10-27-08 Common Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 27, 2008 Councilmember Rouse asked when the monies are project from LOIT, was a 6.1% unemployment rate? Ms. Fanello stated that the LOIT dollars were projected back in July, when Umbaugh did their study. She stated that that number may have changed since then. She stated that she will get the Council an update. She noted that since Umbaugh did such extension work for the City they set up a model and once they get the updated assessed values from the County, they will be able to plug those numbers in and then will be able to look at the current taxable income at that time. There was no one present wishing to speak in favor of this bill. The following individuals spoke in opposition to this bill. Mr. Jerry Niezgodski, 2930 Bonds, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he really is not in favor or against these bills. He stated that he has a lot of questions. He stated that he too would like to see an addition to the Hotel-Motel Tax and a consideration of a Food & Beverage Tax. He stated that during the budget meetings that the Council has budgeted for a research assistance $46,000.00. He suggested that since the Council has not filled that position that they spend some of that money actually and do something that he has mentioned before that being hire a consultant or an analyst to really look at how the City operates and compare South Bend to other cities. He stated that the 2009 budget has approximately 1,190 full time employees. He questioned why South Bend is so much higher that other cities like Gary, Evansville, and Ft. Wayne, per capita. He stated that the Council really needs to know this, to make an education decision. Why are there so many more employees here in South Bend as compared to the other cities per capita basis? He stated that last year the Council passed an Ordinance creating a position in the Community & Economic Development Department. According to that ordinance that person was supposed to report to the Council quarterly and give a final report. He questioned the findings of that report. Was the report filed and if there were savings to be identified when they looked at that department, they were supposed to look at policies and procedures and how the department operates. He stated that when the Council compares South Bend to other cities they will find that the Police, Fire, and Crossing Guards are in line with other cities. He urged the Council not to cut public safety, especially Crossing Guards, Police and Fire. Councilmember Varner made a motion to continue Bills No. 58-08; 59-08 and 60-08 in the Council Portion for Third Reading on November 10, 2008. Councilmember Oliver Davis seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. BILL NO. 51-08 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, SETTING THE MAXIMUM ANNUAL SALARY FOR THE CITY CLERK FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2009 Tom LaFountain, Chairperson, Personnel & Finance Committee, reported that this committee held a meeting this afternoon and it was the consensus of the committee to send this bill to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. th John Voorde, City Clerk, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., 4 Floor County-City Building, South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill. Mr. Voorde advised that this bill would establish the maximum amount for the salary of the City Clerk for the 2009 calendar year. It proposes the same percentage increase which he has proposed for his hard-working City Clerk’s Office Staff, namely 2% which would be the maximum permitted. He noted that as the Council is well aware, the Office of the City Clerk continues to take on more responsibility to assure that the multi-faceted 21