05-08-72 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING IIREPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MINUTES MAY 8, 1972 Your committee on the inspection and supervision of minutes would respectfully report that they have inspected the minutes of the May 1, 1972 regular meeting of the Council and found them correct. They, therefore, recommend that the same be approved. /s/ Peter J. Nemeth /s/ Terry S. Miller ICouncil President Nemeth asked consent of the Council to accept the report to be placed on file without a vote. Consent granted. 1ICITIZENS REQUESTS - MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS Mrs. Ann Wlodarski, 1869 Riverside Drive, asked the Council about the matter of Associates Family Center being in violation of the zoning ordinance, having constructed a three -story building when the plans submitted and approved were for a two -story building. Councilman Parent said that he has been in contact with the Mayor, the Legal Department, and Associates in regard to this matter. He said that he felt Associates would have to repetition the Common Council and the Area Plan Commission and perhaps the Board of Zoning Appeals on this matter. This would involve . new public hearings on the question. Mrs. Wlodarski also said she was interested to read in the Tribune that funds totaling $4000 had been found to build a tot lot. She said it appears the city can always find funds for things it wants to do and suggested that perhaps departments are being overbudgeted if this is the case. Mr. James Seitz, Superintendent of the Park Department, said the story in the paper was misleading. The funds were not found, but are from a $700 budgeted item for play- ground equipment and gifts from the Rotary Club and other clubs. Mr. Seitz then spoke about the proposed ski slope at Rum Village Park. He said that a large number of interested citizens attended the Park Board meeting held this afternoon and that the Park Board gained much valuable input from the people at the meeting. He said the problem is the Park Department needs more money for land acquisition. They favor the idea of a ski area, but perhaps not in Rum Village Park, one of the last natural forests. Councilman Newburn asked Mr. Seitz if the development of a ski area with Park Department funds would delay the Linden School Park project. Mr. Seitz said that it would not affect the Linden project. Councilman Kopczynski asked Mr. Seitz if any good trees were cut down in Rum Village or just diseased trees and if a qualified professional determined this. Mr. Seitz said that just a few trees were removed and they were diseased. The man in charge is not a professional but has been with the Park Department for many years and knows his work. The lumber from the trees cut down is being used in the Park Department garage for signs such as were recently made for the Fire Department. Councilman Horvat] asked Mr. Seitz if he could assure the people that the ski slope proposed would not go into Rum Village Park. Mr. Seitz said that he could not make such a statement. The Park Board will re- view the situation and make a decision. Councilman Horvath said that he had received calls from a lot of people opposed_ to any changes in Rum Village Park and that the Park Board should take into consideration the views expressed by the people who attended the meeting. Mr. Joe Nagy, 1209 W. Indiana Avenue, asked if the Park Department would be cutting any trees while they are deciding about the project. Mr. Seitz said that they would not. Mr. Joe Szekendi, 2025 Prairie Avenue, asked that Rum Village be preserved. Mrs. Wlodarski asked Mr. Seitz if it would be neces- sary to purchase a snow - making machine if the ski slope is built and, if so, how much of the year such a machine would actually be used. Mr. Seitz said that it would probably be necessary to purchase such a machine if plans for a ski slope are developed but he could not say how much it would be used. Mrs. Velma Torzewski, 1802 Douglas Street, said that she is a lifelong resident of the Rum Village area and asked that the park be preserved in its natural state. She called the area a historical landmark, said that a large variety of wildflowers grow in the park, that it is almost maintenance free and should be kept so that the children of the city can continue to enjoy it. Others who spoke in opposition to any more tree cutting or changes in Rum Village Park were Joseph Karsas, 1033 W. Ewing Avenue; Jeff Derda, 2205 S. Carlisle St.; Mrs. Lee Swan, 2022 Swygart St.; and Mrs. Phyllis Raccasi, 525 S. 20th St. Councilman Parent said that he thought there were two issues involved. One is the problem of keeping the people informed as to what is going on. The second is preservation and /or recreation. Mr. Ernest Bramberg, 2126 S. Morris, asked about the consultant's fees paid out on this project if it should be stopped. Mr. Seitz said that the project has not been dissolved and the Park Board could use the consultant information in another area. Mrs. Delores Kovas, 608 Park Avenue, asked Mr. Seitz if the Bendix Woods ski area is inadequate. Mr. Seitz replied that it is being used to capacity on week -ends and is inadequate. He said there is a need for more winter sports activities in the city. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Council President Nemeth entertained a motion to waive the reading of the Committee of the Whole report, so moved by Councilman Parent, seconded by Councilman Horvath, and carried by unanimous vote. ORDINANCES, THIRD READING ORDINANCE NO. 5391 -72 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING ORDINANCE NO. 4990 -68, CHAPTER 40, OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, FORMERLY REFERRED TO AS ZONING ORDINANCE NO. 3702. (Indiana Avenue and Leer St.) This Ordinance was given third reading. Councilman Taylor made a motion for passage of the ordinance, seconded by Councilman Parent. The Ordinance passed by a roll call vote of nine ayes (Councilmen Serge, Szymkowiak, Miller, Parent, Taylor, Kopczynski, Horvath, Newburn and Nemeth). 0 Nays. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Council President Nemeth said that an Ordinance creating the position of Public Safety Director had been referred to the Ways and Means Committee of the Council and that this ordinance should now be stricken from the files. Councilman Parent made a motion that the Ordinance creating the position of Public Safety Director be stricken from the Council files, seconded by Councilman Taylor, and carried.