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Home My WebLink About01-09-12 Volunteers Needed to Work With New City Council CommitteesFrom: Council President Derek D. Dieter Contact: 532 -2200 "Volunteers Needed to Work With New City Council Committees —2012 Committees Will Stress Innovation, Accountability and Best Practices" The new South Bend Common Council is committed to promote excellence and creativity throughout the public sector. Therefore, over the next four (4) years, the City Council will work to implement policies and programs which reflect innovation and "best practices ", so that they become a catalyst for progress in promoting the best interests of the City of South Bend. I am challenging each of Committee Chairpersons to work with their Committees to set goals, objectives and methodologies for tracking success, as well as suggested plans for improvement. In the interest of furthering these objectives, I am pleased to announce the following appointments: Communily & Economic Development Committee: 2nd District Council Member Henry Davis, Jr., who has served as Vice - Chairperson for the past several years on the CED Committee, will become its Chairperson. Henry's passion, enthusiasm and membership on the national Young Elected Officials (YEO), will compliment the mission of this Council committee. Community Relations: Newly elected 3 d District Council Member Valerie Schey will head up the Community Relations Committee. Val's interest in networking with residents throughout the city, and her ability to effectively work with volunteers, will be the perfect match for the success of this committee. Health and Public Safety Committee: Newly elected 0' District Council Member Dr. Fred Ferlic will chair this very busy committee. His medical background, experience, and many contacts throughout the community, will provide great insights on the challenging health and safety concerns facing our city. Information and Technology: 5"' District Council Member Dr. David Varner will again lead this committee. Dave will continue to work with the City Administration on implementing public access opportunities; as well as working to upgrade equipment in this ever - changing high tech area. Parks, Recreation, Cultural Arts & Entertainment: Newly elected Council Member at Large Gavin Ferlic will oversee this committee. His great work ethic will be needed to keep pace with the operations of Century Center, Hall of Fame, the Cove, Potawatomi Zoo, the Conservatory, the Morris, and the many other park and recreation offerings provided by our city. Personnel and Finance Committee: Council Member at Large Karen L. White will begin her 13`h year on the City Council heading up this extremely active committee. Karen's commitment to transparency and accountability will help judiciously track city funds, proposed appropriations, and overall city fiscal goal - setting when reviewing proposed city budgets. South Bend Common Council News Release of January 9, 2012 —page 2 Public Works and Property Vacation Committee: Dr. David Varner, also beginning his 13th year on the Council, will continue to oversee street and alley vacation requests. Capital projects throughout the city will also be ably vetted under his leadership. Residential Neighborhood Committee: Newly elected 1" District Council Member Tim Scott will provide keen insights and networking skills for this committee. Tim's experience in creatively and effectively addressing neighborhood concerns will provide fresh input for positive solutions. Utilities Committee: Tim Scott has also been tapped to head the Utilities Committee. In light of the multi - million dollar expenditures needed to address combined sewers (CSO); Tim's accounting and management skills are a perfect match to track all of the water and sewer enterprise operations. Zoning and Annexation Committee: Returning 6th District Council Member Oliver Davis, who will also serve as Council Vice - President, will take over this committee. Developing fair and realistic annexation policies with the City Administration, will be just one of the many challenges ahead. In my capacity of Council President, I will chair the Council Rules Committee. We will continue to review regulations governing the Council and recommend changes to promote further professionalism, transparency, and accountability to the citizens of South Bend. The Council will need dedicated city residents to work with the Council Members, and the Council Committees. At tonight's 7 p.m. Common Council Meeting, we will formally announce that citizen volunteers may begin to apply for consideration to sit on a Council Committee. Applications may be found on the City's website, in the Office of the City Clerk or from any of the nine (9) Council Members. All applications should be filed no later than noon on Friday, January 20, 2012. They will then be referred to the Council Committee Chairpersons who will make the final selection. 2012 will be a challenging year, but can become a great year with the input, help and ,support of the residents of South Bend! A complete list of all 2012 South Bend Common Council Standing Committees is attached 2012 COMMON COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEES (01- 09-12) COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Oversees the various activities of the Department of Community & Economic Development Department & the programs directed by the Division of Community Development. This Committee reviews all real & personal tax abatement requests. Henry Davis, Jr., Chairperson Karen L. White, Member Gavin Ferlic., Vice - Chairperson Dr. Fred Ferlic, Member COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE Oversees the various activities of the Office of Community Affairs and is charged with facilitating partnerships & ongoing communications with other public and private entities operating within the City. Valerie Schey., Chairperson Dr. David Varner, Member Henry Davis, Jr., Vice - Chairperson Oliver