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SOUTH BEND COMMON COUNCIL RETREAT <br />FEBRUARY 12, 2009 <br />COUNCIL MEMBER'S PRESENT: DEREK DIETER, HENRY DAMS, TOM LAFOUNTAIN, ANN <br />PUZZELLO, DAVID VARNER, OLIVER DAMS, AL <br />°BUDDY" KIRSITS, TIMOTHY ROUSE, KAREN WHITE <br />OTHER'S PRESENT: MAYOR LUECKE, DON INKS, RICH HILL, KATHLEEN <br />CEKANSKI-FARRAND, JAMIE LOO, RITA KOPALA <br />AGENDA: OPTIMIZING FINANCIAL RESOURCES <br />This portion of the meeting followed the presentation by the S.B. School Superintendent Jim <br />Kapsa, the city officials, Chamber representatives and SBCSC attorney Rich Hill outlining the New <br />Tech High School proposal. <br />President Dieter, chairing the meeting, asked each Councilmember to reflect and respond to <br />setting spending priorities for diminishing available dollars and expanding needs for services. <br />Overall, Dieter stated the Council's desire to be included with the city administration in the <br />identification of needs and resources, the setting of priorities and the endorsement of an <br />allocation plan to address the financial crisis. <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis asked about the possibility of federal stimulus funds being available <br />for use. The Mayor prefaced remarks stating the federal °bailout"dollars were part of a <br />developing program at the federal and state level. He emphasized the importance of identifying <br />specific needs. The importance of Mayors across the state speaking with one voice was <br />emphasized. Mayor Steve said the goal of the feds was to get people to work as soon as <br />possible. This means "shovel ready" projects or those having gone thru design and review <br />process would be considered first. Unfortunately, he added, not enough of the decision making <br />is to be done at the local level. Nonetheless, as complicated as the process appears to be, the <br />Mayor said the city has qualified projects ready to submit. <br />Councilmember Kirsits asked to what extent stimulus dollars would relieve the city's budget <br />problems. The Mayor reminded the Council that the federal dollars were for capital projects not <br />operating expenses. <br />