07-13-15 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JULY 13, 2015 Councilmember Karen White made a motion to accept the substitute version of bill 15 -35. Councilmember Gavin Ferlic seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. Councilmember Derek Dieter, Chairperson, Health & Public Safety Committee met this afternoon and send bill 15 -35 to the full Council favorably. Presenter: President Tim Scott, Offices on the 4th floor City Council —This resolution deals with capacity for Code Enforcement to issue out to the Parks Department for grass cutting. We have two issues, tall grass in our city and an opportunity to allow companies that are mentoring kids with the equipment of cutting grass to come forward through the Board of Public Works to be able to cut grass. Currently the budget for code is $174,600 that they have allotted towards cutting grass. The only entity allowed to cut the grass is the Parks Department in the city. This would allow us to expand our capacity. With $174,600 that's over 400,000 times that we can cut grass in our city. If we follow the typical policy to cut lots five (5) times a year that would be 895 lots with that kind of money. What I would like us to do, as the Park's Department does a great job, for they have a responsibility for all the city properties on top of the properties in violation. What I propose with my co- sponsors Karen White and Dr. Fred Ferlic is to allow this to open up for bid to companies that mentor kids. So kids have the opportunity to have a summer job, earn some money, learn the about different businesses that are out there and solve our problem cutting grass. Did my Council colleagues want to add anything? Councilmember White — I would like to say this is one part of it, as it is a capacity issue. The other part is that this Council has asked for summer jobs for our youth. This is just a beginning, as it is pilot program so we will work to see how to implement it this year. The goal would be to expand upon that. Council President Scott concurred, correct this is just a pilot program so there is some work to do. Councilmember Dr. Ferlic — I would like to thank Karen White, Tim Scott, and our attorney Kathy Cekanski- Farrand. This is a very important ordinance, as this will really will help South Bend. I've been involved with a program like this in the 4" District. I have inner city youth helping me to mow lawns and we are really turning the 4" District around. It is ordinances like this that South Bend will become a 21' century city. So I would like to congratulate those involved. Councilmember Oliver Davis — What is your stance regarding capital improvements because the issue in code is capital improvements? If they hire 40 more people they won't have the equipment there as they haven't had any funding come through the capital which has not allowed them to be able to keep up with the cutting of the grass. We haven't added anything to that, so I think with all due respect I see this as more of a tiny band aid on a huge problem. I think this is more of a capital issue and we need to invest more of that. Council President Scott responded the capital and manpower that the Parks Department has is limited. They have taken on the code grass cutting for a long time and to me they are overwhelmed. This allows them to add capacity, have the capacity to allow them within their budget to allow for independent contractors and outside sources to be able to cut. The issue this year is that there has only been 34 dry days to allow for cutting. Right now they are only on their first cut, so if they're at capacity and they can't do it, then we want to bring on other labor forces that are able to. Councilmember Davis the last question is with the concept of having youth issues. When we have salaries at the range of $10 for young people, where we have a lot of grown people that are trying to support their families that are seasonal workers for South Bend that don't even come close to making $10/hr. What are your thoughts regarding this program with dealing with the morale of our own staff to give this money to teenagers but yet grown -up people are not getting this type of money? Council President Scott replied the companies that would come on it would be up to them to go through the process to bid on the lots to be cut. They have to go through the best practices and that might be the lowest bidder to successfully get those lots. What they do within their own company is up to them. Councilmember Oliver Davis stated so it is possible with dealing with that youth issue that seniors or people over the age of 18 will be discriminated against regarding age in this type of situation? They're after the youth right? So if someone has a cutting grass business in town and they're hiring 21 and 18 year olds or above then they're not going to get that type of credit because you said this is a youth program. Council President Scott stated the M