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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-29-18 Council Minutes REPORT OF SUB-COMMITTEE ON MINUTES TO THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND: THE SUB-COMMITTEE HAS INSPECTED THE MINUTES OF THE May 29, 2018 MEETING OF THE COUNCIL AND FOUND THEM TO BE CORRECT. THEREFORE,WE RECOMMEND THE SAME BE APPROVED: COT L4w— TESHKA APPROVED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL ON: June 11, 2018 ATTEST: t17 KAREE7 FOWLER, CITY CLERK i REGULAR MEETING May 29, 2018 Be it remembered that the Common Council of the City of South Bend,Indiana met in the Council Chambers of the County-City Building on Tuesday, May 29th, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was called to order by Council President Tim Scott and the Invocation(Karen L. White) and Pledge to the Flag were given. ROLL CALL COUNCIL MEMBERS: Tim Scott 1St District, President Regina Williams-Preston 2nd District Jo M. Broden 4"District (Vacant) 5th District Oliver J. Davis 6th District, Vice President John Voorde At-Large Gavin Ferlic At-Large, Chairperson Committee of the Whole Karen L. White At-Large COUNCIL MEMBERS: Sharon L. McBride 3`d District OTHERS PRESENT: Kareemah Fowler City Clerk Jennifer Coffman Chief Deputy Clerk Bianca Tirado Deputy Clerk Graham Sparks Clerk Executive Assistant Bob Palmer Council Attorney Casey Colvin Public Relations Intern REPORT FROM THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON MINUTES Councilmember Gavin Ferlic made a motion to amend something previously adopted. Specifically, the minutes approved on April 23`d, 2018 for the April 9th, 2018 meeting of the South Bend Common Council. The motion is to rescind the amendment offered and strike the last sentence of the 2nd paragraph on page twenty-three (23). Councilmember Karen White seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of seven (7) ayes. Councilmember Gavin Ferlic made a motion that the minutes of the April 23`d, 2018 and the May 14th, 2018 meetings of the Council be accepted and placed on file. Councilmember Oliver Davis seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of seven (7) ayes. SPECIAL BUSINESS There was no special business. REPORTS OF CITY OFFICES Representing the City Administration: Laura O'Sullivan, Chief of Staff 1 REGULAR MEETING May 29, 2018 RESOLVE INTO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE At 7:03 p.m. Councilmember Karen White made a motion to resolve into the Committee of the Whole. Councilmember Oliver Davis seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of seven (7) ayes. Councilmember Gavin Ferlic, Chairperson, presiding. Councilmember Gavin Ferlic explained the procedures to be followed for tonight's meeting in accordance with Article 1, Section 2-11 of the South Bend Municipal Code. PUBLIC HEARINGS BILL NO. 22-18 PUBLIC HEARING ON AN ORDINANCE TO VACATE THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED PROPERTY: FIRST NS ALLEY 14' IN WIDTH LYING W OF FELLOWS AND CARROLL STREETS, E OF MICHIGAN STREET, BOUNDED ON THE NORTH BY THE S RIGHT- OF-WAY OF BRONSON STREET, BOUNDED ON THE SOUTH BY THE N RIGHT-OF-WAY OF THE PENN CENTRAL RAILROAD, RUNNING APPROXIMATELY 248.78' IN LENGTH. Councilmember John Voorde, Chair of the Public Works and Property Vacation Committee, reported that they met this afternoon and, due to the lack of quorum, send this bill forward with no recommendation. Bernie Feeney, 715 S. Michigan Street, South Bend, IN, served as the presenter for this bill. Mr. Feeney stated,I am here this evening on behalf of this petition. This is a petition to vacate the first fourteen (14) foot alley that lies immediately West of Carroll Street at the South West corning of the intersection of Bronson and Carroll. It is the former office building of Curtis Products. These offices sit separate and distinct from the piece of property that was purchased in addition to the offices lying immediately West. This alley vacation will serve two (2) purposes. First and foremost, it will get rid of a dead end alley in the City of South Bend. Secondly, and most importantly, it will join the administrative offices to a vacant piece of property that will serve the offices well in function either in expandable area for the offices or as off-street parking for the offices. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. None from the public wished to speak in favor of or opposition to this bill. Councilmember John Voorde made a motion to send Bill No. 22-18 to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. Councilmember Karen White seconded this motion which carried by a voice vote of seven (7) ayes. RISE AND REPORT Councilmember Oliver Davis made a motion to rise and report to full Council. Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of seven (7) ayes. REGULAR MEETING RECONVENED 2 REGULAR MEETING May 29, 2018 Be it remembered that the Common Council of the City of South Bend reconvened in the Council Chambers on the fourth floor of the County-City building at 7:06 p.m. Council President Tim Scott presided with seven (7) members present. BILLS —THIRD READING BILL NO. 22-18 PUBLIC HEARING ON AN ORDINANCE TO VACATE THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED PROPERTY: FIRST NS ALLEY 14' IN WIDTH LYING W OF FELLOWS AND CARROLL STREETS, E OF MICHIGAN STREET, BOUNDED ON THE NORTH BY THE S RIGHT- OF-WAY OF BRONSON STREET, BOUNDED ON THE SOUTH BY THE N RIGHT-OF-WAY OF THE PENN CENTRAL RAILROAD, RUNNING APPROXIMATELY 248.78' 1N LENGTH. Councilmember Gavin Ferlic made a motion to adopt Bill No. 22-18. Councilmember Karen White seconded the motion which carried by a roll call vote of seven(7) ayes. RESOLUTIONS There were no Resolutions. BILLS FIRST READING There were no bills for First Reading. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Council President Tim Scott stated, I would like to thank Karen L. White, TRANSPO, Amy Hill, Simone Johnson, all for our first(1St)District tour. I thought it was great. I would like to also thank Sharon McBride,Regina Williams-Preston,Jo M.Broden,and Karen for attending along with City Officials. Good things are happening and it looks like there has been progress. I would also like to thank Oliver Davis for being on TRANSPO and facilitating the bus. NEW BUSINESS Councilmember Karen White announced, May 30tt', 2018 at 3:00 p.m., our official 2019 Budget Kickoff meeting will be held at the South Bend Police Department in their conference room. All are invited to attend. Then on Thursday, May 31St, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. the working committee on synthetic drugs will be meeting and our goal is to move forward to share our working agenda. All are welcome. Councilmember Oliver Davis asked, Mr. Palmer, do you think we would be able to have the First Reading for our meeting for the other ordinance we are working on regarding harassments issues, you think, by next meeting? Council Attorney Bob Palmer confirmed, Yes. Councilmember Oliver Davis asked Mr. Palmer to summarize the ordinance. 3 REGULAR MEETING May 29, 2018 Mr. Palmer stated, We've looked into the City of Indianapolis' Anti-Harassment Policy to see if there was something we could replicate here in South Bend. I have contacted the Indianapolis Officials. Drafting the Resolution or Ordinance, whichever way you wanted to go, is not the difficult part and I will have something to Council within a week or so. Councilmember Jo M. Broden stated, I would like to announce that FEMA's Disaster Assistance Center is still up and running at the Leighton Center. They are working to get everyone assited. That will go until July 5th, 2018. And then another piece related to that is that the FEMA group operating out of the Leighton Center is going on the road to Brown Intermediate Center,tomorrow Right at 737 Beale Street at 7:00 p.m. I think that might help with the proximity issues that have been identified for the area. Councilmember Oliver Davis stated, A note for the Chief of Staff. Could you get in contact with Code Enforcement or those that cut the grass in the parks? On the corner of Gertrude and Prairie Avenue, the grass is so high that you can't turn. You can't see to make a turn and that is a high traffic area. If you can get someone to cut that down tomorrow so we don't have an accident over there, that would be great. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR Sue Kesim, 4022 Kennedy Drive, South Bend, IN, stated, I want to discuss this upcoming budget stuff. I want to point out that in 2016 the City had $236,909,378 in debt. And we are annually paying close to $5 million in interest. And $13,055,327 in principal. So when you pass things, I think it is easy to say, `Oh, it's just one (1)project, one (1) project, one (1) project.' But you need to look at the accumulating debt. It's not going down. The City has a good cash balance. It has a good bond rating. But I'm concerned we have over$236 million in debt. We are paying$5 million in interest every year. What could we do with that extra$5 million. So I think that as you do this budget process, please be cognizant of tightening the belt and looking at that debt and keeping an eye on it. We have to know how the projects are affecting the big numbers. I just wanted to throw that out as something to think about. Roy Roelke, 5625 Place Drive, South Bend, IN, stated, I'm here for a business situation, not a personal agenda with the City. I represent the owners on the property off of Renewable Energy Drive and Calvert. We were told it would be an agenda item, possibly, tonight. If not, we would like to know when because we have had communication with Mr. Gammage and the other gentleman from Economic Development. We are just wondering where that process is at. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Council, President Tim Scott adjourned the meeting at 7:15 p.m. 4