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REGULAR MEETING APRIL 23, 1973
<br />COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED)
<br />ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE ANNEXING TO AND BRINGING WITHIN
<br />THE CITY LIMITS OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA,
<br />CERTAIN LANDS (SECTION 10, CREST MANOR).
<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 read a short communica
<br />tion from Mr. Robert Parker, Deputy City Attorney, which stated that the entire area in question
<br />was owned by Crest Manor Development Corporation, which corporation was requesting that this
<br />annexation take place. The communication also stated that the area proposed to be annexed was
<br />surrounded on all sides by property presently within the City of South Bend.
<br />Councilman Parent made a motion that the ordinance go to the Council as favorable, seconded by
<br />Councilman Kopczynski. The motion carried.
<br />ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 20, ARTICLE 5,
<br />OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF SOUTH
<br />BEND, INDIANA, 1971, BY THE ADDITION OF A
<br />NEW SECTION, SECTION 20 -58.1 FOR THE DISPOSI-
<br />TION OF NON - MOVING TRAFFIC VIOLATION FEES.
<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. Walter Lantz, Chief Deputy Controller, made
<br />the presentation_ for the ordinance. He explained that in June and December last year, a request
<br />was made to the Council regarding the parking garage bond. He indicated that this ordinance was
<br />to assure the availability of parking garage revenues, and also that this fund was really the onl
<br />logical disposition of the fees because they are derived from violations of the parking meter
<br />operations with the parking tickets being issued by the meter maids, both of which are funded
<br />through the parking meter fund. Miss Virginia Guthrie, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning
<br />Association, felt this was not right because the money was transferred and the parking garages
<br />were supposed to be self - supporting. She requested that the Council not adopt the ordinance.
<br />Councilman Taylor indicated that several times the Council has been asked to transfer funds in
<br />order to make payment. He indicated that this was for the disposition of the non - moving traffic
<br />violation fees which funds have before gone into the General Fund. He felt it was more logical
<br />to have traffic fees when needed going into this. Miss Guthrie indicated that these fees have
<br />previously been put into the General Fund and have reduced the tax rate. She asked that the
<br />bonds be allowed to pay for themselves and she felt this should not be supported by the property
<br />owner. Councilman Taylor indicated that he did not want to touch the tax rate and this was not
<br />being done. Miss Guthrie stressed the fact that these fees had been going into the General Fund
<br />before, and she indicated that she thoroughly disagreed with the ordinance. Councilman Parent
<br />asked Mr. Lantz if, when the fees are put into the special fund and if that fund is not fully
<br />used, the fees would revert back to the General Fund at the end of the year, and Mr. Lantz
<br />indicated that this would be the case. He also indicated that, by the ordinance, the city was
<br />only providing the payment of the bond issue so that the city does not default. Council Presiden
<br />Nemeth indicated that he did not get that meaning out of reading the ordinance. Mr. Lantz indi-
<br />cated that the city would be talking about a surplus that would go into the General Fund. He
<br />mentioned that all of the funds from the parking meters and parking garage fees are used at
<br />present to operate the garages and meters. Council President Nemeth asked what the purpose of
<br />the ordinance was if the surplus would go into the fund anyway. Mr. Lantz indicated that this wa
<br />for emergency appropriations and that in the past few years, the parking garages did not create
<br />enough money to support themselves; however, they are improving. Councilman Szymkowiak asked if
<br />the city would be short on paying the bond, and Mr. Lantz indicated that there was not enough
<br />money to pay off the bond issue on July 1 without this revenue. He felt that the revenue
<br />collected in the fines alone would run about $90,000 for this year.
<br />Councilman Miller made a motion that the ordinance go to the Council as favorable, seconded by
<br />Councilman Kopczynski. The motion carried.
<br />ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $110,801.00 FROM
<br />THE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE GRANT FUND, COMMONLY
<br />REFERRED TO AS GENERAL REVENUE SHARING, FOR
<br />A HUMAN RESOURCES PROGRAM FOCUSED ON DRUG
<br />ABUSE, TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE CITY OF
<br />SOUTH BEND THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
<br />RESOURCES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
<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. Mayor Jerry J. Miller made the presentation for
<br />the ordinance, and indicated that it would appropriate funds for a drug abuse program for the
<br />community, something which has been talked about for many months. He indicated that he had hoped
<br />that the county and the City of Mishawaka would participate in the program; however, at this time,
<br />they were not. He indicated that Dr. John Kromkowski would have further information for the
<br />Council members. Dr. John Kromkowski, Director of the Department of Human Resources and Economic
<br />Development, indicated that this represented what the Council committee had been involved in and
<br />worked on and was a coordination of planning, private volunteer sector and the State of Indiana
<br />and Department of Mental Health. He requested that the city invest in a program that would serve
<br />the citizens as safety and overall welfare was to be considered. He briefly spoke on the Methadon
<br />Maintenance Clinic and a residential treatment center for the community. He introduced Reverend
<br />Robert McGill of the Drug Abuse Council, who indicated that there was a serious drug abuse problem
<br />in the community. He indicated that there were 500 or more persons on heroin and from 3,000 to
<br />5,000 regular drug abusers. He also indicated that 50 to 70% of all the property crime was
<br />attributed to drug users. He indicated that the city has a limited day care program and emergency
<br />treatment program which was only one leg of a three - legged stool. Dr. Rene Wilett of the Northern
<br />Indiana Drug Abuse Services, indicated that the need was evident. He was hopeful that an effort
<br />could be worked out with the county; however, he indicated that the heart of the drug problem'4was
<br />within the city. He briefly explained the efforts and procedures involved with the Drug Abuse
<br />Services. He indicated that the funds appropriated would allow the Services to provide an oppor-
<br />tunity for the city to have an alternative for public safety. He indicated that those on drugs
<br />range anywhere from 16 to 60 years of age. With the funds, there would be individual counseling,
<br />group counseling, vocational and occupational training, etc., which would provide an alternative
<br />to prison, reduce the crime rate and rehabilitate the addict. He indicated that the Methadon
<br />
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