08-13-73 Council Meeting Minutes

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REQUAR MFFTT= AUGUST 13, 1973 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED) the Area Plan Commission. Mr. Douglas Carpenter; Planner for the Area Plan Commission, indicated that the Plan Commission felt the "area was a nice residential area and the use would have a detri- mental effect on the area. He felt a chain reaction could have been started with the rezoning. He expressed the hope of the Plan Commission to preserve the area. Council President Nemeth asked about Area Plan's recommendation on the Park Jefferson Apartments, and Mr. Carpenter indicated that he was not on the staff at that time. Council President Nemeth asked if there was a plan to change the exterior of the building, and Mr. Carpenter stated that the only change on the exterior would be the addition of a three -car parking lot and the necessary screening. Council President Nemeth indicated that the Park Jefferson Apartments and the Red Cross building were new buildings. He asked if Mr. Carpenter felt this was a threat to the neighborhood. Mr. Carpenter indicated that the rezoning at 408 South 30th Street could set off the whole neighborhood for non- residential uses He indicated that, when the funeral home was rezoned, there had been a great deal of objection, and it had been thought that there would be no more rezoning in that area after the funeral home came in. Council President Nemeth asked about Mr. Carpenter's recommendation on the funeral home, and Mr. Carpenter indicated that the Area Plan Commission had voted favorably on that rezoning. Councilman Horvath asked if there was a possibility of moving the parking to the south of the building, and Mr. Farabaugh indicated that that approach had been considered; however, there was no room to the south. Councilman Horvath asked how close the parking would be on Jefferson Boulevard, and Mr. Farabaugh, by use of the slide, indicated there would be 20 feet from the curb line with the house being 60 feet from the street and 40 to 45 feet of that to be used for parking. Mr. Farabaugh indicated that he felt the Council should not consider the rezoning as commercial. He indicated that there were no plans to live in the house and, thus, the reason for the rezoning. He also indicated that the rezoning to allow the doctor's office did not necessarily mean the seller would be getting a better price for the house because the buyer would have to remodel and change the interior to accommodate his office and might not offer as high.a price as someone who had no intention of changing the building. Councilman Kopczynski made a motion that the ordinance go to the Council as favorable, seconded by Council President Nemeth. There was voice vote on the issue, and Chairman Newburn declared the motion lost. Councilman Kopczynski requested a roll call vote. The motion lost by a vote of three ayes (Councilmen Kopczynski, Newburn and Nemeth) and six nays (Councilmen Serge, Szymkowiak, Miller, Parent, Taylor and Horvath). ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE FOR THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS WITHIN THE MOTOR VEHICLE HIGHWAY BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,000.00 BETWEEN VARIOUS ACCOUNTS, ALL ACCOUNTS BEING WITHIN THE MOTOR VEHICLE HIGHWAY BUDGET. This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. Donald Decker, Manager of the Bureau of Streets, made the presentation for the ordinance. He explained that the request for the transfer to the MVH -726 Account was necessitated because of some large expenditures for signal torches, barricades and modifications to slurry equipment which depleted the account. He expressed the thought that the transfer of $2,000 to this account from the MVH -722 Account would support the department's requirements for the balance of 1973. He also indicated that a transfer was necessar, to the MVH -323 Account because the $3,000 that was budgeted this year represented $6,000 less than was budgeted in 1972, and it was simply not enough to cover the tire needs for the 75 pieces of rolling equipment on the street. He was hopeful that this transfer would also fulfill the depart- ment's requirements for the balance of 1973. Miss Virginia Guthrie, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association, questioned the fact that $2,000 was available in the Services Personal Account to transfer into another account. Mr. Decker indicated that the Services Personal Account was the salary account and, during part of 1973, he had operated with less supervisors than was budgeted. Miss Guthrie asked if Mr. Decker could continue to operate with less supervisors, and Mr. Decker stated that he has rehired and filled the position because it was needed. Miss Guthrie asked if the equipment was needed at the present time, and Mr. Decker indicated that it was because the equipment was used year- round. Chairman Newburn indicated that the shovels, flares and other tools must be replaced, and he questioned the method used for replacement of the equipment. He asked if there was a high loss of those items by theft. Mr. Decker explained that the tools are disbursed in the morning and are collected at the end of the shifts and accounted for. He stated that there is normal breakage of the equipment. He stated that the only loss would be in the area of the flares because of the vandals. He mentioned that, on one evening at one location, 17 flares had been stolen. Council President Nemeth asked if something else could be used in place of the flares, and Mr. Decker indicated that the department had flashing barricades; however, they were very expensive and nothing prevented vandals from stealing that equipment also. Council President Nemeth asked about reflectors, and Mr. Decker indicated that the reflectors are of no value at night. Councilman Kopczynski asked if the flares had been stolen in any one particular area, and Mr. Decker indicates that some areas are more prevalent. Councilman Kopczynski asked in what area the highest loss occurs, and Mr. Decker indicated the Ohio, Pennsylvania and Keasey Streets area. Councilman Kopczynski asked if buildings were set afire by use of the flares, and Mr. Decker indicated that the Fire Department had responded to several fire calls in the area, with most of the fires being porch fires. Councilman Parent indicated that, with the work being done in the McKinley area, the flares were being lost to the children. Councilman Kopczynski asked if it was possible to anchor the flares down, and Mr. Decker indicated that he did not know of any way. Councilman Kopczynski asked if that suggestion could be looked into, and Mr. Decker indicated that, if something could be designed, he felt the plan would have merit. Councilman Szymkowiak made a motion that the ordinance go to the Council as favorable, seconded by Councilman Parent. The motion carried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $25,000.00 FROM THE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE GRANT FUND, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS GENERAL REVENUE SHARING, FOR VARIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAMS, TO BE ADMIN- ISTERED BY THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Dr. John Kromkowski, Director of the Department