07-28-75 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JULY 28 1975 REGULAR MEETING - RECONVENED (CONTINUED) ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE EXPENDITURE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS TO ESTABLISH A GUARANTEED LOAN PROGRAM. This ordinance had first reading. Councilman Serge made a motion to set the ordinance for public hearing and second reading on August 11, 1975, seconded by Councilman Miller. The motion carried. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR Mr. Frank Slaby, 725 South Dundee Street, talked about the overruns for the projects in the southeast side rehabilitation projects. Mr. Keith Crighton, Manager of the Bureau of Housing, indicated that, prior to the contract award, the contract must be reviewed by an attorney. The credit and references are checked out. A performance bond was required on all contracts. He stat( that there were daily inspections where work was being done on the homes. He assured Mr. Slaby that all the work was carefully monitored before payment was made. Mr. Slaby indicated that he had received calls concerning the Third District retention basin and that it was not kept clean. Councilman Miller indicated that he had received numerous requests to have the property mowed and cleaned up. He stated that, hopefully, cleanup would be accomplish within the next two weeks. He indicated that the holdup concerned the negotiations with the owner of the land. He stated that this would be accomplished through the cooperation of the Park Department. Mr. Slaby also wondered if there was a design by Murphy Engineering for the intersection of Portage and Elwood. He was referring to the appropriation approval granted by the Council for improvements at that intersection. Councilman Serge indicated that the project had been under under the past engineer, Mr. Richardson. Mr. Slaby then talked about the number of robberies occurring occasionally in his neighborhood in the 700 block of Dundee. He expressed concern about this problem. Councilman Serge indicated that he had the same problem on O'Brien Street in the 1400 block. He felt the foot patrol program could be utilized in these areas. Councilman Kopczynski questioned whether or not the foot patrol program was actually foot patrol. He indicated that he has asked for foot patrol work and he felt that much of this was being done in the squad cars. He talked about the lock program being used in the southeast side and the crime in his district. He felt it was a disgrace that certain programs were utilized only in certain areas. He felt the programs should be funded on a city -wid basis and not just in one particular neighborhood. He felt a great deal of money was being spent in the southeast side. Mr. Slaby indicated that many people in his area would benefit from the lock program but it was not delineated in that area. He asked that Councilman Kopczynski call the Police Department again and request some assistance for his area. Council President Parent felt the same problems occurred in all parts of the city. He felt one of the solutions was to have a professional police department. Councilman Taylor indicated that he had had two occasions to request assistance regarding the overtime foot patrol and the responses he had received had been excellent. Councilman Szymkowiak talked about the problems in the vicinity of the Frosted Glass Bar and the many times he had tried to resolve them. He felt there were enough officers in the area on foot patrol who could take care of the problem. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Councilman Newburn made a motion filed on April 16, 1975, for the letter received from the attorney Mr. Roger O. Parent President South Bend Common Council 441 County -City Building South Bend, Indiana 46601 Dear Roger: to strike the annexation petition and ordinance of I.P.M., Inc., southwest corner of Ireland and Ironwood Roads, in view of the for the petitioner, as follows: July 7, 1975 Re: Ironwood /Ireland Road Annexation Petition My principals have instructed me to withdraw the zoning and annexation petitions presently before the South Bend Common Council. It is their intention to attempt to rezone the subject property in the County. Please accept this letter as notice of our request that the same be deleted from the Council's agenda. If there are any questions on this matter, please let me know. Sincerely yours, s/ Charles A. Sweeney, Jr. Councilman Horvath seconded the motion. Councilman Miller indicated that he would like to see the property annexed. Council President Parent requested a roll call vote on the motion. The motion lost by a roll call vote of five nays (Councilmen Miller, Kopczynski, Horvath, Nemeth and Newburn) and four ayes (Councilmen Serge, Szymkowiak, Taylor and Parent). Councilman Miller then made a motion to refer the matter back to the Ordinance Committee, seconded by Councilman Horvath. The motion carried. NEW BUSINESS Council President Parent indicated that the Board of Public Works had passed a resolution regarding the sale of city -owned property located at 1219 -1221 South Lafayette, 1601 Longley and 1018 West Jefferson. He stated that, if there was objection to the sale, the Council would have to notify the Board of Public Works. There was no objection on the part of the Council to the sal( of the properties.