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Home My WebLink About04-2010 NewsletterWAP M' APRIL 2010 A9�yn 57r��iF:v 1. ftfc:kf� Letter from the Mayor Reasons for optimism about South Bend New ranking, new housing, new bond rating show positive trend Dear Friends and Neighbors, 2010 began with great news. South Bend was named the best city in the nation for value, stability and rising prices in a home, according to Barbara Corcoran, the real- estate expert on NBC -TV's Today Show. "Prices have been rising steadily for almost a full year now," Corcoran said. "Still, the median price is only half of what it is in the rest of the nation. That's an enormous difference – a lot of house for the dollars." The recognition that South Bend brings great quality of life with unparalleled affordability is one of 10 Reasons for Optimism in 2010 that I highlighted in my annual State of the City address recently. (You can read the full text at www.SouthBendIN. og_v where there also are pictures of many projects.) In my next two letters, I want to highlight some of these reasons for optimism about our city. THIS MONTH... Mayor's Letter S. B. Silver Hawks TRIAD Pill Drop New Technology — Water Works Bike the Bend Green Weekend River Park Parade Excellent news also came on the financial front. The Standard & Poor's bond rating service recently upgraded the City's bond rating to AA- from A +. The rating upgrade was based on several credit- related factors, including strong debt service coverage, sufficient reserve balance and South Bend's diverse local economy, which serves as a regional trade and service center. The improved rating, coupled with a more favorable debt financing market, has resulted in lower borrowing costs. That will save our taxpayers more than $1 million over the next decade. As we emerge from the winter of this global economic crisis, the City also is seeing warming trends when it comes to economic investment. The City is selling a prime downtown riverfront site to a developer who plans to open the first of 10 townhouse -style condominiums on the East Bank as early as this fall. The new East Bank Town Homes will add to the growing number of downtown residences and provide exciting options for young professionals or empty- nesters seeking a vibrant urban location. At the same time, we also are finding strong interest from national developers in the LaSalle Hotel. All plans anticipate some form of mixed use — commercial and retail — either with a restored hotel or apartments. I also want to note a perennial reason for optimism in South Bend. We have eight institutions of higher education in our vicinity with more than 7,000 faculty and staff along with nearly 30,000 students. These institutions have a significant economic impact on our community. The University of Notre Dame alone pumps $873 million annually into our local economy. You can read more about their impact in the current issue of the City of South Bend's e -mail newsletter, South Bend ON, which highlights new economic development efforts in the city. Find it at www.SouthBendON.com and while you're there you can subscribe to the free newsletter. Sincerely, Please recycle this paper and help Build a Clean - Green City! TRIAD PILL DROP • THURS. MAY 13 • ST JOE COUNTY JAIL PARKING LOT • MISHAWAKA POLICE DEPARTMENT HOURS: 7:30 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. • ALL MEDICINE MUST BE BOUGHT IN THEIR ORIGINAL CONTAINERS QUESTIONS CALL: KATHY FALIN 574- 258 -4863 SHIRLEY WARREN 574 -291 -8677 JESSICA SPENNER @ 574- 245 -6604 New Water Meter Technology South Bend Water Works has started an extensive change out program for approximately 42,000 meters in our water system. The majority of these water meters utilize an antiquated meter reading technology that is 40 years old. The old meter reading system has a small box, ' externally mounted, with a series of numbers on it. The numbers on the external - display are identical to the numbers on the meter itself that is in a basement or utility closet. The new water meters will utilize a wireless radio transponder that will send out the water meter reading that will be picked up by a lap top mounted in a car. This new meter reading technology is called automated meter reading (AMR). AMR technology provides a more efficient and safe water utility, eliminating the need for meter readers to read the externally mounted meter reading device. Not only is this safer for our employees and our customers, it also allow us to read water meters at a much faster rate. A typical meter reader can read 300 - 400 externally mounted water meters each 8 hour day. The new AMR technology can read that same number of meters in 30 minutes! -� 1, ENJOY ST. JOSEPH COUNTY'S SCENIC BEAUTY BY BIKE: Over 30 miles of streets and trails i ) through South Bend, Mishawaka and the University of Notre Dame. Reserved for you but restricted to motor vehicles. I Its safe and it's fun! BIKE THE BEND: Created for riders of all ages and skill levels. Perfect for families. Great for friends.Talk while you ride side by side. And ride as much or as little of the route as you like. TO REGISTER: Go to www.bikethebend.com T �o 2010 Schedulii4 It's spring, which means only one thing ... Baseball Season!! Come and root for your favorite home team!! April At the Cove! July 5 Silver vs. Gold (Notre Dame) 1 -3 Lansing 8 -10 Great Lakes 7 -9 West Michigan 11 -13 Lake County 21 -23 Beloit 20 -22 Bowling Green 24 -26 Wisconsin 30 West Michigan 31 Lake County May August 1 -3 West Michigan 1 -2 Lake County 7 -9 Dayton 7 -10 Lake County 10 -12 Great Lakes 11 -13 Great Lakes 17 -19 Ft. Wayne 21 -24 Bowling Green 28 -31 Lansing 25 -27 Dayton June September 1 -3 Peoria 1 -3 Ft. Wayne 4 -6 Burlington 18 -20 Ft. Wayne 28 -30 West Michigan Box Seats are $8, Reserved At the Cove! Seats are $6 and children five Dollar Monday and under are free. Friday Twofer Tuesdays Fireworks: every Friday home Wacky Wednesdays game — beginning May 28 Thirsty Thursdays Call 235 -9988 or visit the web - Friday Fireworks site at www.silverhawks.com for more information. Souvenir Saturdays Please send in your Census Form! • One of the shortest census forms in history - 10 questions /10 min.! Completing and mailing back the form is the easiest and most efficient method of participating in the 2010 Census QAC's - Questionnaire Assistance Centers Call 574 - 344 -4549 for help in completing your form, getting a form, or any other questions Help ensure that South Bend receives its' share of federal funding: $826 per person per year for 10 years www.gogreenweekend.org June 11 and 12 Annual River Park Parade Saturday, May 22nd - parade 10:00 AM - Entertainment & Festivities all day. For Info: 288 -0802 SI USTED NO ENTIENDE INGLES Y NECESITA AYUDA PARA TRADUCIR ESTE DOCUMENTO, O SI TIENE ALGUNA PREGUNTA, POR FAVOR LLAME AL TELEFONO (574) 235 -5858 X 1000.