03-09-09 Common Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING MARCH 9, 2009 Councilmember Rouse asked what are we doing for the Jerry Brown’s out there. Jerry Brown was a homeless person who most everyone knew. He burned up in a garage, transported to Ft. Wayne and died of his burns. As we address these issues he has a lot of questions because there is a lot of folks out there just like Jerry. He stated that he is very pleased with Our Lady of the Road and the work that they are doing, but what is being done for the person or memories of the Jerry Browns. Michael Baxter responded that in the Catholic Worker, they see these problems and know that there are a lot of programs and agencies that provide important elements to the solution. For them, they take them one by one by one. Personalism is kind of a praise that is associated with the Catholic Work. They feel that when they take someone in they get to know them and this is a very powerful enabling thing for a person to do who is destined to and call to do by God, which is to flourish. He stated that they try one person at a time. People that walk into their houses or walk through the door at Our Lady of the Road, they know by name. One of the men that was killed in the manhole murders lived with him for two years, he had his faults but was a good guy and talked to him a week before he was killed about Our Lady of the Road and he was all for it. He stated that there are a lot of guys out there like that and women too. So that is what they do, one by one by one. BILL NO. 04-09 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL TO VACATE THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED PROPERTY: A 14 FOOT WIDE ALLEY BEING THE FIRST EAST-WEST ALLEY LYING SOUTH OF KALORAMA STREET BETWEEN TURNOCK STREET AND THE FIRST NORTH-SOUTH ALLEY EAST OF NORTH ST. LOUIS BOULEVARD Councilmember LaFountain, Vice-Chairperson, Public Works and Property Vacation Committee held a hearing on this bill this afternoon and send it to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. Mr. Derek Spier, Planner, Abonmarche, 750 Lincoln Way East, South Bend, Indiana, representing the Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization Organization. Mr. Spier advised that NNRO owns to vacate lots to the north of the area to be vacated along with Weiss Homes. Since the meeting two weeks ago, they have had the opportunities to meet with the Weymon’s who were the sole remonstrators at the last meeting. At that meeting Weiss Homes did agree to dedicate and record an ingress/egress easement on the South lot line of the second lot. Essentially this would retain access, public access would still be maintained by the 14’ wide alley and Turnock Street and at the same time Weiss will still have enough width to build two (2) houses. They did submit the subdivision plat this morning to the Area Plan Commission, so they anticipate receiving approval and recording the plat within six (6) to seven (7) weeks. Councilmember Oliver Davis thanked Mr. Spier for following through on meeting with the remonstrators and the peaceful outcome of the vacation. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. There being no one present wishing to speak to the Council either in favor of or in opposition to this bill, Councilmember Dieter made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council. Councilmember White seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. Councilmember Henry Davis stated that he would like to see an issue like this resolved in a more timely fashion. 5