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OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
K.-kREEMAH FOWLER, CITY CLERK
INFORMATION &TECHNOLOGY FEBRUARY 11, 2019 3:57 P.M.
(ORGANIZATIONAL)
Committee Members Present: Tim Scott, Jake Teshka, Sharon L. McBride
Committee Members Absent: Gavin Ferlic
Other Council Present: Karen White, John Voorde, Jo M. Broden
Other Council Absent: Regina Williams-Preston, Oliver Davis
Others Present: Kareemah Fowler, Graham Sparks, Bob Palmer
Agenda: Organizational Meeting
Committee Chair Tim Scott called to order the Organizational Meeting for the Information and
Technology Committee at 3:57 p.m. He introduced members of the Committee and proceeded with
the meeting.
Organizational Meeting
Committee Chair Scott stated, I am not as formal as Councilmember White is, but I did send you
all an email of the report from last year and we also have to update the brochure. I look at the
Information and Technology Committee in two (2) ways. What can this Council do with
information and technology to better the Council in communicating to citizens? Also, what can
the City do for the citizens to have better access to us,in the best way?And also,what efficiencies
are there for technology to be used by the City. We do have a new director and I plan on meeting
with her between now and the next meeting and then having an introduction. I've only had one(1)
citizen member apply and I'm going to interview them to see if they're fit for this Committee.
Immediately, what we should do in the next four (4) weeks is a have a training session with the
Common Council on anything electronic we are using such as iPads, Surface, or touchscreen. I'll
send out an email in the next couple of days to see what you all would like to look at and then we
will go from there. We still are in a flux of legalities in terms of what can be filed electronically
with the City as well as the technology to handle that here. It would cut down on paper and having
to travel here to file. Those are still some of the things I've been thinking through.
Committee Chair Scott then opened the floor to Committee and Council Members.
Councilmember Karen White stated, One(1) of the recommendations that came out of the budget
hearings was about the members not being able to attend the hearings. So, they wanted a way to
INTEGRITY1 SERVICE1 ACCESSIBILITY
JENNIFER M.COFFMAN BIANCA L.TIRADO JOSEPH R.MOLNAR
CHIEF DEPUTY/DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS DEPUTY/DIRECTOR OF POLICY ORDINANCE VIOLATION CLERK
EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT
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CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK
email their questions in and then get a response. I don't know what that would look like but that
was a recommendation.
Committee Chair Scott replied, Yeah, but I have a concern about having anyone from anywhere
in the country, even the world, could email in.
Councilmember White stated, It would be from within our particular community. Those wouldn't
be emailed until after the meeting, so they wouldn't be answered during the meeting.
Committee Chair Scott replied, We will look into that and how that would work. I'm not shooting
the idea down. I have neighbors with Nebraska phone numbers, so, it would all be about figuring
out who is from where. I still believe in democracy and government,one(1)on one(1)with elected
officials as much as we can. We've all seen the trolls that flat out go after us. I do believe we need
to look at Committees and see if those can go live as well.
Councilmember White stated, It's the real work, if you think about it. A lot of times people think
we rubber stamp and they don't know the level of discussion that has occurred.
Committee Chair Scott stated, I would love to have Committees and Budget Hearings online.
Councilmember Jake Teshka stated,What about the cameras in the Council Chambers?
Committee Chair Scott replied, We are working with the County and the City Clerk's Office on
that. We give back about $10,000 in our budget each year. We like to be fiscally responsible.
We've been taking some of that for technology. All the upgrades we've done around here have
been with those cameras. We do have some of that planned as well. What we typically do is we
find it, figure out the specs and then the County pays us, splitting it.
Councilmember John Voorde stated, When department heads assume their positions, it would be
nice if they came and spoke with us. I think the IT person will probably do that but now there is a
new person in charge of the street department.
Councilmember Jo M. Broden stated, I concur with the broadcasting, or at least assess to the audio
and, or,video of the Committee meetings. I think that would go a long way, especially as it relates
to the budget because just getting the PowerPoints, the context of the department head speaking
about it is better. We do a lot of work with those budget hearings. I suggest we consider those as
the most important.
With no further discussion, Committee Chair Scott adjourned the Organizational Meeting for the
Information and Technology Committee at 4:04 p.m.
R-spectfully Submi -d,
Tim Scottittek-e it
EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT
455 County-City Building 227 W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f 574.235.9173 I I D574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov
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