HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-11-2024 Public Works & Property Vacation Meeting Minutes (Signed)OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
BIANCA L. TIRADO , CITY CLERK
PUBLIC WORKS & PROPERTY VACATION MARCH 11, 2024 3 :30 P.M.
Committee Members Present:
Committee Members Absent:
Other Council Present:
Others Present:
Presenters:
Sheila Niezgodski , Karen L. White , Dr.
Oliver Davis , Sherry Bolden-Simpson,
Citizen Member Jason Piontek, and Citizen
Member Carl Littrell
None .
*Canneth Lee , Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers,
and Rachel Tomas Morgan
Bianca L. Tirado , Elivet Quijada-Navarro ,
Danica Kulemeka, Matthew Neal , Bob
Palmer
Chris Dressel
Agenda: Updat e -Chris Dressel , Department of
Community Investment
Members marked with an asterisk (*) are present digitally
Please note the attached link for the meeting recording:
http://docs.southbendin.gov/WebLink/browse.aspx? dbid=0&mediaid=381054
Please note the attached link for the presentation:
http:/ /docs.southbendin.gov/WebLink/0/edoc/381303/RO W%20Vacation %20 U pdate%20-
%20PWPV%20-%20Council %20%203-11-24.pptx
Committee Chair Sheila Niezgodski called to order the Public Works and Property Vacation
Committee meeting at 3 :30 p.m.
Update -Chris Dressel, Department of Community Investment
Chris Dressel , Department of Community Investment, with offices on the 14th floor of the
County-City Building, gave a presentation regarding improvements to the Right-Of-Way (ROW)
vacation process . The goals are to provide additional guidance to applicants/petitioners (Alleys
101); improve quality of requests; use Pre-Application form/engagement process ; add
appropriate evaluation criteria as defined by Board of Public Works (BPW); update language to
reflect changes to criteria, process , and responsibilities; set a ninety (90) day expiration date for
petition requests following BPW review ; provide further assistance to petitioners with filing
requirements; and accompany/attend requests through the public hearing process.
Committee Chair Niezgodski asked , regarding the vacation process , if the person that would be
Danica Kul e me ka
0-nEF D EPUTY/ 0-nEF OF STAFF
INTEGRITY I SERVICE I ACCESSIBILITY
Elive t Quij ada-Navarro
D EPUTY/ D IRECTOR OF P OLICY
Matth e w Neal
D IRECTOR OF SPEOAL P ROJECTS
EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT
455 County-Ci ty Bui ld in g 1227 W. Jefferson Blvd . I Sout h Bend, Indiana 46601 I p. 574 .235.9221 If. 574.235.9 1731 www.southbe ndin .gov
C ITY OF SOUTH BEN D OFFICE OF THE CLE RK
representing the City would be the point person also that the Council will be able to contact prior
to the committee meeting?
Chris Dressel answered yes.
Committee Member Dr. Oliver Davis asked if this vacation process has been implemented, and if
so what have been the results .
Chris Dressel stated that they have taken into consideration the new model when dealing with
alleys over the past year, and plan to bring this back to Council within the next month. An
observation that has been noted while beginning to implement this new process is that there is a
lack of information some residents have regarding land ownership (specifically ownership of
alleyways). The goal is to fully implement this new process starting July 1, 2024.
Committee Member Jason Piontek asked if the roles and responsibilities of the resident , the
neighbors, and the City would be defined before going to the Board of Public Works .
Chris Dressel answered yes.
Councilmember Rachel Tomas Morgan asked if it is the responsibility of the petitioner to collect
signatures, and asked if additional staffing is anticipated.
Chris Dressel answered that it is still the responsibility of the petitioner to collect signatures, and
that the total process is divided among a few departments so it is difficult to determine if any
additional staffing would be necessary .
Committee Member Troy Warner asked if it would make sense to create separate processes for
completely abandoned alleys and still functional alleys, and if outside experts are being used to
do the legal descriptions and surveying .
Chris Dressel stated that the current goal is to create a single process that can properly handle all
situations , and that typically they've found utilizing outside experts for legal descriptions and
surveying to be unnecessary.
Committee Member Carl Littrell stated that petitioners should not expect the Engineering
Department to necessarily be their advocate .
Committee Chair Niezgodski adjourned the Public Works & Property Vacation Committee
meeting at 3 :59 p.m .
Respectfully Submitted,
Sheila Niezgodski, Committee Chair
NOTICE FOR HE ARIN G AND SIGHT IMPAIRED PERSONS
Auxiliary Ai d or Other Services may be Available upon Request at No Charge.
Plta5c give Reason abl e Adva nce Requ est when Poss
EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT
45 5 County-City Building 227 W. Jefferson Bl vd . South Bend , Indiana 46601 p. 574 .2 35 .922 1 f. 574 .23 5.9173 www .southbend in .gov