HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-19-2006 Mayor Luecke to Present City Plan to Common Council for Adoption p4f'
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Office of the Mayor
MEDIA ADVISORY
Thursday, October 19, 2006
12 NOON
Contact: Mikki Dobski, Director, Communications & Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-1564
Jitin Kain, Division of Community Development, 235-9660
Mayor Luecke to Present City Plan
to Common Council for Adoption
Mayor Stephen J. Luecke is pleased to announce that City Plan, South Bend's new
twenty-year comprehensive plan,was approved by the Area Plan Commission at their Sept. 19
meeting, and is now scheduled to be presented for approval as a resolution at the next meeting of
the South Bend Common Council, on Monday, October 23, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. Adoption by the
Council is the final step in the approval process before implementation of the plan can begin.
Mayor Luecke invites everyone to attend, and to "please join me in committing our imagination,
our talents, and our resources to implement this Plan as we make South Bend one of the most
livable cities in the country." The public hearing will be held in the Council Chambers on the
4th floor of the County-City Building.
The Final Draft of City Plan, which can be downloaded at www.SouthBendCiiyPlan.org,
consists of thirteen chapters, which provide an introduction and "local context", as well as cover
10 key topic areas which are the heart of the Plan. In addition, Chapter 13 explains the
implementation and includes an Action Plan which establishes priorities for the first five years,
organized within eight broad strategies. Each strategy contains a list of specific action steps that
will help achieve its intent,just a few of which are listed below:
1. Expand Economic Opportunities
Develop more housing options in the downtown. Requires developing a plan for
housing in the central business district and marketing it to local and regional
developers.
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• Create new models of arts-related neighborhood revitalization and encourage
city neighborhoods to utilize those models. Utilize media to promote successes of
arts-related revitalization efforts.
2. Promote City Assets
• Highlight diverse community assets by developing a formal marketing strategy
for the city. Create marketing and promotional materials for distribution.
• Promote the style and variety of the city's housing stock. Conduct discussions
with the Greater South Bend Mishawaka Board of Realtors and encourage them
to fairly promote the strengths of South Bend neighborhoods.
3. Enhance City Services
• Develop a strategy to address emergency preparedness and to educate the public
on the proper response to emergencies. Develop an informational brochure or
booklet and distribute to the public.
• Recruit a diverse City workforce by conducting minority recruitment campaigns.
Advertise nationally for available positions in the City and print job
advertisements in publications that market to minority populations.
4. Support Youth Development
• Increase job opportunities by working with economic development organizations
to develop vocational education classes to ensure that immediate and future
needs of the local economy are addressed.
• Partner with arts organizations and create a mentoring program between local
artists and youth.
5. Increase Public Participation
• Develop a comprehensive Public Involvement Plan with standardized
procedures for gathering utilizing and disseminating public input in the
development ofplans and major City initiatives.
• Develop a youth volunteer base for community activities such as local park
maintenance, assisting the elderly, etc. Encourage public recognition of
volunteering.
6. Ensure Quality Design and Physical Development
• Standardize the current development process and develop printed material that
helps the public understand the steps in development,from obtaining building
permits to the types offunds available.
• Analyze and update City ordinances, such as zoning and subdivision ordinances,
to ensure compatibility with City Plan policies.
7. Raise Public Awareness
• Educate property owners on maintaining their property. Work with landlord
associations, the Police Department, social service agencies, neighborhood
organizations, and others to develop curriculum for tenant and landlord
education classes.
• Develop public awareness campaigns to educate and raise public awareness on
environmental issues. Partner with other groups and agencies to organize
periodic communitywide lectures by prominent environmentalists.
8. Conduct Analysis and Planning
• Develop and implement benchmarks and indicators to measure progress toward
achieving City Plan goals. Report City Plan progress annually.
• Create a comprehensive strategy on how best to address the problem of vacant
properties. Work with various groups in the community to develop and implement
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initiatives such as New York's "Third Party Transfer Initiative" to enable a
responsible third party to rehabilitate homes for resale.
The level of public participation in the process to create City Plan has been
unprecedented. More than 3,000 people participated in the 48 public meetings held during the
three year public process. The City Plan Civic Alliance and City staff also conducted hundreds
of smaller meetings with area experts and stakeholders in topics such as land use, transportation,
housing and economic development. The public is invited to participate again by attending the
Common Council meeting on Monday, Oct. 23, in support of City Plan.
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