HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-17-04 Community Relations Comittee dotnniwzit9. d?tatLorrs eominittez
The June 14,2004 meeting of the Community Relations Committee was called to order by its
Chairperson,Council Member Charlotte D.Pfeifer at 4: 23 p.m. in the Council Informal Meeting
Room.
Persons in attendance included Council Members Dieter,Pfeifer,Kelly,Puzzello,Varner,
Kuspa, and White; City Clerk John Voorde,City Attorney Charles Leone,David Frank, Terry
Bland of the South Bend Tribune,and Kathy Cekanski-Farrand, Council Attorney.
Council Member Pfeifer noted that when citizens have concerns that they are properly heard by
the Council. Council President White assigned this topic to the Community Relations
Committee.
David Frank of 50520 Burtonwood Drive in South Bend provided a 6-page handout addressing
"participatory democracy"(copy attached). He noted that he had met with some of the members
of the County Council and had a community meeting recently at Perkins. He was the owner of
Franks Red Hots for fifteen years and thereafter had a radio program for two(2)years entitled
"Stand Up America".
Mr. Frank stated that community and communication are the keys to success. Concerns today
include: lack of health care,health care that is too expensive, 50%high school drop out rate,
high divorce rates,high bankruptcy rates,high credit card balances,increase in use of illegal and
legal drugs,violence in school,2 1/2 million people in jail, diabetes, cancer, spousal abuse,gun
violence,etc. He then reviewed his"Plan of Implementation"(attached). He noted that the
preliminary cost would be $600,000 which he would like to be equally divided between St.
Joseph County and the City of South Bend;and that the program would need many volunteers.
Council Member Puzzello inquired whether a Council agenda would be used. Mr. Frank stated
that the program would be more issue oriented and that the community could tap into many new
voices.
Dr. Varner inquired about the data base and the pool of people,suggesting that cable access tv
would be a good test option of the concept with a call back feature,before making a major
investment. He noted that even though Mr. Frank shows much enthusiasm,that demonstrating
the project on a smaller model would be helpful when assessing the overall need. Mr. Frank
stated that not all persons have access to cable tv.
Council Member Pfeifer noted that fifteen minutes had been allocated for the presentation and
that perhaps Mr. Frank could return at a later date. She then inquired whether he had contacted
Mayor Luecke. Mr. Frank stated that he called the Mayor's Office six(6)times and received no
return calls.
Following discussion,Council Member Pfeifer suggested that Mr. Frank come back for a
meeting of her committee on July 12th.
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There being no further business to come before the committee,Council Member Pfeifer
adjourned the meeting at 4:53 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Council Member Charlotte D. Pfeifer, Chairperson
Community Relations Committee
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