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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-23-94 Public Works & Property Vacation COMMITTEE REPORT PUBLIC WORKS AND PROPERTY VACATION COMMITTEE TO THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND: The May 23, 1994, meeting of the Public Works and Property Vacation Committee was called to order by its Chairperson, Council Member Stephen Luecke, at 3:30 p.m. in the Council Informal Meeting Room. Persons in attendance included: Council Members Slavinskas, Kelly, Luecke, Ladewski, Washington, Duda, Coleman, Zakrzewski, Puzzello; Citizen Members John Oxian and William Eagen, Maureen Dabrowiak, Don Porter, John Leszczynski, Gretchen Bolan, and Lawrence Prout. Juanita Muhammad was a late arrival. The first item on the agenda was to review Bill No. 49-94, which is a vacation request for an alley at Pleasant/27th Streets. The purpose of the vacation is to allow the petitioner to have access to his garage. Mr. Lawrence Prout, the petitioner, stated that he was the only person using this alley, he intends to build a new garage and needs access, the City does not plow this alley, and that there was considerable noise and unwanted traffic there in the evenings. Council Member Duda reported that there was unanimous approval from the various Departments. Council Member Duda made a motion to send this favorably to the Council, seconded by Council Member Washington. The motion carried. Juanita Muhammad was a late arrival questioning this alley vacation. She was representing her mother, Maria Vega, 1214 S. 27th Street, next door neighbors of Mr. Prout. She informed the Council that her father must use a wheelchair; and that her family uses the alley to load up the wheelchair to transport him various places. It would be a hardship for them not to have access! Council Member Washington inquired if there was another access point for him to be transported. Miss Muhammad replied that the alley is their normal transportation point, as he must be carried from the house to the car. Miss Muhammad inquired as to whether "Handicapped Signs" could be placed in front of their home. Council Member Luecke reported that the Public Works handles handicapped parking. Council Member Slavinskas mentioned that closing of the alley does not mean that they would not have access, since they would gain half of the property vacated. He suggested that perhaps they could negotiate with Mr. Prout and have paperwork drawn-up by an attorney for agreement on accessibility. This agreement should also be recorded in the County Recorder's Office. The Committee then reviewed Bill No. 55-94, which is an Ordinance to appropriate funds from the Local Roads and Street Fund to various projects. Mr. John Leszczynski, Director of Public Works, introduced their new fiscal officer, Gretchen Bolan, and then made the presentation. He explained that Project No. 9401 in the amount of $460,000,000 would cover street maintenance and repair, Project No. 9402 in the amount of $409,300 would cover various design and construction projects, Project No. 9403 in the amount of $50,000 would cover railroad improvements, and Project No. 9002 would cover the Ironwood-Brookmede to Ireland widening. Chairperson Luecke then asked for questions or comments. Mr. John Oxian, Citizen Member, questioned whether asphalt was purchased in bulk quantities and wondered if they tested the amount of aggregate in it. Mr. Leszczynski replied that it varies, based upon the use involved; and that a lot of additives are used today. Council Member Ladewski questioned whether the Twyckenham Project was on schedule and ready for the football season this fall. Mr. Leszczynski replied that it would be completed in approximately thirty to sixty days. Council Member Washington made a motion to send Bill No. 55-94 to the Council favorably, seconded by Council Member Duda. The motion passed. Citizen Member John Oxian inquired about the Good Neighbors Program. Mr. John Leszczynski replied that they had received two thousand (2000) applications. District No. 11 had 434 as of Monday, May 16th; whereas other districts had various amounts of applications. District No. 7 had only ten (10) . Most of the applications covered tree removal and replacement, as well as driveway approaches. Meetings with property owners, selected in the drawing, should begin by the end of this week. Bids have been received from various contractors. Council Member Luecke expressed his appreciation for the "load" of extra work placed on the Department of Public Works because of this program. Mr. Leszczynski explained that all applications will be kept on file, in the event that this program can be effective again next year. Additional summer help has been hired to speedup this program. Council Member Luecke thanked Mr. Leszczynski for his update. There being no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 3:57 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Stephen J. Luecke Chairperson Public Works and Property Vacation Committee