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Home My WebLink About04-2008 Newsletter5 0 U u APRIL 2008 B"Z14"j Mayors Snpkriv J. LuFC:kf Letter from the Mayor Dear Friends and Neighbors, Each year it is my duty and privilege to report on the progress of the City of South Bend to members of the Common Council and the community. For the next three months, I'm going to highlight portions of my 2008 State of the City address. You may view the complete address on our website, www.southbendin. ,aov I'm proud to report that the State of the City of South Bend is strong. We are moving forward with good planning, a dedicated team and a vision for the fu- ture. We are poised for our greatest growth in ages. With the foundation set by City Plan, our citizens are engaged, we have a clear focus on our priorities and we are making good progress. Although we face challenges, we have the talent and determination to address them. The City of South Bend is strengthened by the expertise, efficiency and effectiveness of its municipal government, which goes the extra mile. With strong fiscal stability, technological innovation and great partnerships, City government keeps South Bend moving forward. Our City government is a model of efficiency in time, money and allocation of resources. In 2000, the City of South Bend had 1,341 employees. Today, we have 1,246 — a decrease of 95 employees, or 7 percent. Our government strives to be more efficient, doing more with less. This creates savings for us — and you. Whether it's nearly $2 million in avoided electrical and operational costs by converting our traffic signals from incandescent lights to energy- saving LEDs, or saving as much as $25 million since 1998 by managing our own self - insurance liability program, the City of South Bend is a good steward of its re- sources. As we build a 21st - Century City in South Bend, we use technology to shape a distinctive advantage for our community. We use technology to keep moving forward. One of the biggest tools in our technological infrastructure is the St. Joseph Valley Metronet, which provides redundant and reliable connectivity for organizations. No other city our size has the capacity to move large amounts of data as safely and securely. With the Metronet, South Bend has the infrastruc- ture to compete for high -tech businesses that often look to much larger metro- politan areas. The Metronet has been key in attracting new businesses to South Bend.g Next month, I'll describe the key initiatives that are the basis for my optimistic outlook, despite a dire national economy. Then, in May, I'll describe how the City of South Bend will respond to changes in the state's property tax system — changes that threaten the promise of progress that I've detailed. Sincerely, Mayor Steve THIS MONTH... Mayor's Letter Solid Waste Program Tips Potawatomi Zoo Green Tips Lamppost Lighting Silverhawks Schedule POTAWATOMI Spring is finally here, that means Potawatomi Zoo is open for the Season!! Come out to visit the animals and see what is new at the Zoo. Admission is only $7 for adults and $5 for children 3 - 14 and seniors over 62! For more information, please call 235 -9800 or visit their web- site: www.potawatomizoo.org. ��►1►1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.'� 2008 Lamppost 1 .. Lighting 1 Protect 1 The City of South Bend lights up S neighborhoods by helping 1 residents install lampposts in 1 their front yards since the pro- 1 *+, j ect started M2004. With 1 4 over 440 lampposts in- 1 stalled, we are bringing this 1 program to you again in 2008. For more information, 1 1 please visit the website 1 www.southbendin.gov or call 1 235 -9251. `��,,00,,,00,,e-* ale, 4� Mavo s G South Bend Solid Waste Program - TIPS - ♦ Trash containers must be out by 6:00 a.m. on the regular sched- uled day of pickup. Place the container two feet from the curb (or alley line) with the handle facing toward the house, arrows facing toward curb /alley line. ♦ "No Parking" imprint will help keep cars from blocking access to the containers. ♦ Rinse containers frequently to eliminate odors. Only bagged trash into the con- tainer. ♦ Lids always closed to keep rain, snow and animals out of the container. ♦ Remove container from the curb by the end of the collection day. ♦ Residents may add their address on the side of the container for better tracking. ♦ Residents who have recently purchased a house, or are rent- ing a house within the City lim- its, and find that there is no con- tainer on the premises, should call 277 -8823 to request a container. ♦ Households will be monitored for the number of containers being used and billed accord- ingly. Questions: Please call the Bureau of Solid Waste @ 277 -8823 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. . Clean :MONTHLY rver Heal hV t :TIPS neiyhborhoods Planting Gardens, Gearing up for Spring Did you know that your lawn and garden, and how you take care of it, can help the environment? Healthy plants can help prevent erosion, filter air- ; borne pollutants, and provide nutrients for animals and fertilizer for plants. Here are some tips to make your lawn eco friendly. ♦ Water only when it's necessary, and then water slowly and deeply. ♦ Don't overuse fertilizer. This can lead to a buildup of dead plant mate- rial which prevents water and nutrients from getting to the roots. Be sure to properly identify any pests in order to choose the best pesti- cide. Garden with native plants. Native plants are adapted to living in this climate which means less work and less watering. ♦ Don't spray for pests unless absolutely necessary. 99% of insects are either harmless or even helpful to your garden and the rest of the envi- ronment. ♦ Mowing higher - that is, keeping your lawn a bit longer - will produce stronger, healthier grass with fewer pest problems. a ■ 2008 Schedule It's spring, which means only one thing... Baseball Season!!! Come and root for your favorite home team! I April July 2 Silver vs. Gold (Notre Dame) 1 - 4 Lansing 3 -6 West Michigan 5 -7 Fort Wayne ■ 18-20 Cedar Rapids 9 - 11 Quad Cities 21-23 Wisconsin 12-14 Kane County 23 -25 Beloit May 26-28 Burlington 2 - 4 Peoria 5-7 Clinton Au ust 8 - 1 1 Fort Wayne 5 - 8 Lansing 19-22 West Michigan 16-19 West Michigan 29 - Sept. 1 Lansing June 1 - 4 Lansing Dollar Mondays, Thirsty Thursdays 9-12 Great Lakes and Fireworks Fridays ** are back! 13 -15 Dayton 19-22 West Michigan Tickets start at $5, kids 5 & under are free. For tickets or more information, please call (574)235 -9988 or check out the website at: www.silverhawks.com. * *Fireworks Fridays start on Friday, May 9, 2008. hisit Our Website at www SoutliBendIN.gov!