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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-2007 Newsletter SOUTHA11 . BEND MARCH 2007 a v 6�'%� MAYOR Src n 1. LUE"e��� Letter from the Mayor THIS MONTH... Mayor's Letter Dear Friends &Neighbors, Spring Fling at the Conservatories 2007 Curb &Sidewalk Program In early February, I was once again given the privilege of addressing the 11 th Annual Clean Your Files Day Common Council and members of our community to talk about the state of our city. The evening took place in the beautifully restored Civic Theater, which served as the • • • • • • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . perfect backdrop for a discussion about how far we have come in the ten years that I have been Mayor, what we are doing now to strengthen our city and what our vision is for the future of South Bend. Over the next few months, I'd like to share with you some of my thoughts from that evening. In my first State of the City address, ten years ago, I listed six characteristics y that were key to becoming a model city. These characteristics included being • iR financially sound and fiscally responsible,emphasizing public safety,reinvesting in • tTl® facilities and infrastructure, stimulating growth and development in our economy to provide good jobs,housing and opportunity, enhancing the quality of life, and • o N • �N . reaching out to the community to create a shared vision for the future. During a decade of progress, we have built on these principles, laying a strong foundation for SPRINGFLINGAT THE the future of our city. Our work and planning have created an urban center with renewed vibrancy. CONSERVATORIES The city's energy and creativity have led to a revived interest in the advantages of • Sunday,April 2Y' cities and urban life. As Mayor Bart Peterson of Indianapolis keenly noted,this is Enjoy the springtime splendor the"Age of Cities". South Bend is becoming a place where diverse people gather to • of the Ella Morris and Muessel- share ideas, appreciate art and culture, and to find new opportunities. These : Ellison Botanical Conservatories developing synergies will bring investment,jobs,and a heightened quality of life to • and Potawatomi Greenhouses, South Bend. . complemented by local musicians, But there are challenges that must be faced. Cities across the country are light refreshments, and interactive coping with rising costs, declining revenues and requests for more services. • activities for all ages! (Located on Increases in fuel costs, employee health benefits,unfunded mandates, liability Mishawaka Ave.,just west of coverage, infrastructure and public safety needs, resulted in revenue shortfalls in • Ironwood Dr.) 70% of Indiana municipalities in 2005. This problem has been compounded by the : $3 admission will help pre- implementation of a 2%circuit breaker. While this property tax cap will provide • serve the greenhouses & conserva- needed tax relief for some homeowners, it will also result in a 25%reduction in . tories for the entire community! revenue for local government in this county. Replacement revenues are needed. • Spring Fling at the Conserva- That is why I have been a strong proponent of Hometown Matters, IACT's proposal • tories is part of South Bend City to provide property tax relief while also giving options to local governments to Celebration 2007. For more supply new revenue streams. I cannot emphasize too strongly how important it is • information,please visit for the Legislature to take action this session to fix the problems that result from SBCityCelebration.com,or call this Circuit Breaker. • 235-9798 or 235-9951. Public safety is one of our most important obligations and our largest expense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75% of South Bend property taxes support our Police and Fire Departments. Strong public safety departments are vital to a vibrant city, now more than ever. SI USTED NO ENTIENDE INGLES Y Cities across the country now face increases in violent crime, vacant properties and NECESITAAYUDA PARA TRADUCIR a flood of illegal guns. For the first quarter of 2006, South Bend did not have a ESTE DOCUMENTO, O SI TIENE homicide. Then, the worst happened. In a matter of months we suffered seven ALGUNA PREGUNTA, POR FAVOR murders, including a member of the SBPD. My heart goes out to these victims. LLAME AL SR. FEDERICO THON Each deserved a better fate. Our Police Department responded, making arrests in (ASISTENTE DEL ALCALDE) AL each of those cases. Our Metro Homicide Unit is top notch, solving over 90%of TELEFONO(574)235-5858X 1000. (cont'd on next page) (Mayor's Letter cont'd from previous page) their cases. However, they need even more support. That is why I have joined II Mayors Against Illegal Guns,led by Mayor Bloomberg of New York City and Menino of Boston. The flow of weapons into communities all across America is