corporation and Mr. DuComb for his
<br />assistance.
<br />Councilman Parent made a motion that the ordinance be recommended favorably to the Common Council,
<br />seconded by Councilman Taylor. The motion carried.
<br />ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING FAIR CAMPAIGN
<br />PRACTICES WITHIN THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND.
<br />This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and
<br />opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Council President Nemeth made the presentation
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