09-09-13 Common Council Meeting Mintues

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REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 9, 2013 Whereas, on June 24, 2013, the South Bend City Council unanimously adopted Resolution No. 4263-13 which called for among other things, the establishment of an Action Plan for South Bend’s Historic City Cemetery and called for the restoration, enhancement and preservation of Vice-President Colfax’s final resting place so that visible and sustainable improvements would be made by the 2nd Schuyler Colfax Day to be held in 2014; and Whereas, it is our understanding that pursuant to Presidential Executive Order 11649 and Title 18 of the United States Code § 713, permission to use the official seal of the Vice-President of the United States on a Vice-President’s gravesite monument must be granted by the federal government; and Whereas, on July 16, 2013, Carol S. Nichols, an officer and member of the Schuyler Colfax Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution of South Bend, Indiana, sent a letter to President Barack Obama, Vice-President Joseph Biden and White House General Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler officially requesting permission to have the Vice-President of the United States official seal placed on a new gravesite headstone which would more properly honor and commemorate the public service to our nation by the 17th Vice President of the United States Schuyler Colfax; and Whereas, the South Bend Common Council notes that the federal government granted a similar request which resulted in a granite headstone with the Vice-Presidential Seal engraved thereon which was publicly dedicated on July 17, 2002, to honor U.S. Vice-President Charles Curtis, with his final resting place being located in Topeka Cemetery in Topeka, Kansas, which is depicted below: Now, Therefore, be it resolved, by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, , Indianaas follows: Section I. The South Bend Common Council respectfully requests permission and assistance from the United States Government to properly and publicly honor and commemorate the enduring legacy of public service to our nation by Schuyler Colfax, 17th Vice-President of the United States, by assisting the City of South Bend, Indiana, in erecting a new gravesite monument at his final resting place in City Cemetery which would proudly depict the Vice- Presidential Seal. Section II. The Common Council hereby respectfully requests any and all assistance from the federal public officials elected to represent our City residents and requests the Office of the City Clerk to send this Resolution, upon its adoption by the South Bend Common Council and approval by Mayor Pete Buttigieg, to: President Barack Obama Vice-President Joseph Biden The White House The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NS Washington, D.C. 20500 Washington, D.C. 20500 General White House Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler U.S. Senator Dan Coats The White House 493 Russell Senate Office Building 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20500 Washington, D.C. 20500 U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly U.S. Representative Jackie Walorski SR-B33 Russell Senate Office Building 419 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20515 and further respectfully requests that updates be sent to Council Vice-President Oliver J. Davis who chairs the City Council’s Community Relations Committee which is overseeing the project at odavis@southbendin.gov Section III. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption by the Common Council and approval by the Mayor. 2