widespread, and it is a travesty. We must keep guns out of the hands of criminals and terrorists. This is a national problem which requires national attention so that our communities will be safer and our cities successful. CLEAN YOUR FILES A third challenge that compounds the public safety issue is the question of vacant DAY 2007 and abandoned properties. An aging housing stock and disproportionate property tax reassessments have dissuaded good landlords who might rehabilitate older properties. The City is once again offering This has lead to foreclosures, bankruptcies and property tax sales, and ultimately to a great opportunity for you to start dangerous and illegal copper and aluminum salvaging from abandoned properties. We spring cleaning,by clearing out are committed to reversing this trend. During the past ten years, the City has your files in an environmentally invested over$20 million in housing programs,including first-time homebuyer friendly way. Bring your paper to assistance and rehab loans. And we continue to find and implement programs that be recycled, by the car load or work to bring new investors and homeowners to older neighborhoods. truck load,to Clean Your Files Day Despite these obstacles, cities are enjoying renewed vigor. Because of the hard on Wednesday,April 18, 2007, from work we have been doing in many areas, South Bend is poised for new growth and 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the investment. We are still dedicated to the principles we set down a decade ago, to College Football Hall of Fame, make South Bend a place of growth, energy and opportunity in this, the Age of Cities. located in downtown South Bend. The City of South Bend, Solid Sincerely, Waste Management District of St. Vz�— Joseph County and Waste Mayor Steve Management Inc. invite the entire community, including businesses, non-profit organizations, households, churches, schools and I� CURB & SIDEWALK PROGRAM individuals,to help increase the Mayor Luecke invites you to partner with the City amount of paper that is diverted to improve your neighborhood and the entire from landfills by participating in the community! For the 14th year, the Good Neighbors/ eleventh annual Clean Your Files Good Neighborhoods Curb and Sidewalk Program will Day, a national program of the US help to replace damaged curbs and sidewalks and build a Safe City! Conference of Mayors. The program is open to all residential, commercial, institutional and rental Clean Your Files Day is one of properties within City limits,and several options are available: Sidewalk Only, Curb many ways that you can join the Only, or Combination Sidewalk& Curb. The City will provide up to 60% of the cost City's environmental stewardship of improvements: up to $2,000 for mid-block lots, and up to $4,000 for corner lots, if efforts. By collecting your yard work is done on both sides. 100% of needed wheelchair accessibility ramps, corner waste for recycling, you are radii and alley approaches will be covered, for work done on your property. participating in the Organic Contractors are chosen through the public bid process to ensure the lowest cost, and Resource Program which composts scheduling priority will be given for more than five(5) adjacent properties in a block yard waste into valuable mulch and participating in the program. Several payment options are available,and Visa and compost, available free to South Mastercard are accepted! Bend residents. By reducing debris Getting your curb and sidewalk replaced is easy! and the flow of chemicals into • Request and submit an application to the Division of Engineering. storm drains, you help to ensure a • Your application is processed in the order received. clean river and water supply for our • An inspector comes to your home or business and measures the work to be done. community. And by properly • The Division of Engineering sends you a Cost Proposal. utilizing the City's new automated • You determine whether the Cost Proposal is acceptable, and notify the Dept. of trash container program, you help your decision to proceed. to keep our streets, alleys and • Upon receiving your commitment, we send your information to our contractor, neighborhoods clean. Thank you who schedules and completes the work. for your efforts to build a Clean Applications are available by calling the Division of Engineering at 235-9251,and City! are accepted year-round. If we are unable to complete your property by the end of For more information on Clean the program on October 5,2007, we will be happy to put you on the list for 2008. Your Files Day,please call Jennifer Join the 3,354 property owners who have shared in nearly $7.2 million worth of Jackson, Communications & improvements since the program began, and help us build a safe, clean and attractive Special Projects, at 235-7590. 21st Century City! Visit Our Website at www.SouthBendIN.gov!