HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017 Annual Report of the Utilities Committee �S013 T$
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KAREEMAH FOWLER
Dr. David Varner CITY CLERK,SOUTH BEND,IN
5th District Council Member
To: South Bend Common Council
The Office of the City Clerk
From: Council Member Dr. David Varner, Utilities Committee Chairperson
Date: December 8, 2017
2017 Annual Report of the Utilities Committee
Dear Common Councilmembers:
As Chairperson of the Utilities Committee, I am filing this report pursuant to § 2-
10(i) of the South Bend Municipal Code. This report sets forth a summary of the key activities
conducted by the Utilities Committee throughout the year.
Duties: As noted in the South Bend Municipal Code,the Utilities Committee is charged
with the following duties:
"Oversees the various activities of all enterprise entities including, but not limited
to the Bureau of Waterworks, Bureau of Sewers and all related entities."
Members: There were four(4) Council Members serving on the Committee:
1. Councilmember Dr. David Varner, Chairperson
2. Councilmember Oliver Davis, Vice-Chairperson
3. Councilmember Randy Kelly, Member
4. Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston, Member
Meetings: As of the date of this Annual Report,the Utilities Committee met nine (9)
times this year.
The Utilities Committee for 2017 has met or been updated for the following:
• the ongoing issue of this cost of the Clean Water Act Consent Decree, initially estimated
at 500+million dollars, now estimated at approximately 1+billion dollars including
financing. This is understood by council to be unaffordable by past and current council.
The Council and the Utilities Committee have made this known to both Mayor Buttigieg
and former Mayor Luecke. Subsequently,the city has embarked on an effort to modify
227 W.Jefferson Blvd.Rm.441 Office: (574)235-9321 FAX: (574)235-5575
County-City Building South Bend,IN Voicemail: (574)235-5984 TDD: (574)235-5567
46601-1830 Home: (574)291-1798 Email:DVARNER @SOUTHBENDIN.GOV
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Dr. David Varner
5th District Council Member
the Consent Decree. This will be facilitated by the use of data from the city's smart sewer
program to show improved compliance. There will be advice and if necessary litigation
for the city position. Environmental Law Firm Morgan Lewis has been retained. They are
experienced in this area and specifically with EPA issues. This effort is hoped to reduce
the compliance costs for this city to a 350 Million total dollar cost.
• The second item addressed by the committee relates to city assistance for homeowners to
disconnect downspouts from city storm sewer. The grace period for this has been
extended to 2019 to comply. For business owners that cannot comply with the disconnect
order because of physical restrictions or lack of land. To handle the runoff there is an
option for a calculated single payment to address the inability to comply.
The Utilities Committee is focused on the important aspects of the City's utility systems and the
effect on the quality of life of the residents of the City of South Bend.
Respectfully Submitted,
l �
Council Member Dr. David Varner
Utilities Committee
South Bend, Common Council
227 W.Jefferson Blvd.Rm.441 Office: (574)235-9321 FAX: (574)235-5575
County-City Building South Bend,IN Voicemail: (574)235-5984 TDD: (574)235-5567
46601-1830 Home: (574)291-1798 Email:DVARNER @SOUTHBENDIN.GOV