|
REGULAR MEETING - RECONVENED (CONTINUED)
<br />The Area Plan Commission acted at the public hearing on June 19, 1973, in a
<br />favorable manner concerning this application. It seems that the ordinances which
<br />included the amended legal description were filed in our office by mistake and at the
<br />time of our recommendation to you, were not provided to the City Clerk. Thus, the un-
<br />amended ordinances were signed instead of the amended ordinances.
<br />Very truly yours,
<br />s/ Douglas L. Carpenter
<br />DLC:lari Senior Planner
<br />attach.
<br />Councilman Parent made a motion that the ordinance referred to in the report be set for public
<br />hearing and second reading on September 10, 1973, seconded by Councilman Taylor. The motion
<br />carried.
<br />REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
<br />Dr. John Kromkowski, Director of the Department of Human Resources and Economic Development,
<br />indicated that, since the Redevelopment Commission falls under his department, the quarterly repor-
<br />would be made by Mr. Charles Lennon. Mr. Lennon indicated that he was the Executive Director of
<br />the Department of Redevelopment and Community Development. He indicated that the Redevelopment
<br />Department is a department of the City of South Bend and possesses certain powers other city depar-
<br />ments do not have because of certain statutory rights. He indicated that the Redevelopment Trustee
<br />are appointed for a one to four year term, the trustees being: Mr. F. Jay Nimtz, Mr. William A.
<br />Welsheimer, Mr. Edgar Wertheimer, Mr. William Richardson and Mr. Morris Morrison. Mr. Lennon
<br />explained that, on the first meeting day before the end of the year, the trustees elect for one-
<br />year terms the Redevelopment Commissioners, they being: Mr. Fred J. Helmen, Mr. John E. Chenney,
<br />Rev. Willie Williams, Mr. B. L. Wade and Mr. Donald Wiggins. He explained that the Department of
<br />Redevelopment concentrates on renewal projects and its major function is to handle the entire relo.
<br />cation of the City of South Bend. He presented an outline to the Council of the Department of
<br />Redevelopment and indicated that, during the past year, the staff went from 82 people to 46. He
<br />explained that one of the reasons for this was the fact that the building inspectors were turned
<br />over to the Building Department and the engineering functions were forwarded to the Department of
<br />Public Works. He explained that legal work is still done within the office as much as possible.
<br />Mr. Lennon indicated that the activities of the Redevelopment Department are coordinated with
<br />community development and meetings are held Monday mornings with Dr. John Kromkowski. He indicate(
<br />that he was responsible for developing as relates to revenue sharing, community development, capita
<br />improvement programs, house information centers and public housing programs and community and citi•
<br />zen participation. He briefly outlined the major projects, they being: the Downtown Renewal
<br />Project in an amount of $23,000,000; the Neighborhood Improvement Program at $500,000; the Northea;
<br />Code.Enforcement Project and Model Cities Code Enforcement Project; Urban Renewal of LaSalle Park
<br />(which has been pooled with the downtown renewal project); the Merry Avenue Project at $406,000 an(
<br />another code enforcement project for the Model Cities area at $208,000, the latter two programs
<br />being funded by Model Cities.
<br />Councilman Taylor asked about the status of the Northeast Code Enforcement Project, and Mr. Lennon
<br />indicated that the department had not received the full four -year program; however, they were
<br />trying to clear up the major code violations. He explained that the grants which were approved in
<br />July authorized an additional $52,000 and $57,000 for that particular area. Councilman Taylor
<br />asked if there were funds still available, and Mr. Lennon indicated that the city still has portioi
<br />left to pay in the E -3 Project (Northeast Code Enforcement Project), the funds being encumbered bui
<br />not yet spent. Councilman Kopczynski indicated that the people in the LaSalle area had invited hir
<br />to check the area under construction regarding the project, and he indicated that some work was doe
<br />which was substandard. Mr. Lennon indicated that his department had issued 45 letters to the con-
<br />tractors regarding the work performed, giving them 10 days to make the necessary repairs. He
<br />indicated that he wanted to give the contractors the opportunity to repair the work before litiga-
<br />tion. Councilman Kopczynski asked about the poor design of the structures. Mr. Lennon indicated
<br />that the complaints he had received had come up in other areas and had not dealt with design. He
<br />explained that a report had been made on each complaint and it was determined who was responsible.
<br />In all cases, the contractor was found to be at fault. Councilman Kopczynski asked why the
<br />Building Department had not made inspection of the structures. Mr. Lennon indicated that, in the
<br />past, an inspection follow -up had never been made, and many times poor materials and workmanship
<br />had not shown up until after a year later. He indicated that, since last November, inspection
<br />follow -up has been conducted. Councilman Szymkowiak asked if these same contractors were still in
<br />business, and Mr. Lennon indicated that some were and some were not and some of the contractors
<br />were even doing business at the present time under different names. He stated that his department
<br />was attempting to determine which companies had done that. Councilman Szymkowiak asked if the con-
<br />tractors were bonded for workmanship, and Mr. Lennon indicated that they were. Councilman Miller
<br />indicated that he would like a rundown on the amount of money the city must contribute regarding
<br />the federal contracts. Mr. Lennon indicated that he would update that information for the Council,
<br />Councilman Parent indicated that he has been receiving feedback on the ramps being constructed
<br />downtown for the handicapped. He indicated that he had reached the conclusion that the ramps were
<br />not designed properly. He asked if Mr. Lennon was aware of this and if any plans had been made to
<br />correct the situation. Mr. Lennon indicated that the ramps were mandated by the local ordinances
<br />and would have to meet the necessary specifications; however, might not meet the inadequacies of
<br />some individuals. Councilman Parent indicated that there was nothing in the local ordinance that
<br />mandated the curbs. Mr. Lennon assured Councilman Parent that, if the curbs were inadequate, they
<br />could be corrected. He indicated that it would be less expensive to correct them before they were
<br />constructed. Councilman Taylor indicated that the downtown renewal project was a $30,000,000 pro-
<br />ject. Mr. Lennon indicated that, in the amendatory contract, $9,000,000 was requested; however,
<br />the city only received $2,000,000. Councilman Taylor asked about the request in the amendatory
<br />contract, and Mr. Lennon indicated that he had requested funds for land acquisition and repair. He
<br />stated that the projects put back on for planning purposes were not available because the money was
<br />not available at this time. Council President Nemeth thanked Mr. Lennon for his presentation.
<br />PETITIONS TO AMEND THE ZONING ORDINANCE
<br />I, the undersigned, do hereby respectfully make application and petition the Common
<br />Council of South Bend, Indiana, to amend the Zoning Ordinance of South Bend, Indiana, as
<br />hereinafter requested, or in the alternative for the Executive Board of the Area Plan
<br />Commission to approve the site plan that is being filed herewith because the two lots
<br />
|