Davis, Member COUNCIL RULES COMMITTEE Oversees the regulations governing the overall operation of the Common Council, as well as all matters of public trust. It duties are set forth in detail in Section 2 -10.1 of the South Bend Municipal Code. Derek D. Dieter, Chairperson Dr. Fred Ferlic, Member Dr. David Varner, Vice - Chairperson Karen L. White, Member HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE Oversees the various activities performed by the Fire and Police Departments, EMS, Department of Code Enforcement, ordinance violations, and related health and public safety matters. Dr. Fred Ferlic, Chairperson Henry Davis, Jr., Member Karen L. White, Vice - Chairperson Tim Scott, Member INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE Oversees the various activities of the City's Division of Information Technologies in the Department of Administration & Finance so that the City of South Bend remains competitive and on the cutting edge of developments in this area. Reviewing and proposing upgrades to computer systems and web sites, developing availability & access to GIS data and related technologies are just some of its many activities. Dr. David Varner, Chairperson Henry Davis, Jr., Member Valerie Schey, Vice - Chairperson Tim Scott, Member PARC COMMITTEE (Parks, Recreation, Cultural Arts & Entertainment) Oversees the various activities of the Century Center, College Football Hall of Fame, Coveleski Regional Stadium, Morris Performing Arts Center, Studebaker National Museum, South Bend Regional Museum of Art, Potawatomi Zoo, and the many recreational and leisure activities offered by the Department of Parks and Recreation. Gavin Ferlic, Chairperson Valerie Schey, Member Oliver Davis, Vice- Chairperson Tim Scott, Member 2012 COMMON COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEES (1- OS -12) PERSONNEL AND FINANCE COMMITTEE Oversees the activities performed by the Department of Administration and Finance, and reviews all proposed salaries, budgets, appropriations & other fiscal matters, as well as personnel policies, health benefits & related matters. Karen L. White, Chairperson Gavin Ferlic, Member Dr. David Varner, Vice- Chairperson Henry Davis, Jr., Member PUBLIC WORKS AND PROPERTY VACATION COMMITTEE Oversees the various activities performed by the Building Department, the Department of Public Works & related public works & property vacation issues. Dr. David Varner, Chairperson Gavin Ferlic, Vice - Chairperson Oliver Davis, Member Valerie Schey, Member RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE Oversees the various activities & issues related to neighborhood development & enhancement. Tim Scott, Chairperson Karen L. White, Vice- Chairperson Dr. Fred Ferlic, Member Oliver Davis, Member UTILITIES COMMITTEE Oversees the activities of all enterprise entities including but not limited to the Bureau of Waterworks, Bureau of Sewers and all related matters. Tim Scott, Chairperson Oliver Davis, Vice - Chairperson Valerie Schey, Member Karen L. White, Member ZONING AND ANNEXATION COMMITTEE Oversees the activities related to the Board of Zoning Appeals, recommendations from the Area Plan Commission and the Historic Preservation Commission, as well as all related matters addressing annexation and zoning. Oliver Davis, Chairperson Dr. David Varner, Vice - Chairperson Dr. Fred Ferlic, Member Gavin Ferlic, Member SUB - COMMITTEE ON MINUTES Reviews the minutes prepared by the Office of the City Clerk of the regular, special and informal meetings of the Common Council and makes a recommendation on their approval /modification to the Council Derek D. Dieter, Chairperson Dr. David Varner, Vice - Chairperson 2012 COMMON COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEES (01- 05-12) TIM SCOTT 1ST District Council Member Residential Neighborhoods Committee, Chairperson Health & Public Safety Committee, Member Utilities Committee, Chairperson Information & Technology, Member PARC Committee, Member HENRY DAVIS ,„JR., 2nd District Council Member Community & Economic Development, Chairperson Information & Technology, Member Community Relations Committee, Vice - Chairperson Health & Public Safety Committee, Member Personnel and Finance Committee, Member VALERIE SCHEY 3rd District Council Member Community Relations Committee, Chairperson Public Works & Property Vacation, Member Information & Technology Committee, Vice - Chairperson Utilities Committee, Member PARC Committee, Member DR. FRED FERLIC, 4" District Council Member Health & Public Safety Committee, Chairperson Residential Neighborhoods, Member Council Rules Committee, Member Zoning & Annexation Committee, Member Community & Economic Development Committee, Member DR. DAVID VARNE_R, 5TH District Council Member Information and Technology, Chairperson Public & Property Vacation, Chairperson Council Rules Committee, Vice - Chairperson Personnel & Finance, Vice - Chairperson Sub - Committee on Minutes, Vice - Chairperson Zoning & Annexation, Vice - Chairperson Community Relations Committee, Member OLIVER DAVIS, 6TH District Council Member Vice - President Zoning & Annexation Committee, Chairperson PARC Committee, Vice - Chairperson Utilities Committee, Vice - Chairperson Community Relations Committee, Member Public Works & Property Vacation, Member Residential Neighborhoods, Member DEREK D. DIETER, AT LARGE Council Member PRESIDENT Council Rules Committee, Chairperson Sub - Committee on Minutes, Chairperson GAVIN FERLIC, AT LARGE Council Member PARC Committee, Chairperson Personnel & Finance Committee, Member Community & Economic Development, Vice- Chairperson Zoning & Annexation Committee, Member Public Works & Property Vacation,Vice- Chairperson KAREN L. WHITE, AT LARGE Council Member Chairperson, Committee of the Whole Personnel & Finance Committee, Chairperson Community & Economic Development, Member Health & Public Safety Committee, Vice Chair Council Rules Committee, Member Residential Neighborhoods, Vice Chairperson Utilities Committee, Member