05-01-72 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING MAY 1, 1972 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED) ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE ORDERING AND PROVIDING FOR THE SALE OF CERTAIN REAL ESTATE IN THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, INDIANA, WHICH SAID REAL ESTATE IS OWNED BY SAID CITY FOR USE OF ITS PARK DEPARTMENT. (South Side of Ireland, West of Miami) This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard thereon. Mr. James Seitz, Superintendent of the Park Department said that this ordinance involved 4.4 acres of city -owned park land now being used as a maintenance area for Erskine Golf Course. With the widening of Ireland Road and the increased traffic because of the growing commercial area, equipment cannot cross Ireland Road. A portion of golf course land could be used for the maintenance buildings. The land in question is valuable property and there have been offers to purchase it. If the land is sold, the money would go into the General Park Fund and would be used to re- establish a maintenance area on the golf course with the additional money to be used to acquire park land in another area. Miss Virginia Guthrie, Executive Director of the Civic Planning Association, said that with the short- age of available park land, why couldn't this land be used as a park. Mr. Seitz replied that the land was not suitable because of the heavy traffic and the commercial nature of the area. Councilman Parent asked if the money from the sale would be used to purchase additional park land. Mr. Seitz replied that the money would be used for replacing the maintenance area and the balance would go into the park land fund. Councilman Kopczynski asked the value of the land and how much would be needed to replace the maintenance building. Mr. Seitz answered that appraisers will have to be appointed by the court to set a value on the land but that it is worth over $100,000. He also said that it would cost about $40,000 to re- establish the maintenance area. Councilman Szymkowiak made a motion that the Ordinance go to the Council as favorable. The motion was seconded by Councilman Kopczynski, and was carried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE REORGANIZING THE STRUCTURE OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA. This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard thereon. Chairman Odell Newburn asked that those who wished to be heard please give their name and address, that everyone would be given an oppor- tunity to speak but that they should not debate with each other. Mayor Jerry J. Miller made a presentation for the administration, stating that the purpose of this meeting was to provide for government reorganization of our city. He commended the members of the Council for their patience and hard work on the ordinance. He said that members of the administration had studied the amendments proposed and were pleased that the Council had accom- plished the intent of the Indiana General Assembly. The reorganization proposal is the result of the work of a task force and was begun in 1971. It involved over 200 man hours and included citizens, members of the Democratic party, members of the former administration and others inter- ested in improving government. The mayor said that we must reorganize city government in order to provide better services for everyone and improve the quality of living of the city. Mayor Miller then displayed four charts. The first chart showed the present city government, instituted in 1908. He stressed the fact that the elected officials of today are asked to make 1972 decisions with a 1908 plan of government. Under this plan, 25 or 30 departments of government report directly to the mayor. Chart number two showed the reorganization plan whereby six cabi- net heads are created: Law, Administration, Human Resources, Board of Safety, Board of Works, and Parks and Recreation. The new plan would make no changes in the Department of Parks and Recreation. The third chart showed positions appointed by the mayor. Mayor Miller pointed out that the power of boards and commissions would not be diminished under the reorganization plan. He said there are many advantages in grouping like agencies under one head. The fourth chart listed autonomous agencies. The mayor pointed out that city government must be responsive to its citizens. The cabinet form of government has been adopted by the Indiana Legislature and can now be adopted by the Common Council. It will do away with the overlapping of government agencies. The Mayor then introduced Fire Chief Jack Bland. Chief Bland said that the current urban devel- opment plans bring new problems which require new methods for better service. He listed the following areas of cooperation between a Safety Director and the Fire Department: 1. Better education in the area of community safety. There is a Junior Fire Department program in the schools and this type of program could be expanc ?ed. 2. A Public Safety Director could coordinate overlapping areas in the field of civil defense and natural disasters. 3. Coordination of authority in new construction, sub - standard housing, fire and building code enforcement, high -rise fire fighting. 4. Coordination of fire authorities within South Bend's influence, such as an area training program for fire fighters. 5. Coordinating public safety at a state level, working through the Indiana General Assembly. G. Investigate more professionalism in fire fighting through federal programs. 7. Better liaison at the cabinet level with the Mayor in working out some of the problems we are facing today. Mayor Miller then introduced Police Chief Robert Seals. Chief Seals said that there have been months of controversy over the proposed reorganization concerning the possible removal of control of the Department from the Chief of Police. In the proposed ordinance, there is no more such