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RESOLUTION NO. ~ l ~ ~ ~iv ~ _ - O~ '"~ ~ ~_
<br />A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, REQUESTING
<br />THE SOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO STUDY IN GREATER DETAIL THE REQUEST
<br />TO FUND THE NEW TECH ffiGH SCHOOL AND TO MEET PUBLICLY WITH THE COUNCII.
<br />`~, the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, notes that Indiana Code § 36-7-14.5 sets
<br />forth the enabling state legislation which authorizes a unit of local government to establish by ordinance a 5-
<br />member Redevelopment Commission, with three (3) members being appointed by the Mayor, and two (2)
<br />members being appointed by the Council; and
<br />~i~, the Common Council further notes that Ordinance No. 4121 was passed by the South Bend Common
<br />Council on September 24, 1956; and was approved by Mayor Edward F. "Babe" Voorde on September 29, 1956
<br />with this ordinance creating a "Department of Redevelopment" as well as a Redevelopment Commission; and
<br />`ice, currently the Redevelopment Commission meets on the 1~` & 3`d Fridays of each month at 10 a.m. in
<br />the Board of Public Works Conference Room, 13t1i Floor County-City Building and its membership includes
<br />Marcia I. Jones, President; Dr. David Varner, Vice-President; Nancy King, Secretary; Gregory Downes, Member;
<br />and Don Alford, Member with the Common Council having appointed Marcia Jones and Dr. Varner; and
<br />"7~1~,~, the Common Council has learned from news reports that the Redevelopment Commission may be
<br />formally asked to consider using $1.3 million of TIF monies in 2009 and an additional $1.6 million of TIF monies
<br />in 2011 for the proposed New Tech High School, a concept which the South Bend Community School
<br />Corporation supported to pursue at its February 9, 2009 meeting.
<br />tea., eT~ GB .'t~~/tied, by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, as follows:
<br />Section I. The South Bend Common Council believes that the new tech teaching and learning concept is
<br />very exciting and may be a significant benefit to our youth, as well as to our entire community. However, the
<br />Common Council strongly believes that since the Redevelopment Commission has never had the proposed new
<br />tech high school on their agenda, that before the Redevelopment Commission can move forward on any funding
<br />requests for such a project, that much more information should be shared with the Common Council and the entire
<br />community. New projects of this magnitude should be successful and cost-efficient, especially in the post HEA
<br />1001 era which has created additional fiscal challenges on all public entities. Before individuals can
<br />enthusiastically embrace the overall goal, communication and information sharing is not only mandatory, but it is
<br />vital to the very success of the proposed project. At a minimum the following critical areas should be addressed
<br />and discussed openly before moving forwazd:
<br />• What is the complete plan for the proposed new tech high school project in the short and long term?
<br />• Why is private property being considered for its possible location, and were school properties considered?
<br />• Why is the timing of the proposed project so rushed, especially in light of the estimated cost for the first
<br />year of operation being $2.75 million?
<br />• Have inter-local agreements been drafted spelling out the role and responsibilities of each entity?
<br />Section II. The South Bend Common Council notes that under the current Indiana state law that approval
<br />of TIF monies is given to the Redevelopment Commission, an appointed board, rather than an elected body. In
<br />light of that, the Common Council urges the Redevelopment Commission to meet with the Common Council and
<br />the South Bend Community School Corporation Board of Trustees to discuss this proposed project in public. Such
<br />a meeting would provide the opportunity for transparency, and perhaps even better ideas to make a new tech high
<br />school in South Bend, Indiana, an example of education excellence which other communities would want to
<br />.emulate.
<br />Section IIF 's Resol 'on shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption by the Council and
<br />appr v y the or.
<br />~~ Q ~stn _ aJ*~J
<br />re ~ District Oliver J. D6 istrict
<br />Henry D ' , r., District AI " uddy" Kirsits t Laz e
<br />as LaF fain, 3 ~ct n L. Whit , At Larg
<br />ello, 4 strict Timo y A. e, At Lazge
<br />_ ~~~-~1
<br />avid Varner, 5 District Kathleen Cekanski-Fanand, Council Attorney
<br />c~d~~ed~_d~~~ zoos
<br />Jo Voorde, City Clerk Stephen J. Luecke, Mayor of South Bend
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