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Home My WebLink About06-09-2025 Common Council Minutes SignedREPORT OF SUB-COMMITTEE ON MINUTES TO THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND: THE SUB-COMMITTEE HAS INSPECTED THE MINUTES OF THE DA TE: 06-09-2025 MEETING OF THE COUNCIL AND FOUND THEM TO BE CORRECT. THEREFORE, WE RECOMMEND THE SAME BE APPROVED: APPROVED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL ON: 06-23-2025 ATTEST: REGULAR MEETING June 9, 2025 Be it remembered that the Common Council of the City of South Bend , Indiana , met in person on Monday, June 9, 2025, at 7:00 P.M. Council President Canneth Lee called the meeting to order. The invocation was given by Pastor Mary Stephens of South Side Church of God, and Pledge to the Flag was given. City Clerk Bianca L. Tirado announced: Good Eve ning, members of the public . For audio quality , we will be muting everyone not speaking by default to maintain good audio quality for the Council and yourselves. If you would like to speak during the meeting on a specific agenda item, please submit your request in the chat -directions to do so are in the chat. We ask that you provide your [FULL NAME] and [ADDRESS], as tho se are required for all s peakers at in-person Council meetings. Please note the attached link for the meeting recording: https://docs.southbendin.gov/WebLink/browse.aspx?dbid=0&mediaid=396206 Council meetings are also available at Michiana Access Channel on both their website and their Facebook page. ROLL CALL COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT Canneth Lee Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers Sharon L. McBride Sherry Bolden-Simpson Sheila Niezgodski Dr. Oliver Davis * Rachel Tomas Morgan COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT Troy Warner Karen L. White OTHERS PRESENT Bianca L. Tirado Matthew Neal Margaret Gotsch Bob Palmer l st District, President 2 nd District 3 rd District 5th District 6 th District At-Large At-Large, Vice President 4 th District, Committee of the Whole At-Large City Clerk Deputy Director of Policy Director of Special Projects Council Attorney M e mb e rs m a rk e d w ith a n as teri s k (*) a re in v i1iu al a tt e nd a nce. SUB-COMMITTEE ON MINUTES : May 12, 2025 Council President Canneth Lee stated that the minutes from May 28, 2025, will be requested for approval on June 23, 2025. SPECIAL BUSINESS None. REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICES None. PUBLIC HEARINGS None. BILLS ON THE THIRD READING None RESOLUTIONS BILL NO . REGULAR MEETING 2 5-32 June 9, 2025 A R ES OL UT ION O F TH E C OMMON C O U NC IL OF TH E C IT Y O F SOUTH B END , INDIANA , A PPOI N T! G AN AGENT/N EGOT IATOR AN D AN AD V IS ORY C OMMON C O UN C IL N EGOTIATING T EAM TO RE PR ES ENT TH E C OMMO C O U C IL F OR T H E UP C OMING FIR E DE PA RT M ENT N EGOTIATIONS C le rk Ti ra d o rea d th e reso luti o n to th e Co un c il. C oun c ilm emb er S hi e la Ni ezgo d ski st at ed Bill No . 2 5-32 was heard in th e Per so nn e l and Fin ance Co mmittee a nd co m es to th e Full Co un c il with a fav o ra bl e reco mm end ati o n . Cann eth Lee, Co un cil Pr es id ent , w ith offic es o n th e fourth (4th) fl oor of th e Co unt y-C it y Buildin g , South B e nd , IN 4 660 1, st ate d th at Bill No . 2 5 -32 is a reso lution a pp o intin g Att o rn ey B o b Palm er , as th e Coun c il 's C hi ef Negoti ato r and Co un c il Pres id e nt Ca nn eth Lee, Co un c il m ember Kare n L. White , and Co un c ilm ember Opheli a G oo d e n-Ro d gers as th e Co un c il 's Ad viso ry T ea m fo r th e So uth B end F ir e D ep artm ent (S BFD) nego ti ati o ns . Co uncil Pres id ent Cann eth Lee he ld th e publi c h ea rin g , a nd no bo d y s po ke . Co un c il Vi ce-Pres id ent R ache l To m as Mo rgan m oved fo r th e p assage o f Bill No . 25-32 , w hich w as seco nd e d by Co un c ilm e mb er Ni ezgo d ski a nd carri ed by a vo te of seven (7) ayes , with two (2) Coun c ilm embe rs a bse nt. Co un c il Pr es id e nt Cann eth Lee -Aye Coun c il m emb er Oph e li a Goo d e n-R o d ge rs -Aye Co uncilmember T roy W arn er -Absen t Co uncilm emb er S heil a N iezgod ski -Aye Co un c ilm emb er K are n L. Whit e -Absen t 2 5-33 Coun c il V ice Pres id ent Rac he l To m as M o rgan -Aye C oun c ilm emb e r Sh aron M cBrid e-Aye Co un c ilm e mb er S herry Bo ld en-S imp so n -Aye Co un c ilm emb er Dr. Oli ver Dav is -Aye A R ESO LUT ION O F T H E C OMMON C O U N C IL OF TH E C ITY OF S O UT H B END , IN DI A NA , APPOIN T ING AN AGEN T /NEGOTIAT OR A ND A N A DV IS ORY CO MMON C O UNC IL N EG OTI ATING TEAM T O R EPR E S ENT TH E C OMMON C O UN C IL IN T HE UP C OMI N G S O UT H B EN D FR AT ERNA L ORD ER OF POLI CE LODG E #3 6 N E GOTIATIONS C lerk Tirad o rea d th e reso luti o n to th e Co un c il. Co uncilmemb er Shi e la N iezgod s ki stated Bill No . 25-33 was h eard in th e Pe rso nn e l and Fin ance Co mmittee a nd co m e s to th e Full Co un c il w ith a favora bl e reco mm end ati o n . Cann eth Lee , Coun c il Pres id ent , w ith o ffi ces o n th e fourth (4th ) fl oor o f th e Co unt y-C it y Buildin g , So uth Be nd , IN 4 660 1, stated th at Bill N o . 25-33 is a reso lution a pp o intin g A tt o rn ey B o b Pa lm er, as th e Co un c il 's C hi ef Nego ti ato r. T hi s reso luti o n also na m es th e Co mm o n Co uncil Ad visory T ea m co ns istin g o f Co un c ilm e mb e r S hi e la Ni ezgo d s ki , Vice -Pres id ent Rac he l To m as Mo rgan , and Pres id e nt Ca nn eth L ee to re prese nt Co un c il durin g th e nego ti ati o ns fo r th e S B FD. Co uncil Pres id ent Lee he ld th e publi c hea rin g , and no bo d y s pok e . C oun c ilm emb er Ni ezgo d ski m oved fo r th e passage of Bill No . 25-33 , w hi ch wa s seco nd ed by Co un c ilm ember Sh erry B o ld en-Simp so n and ca rri ed by a vo te of seve n (7) ayes, with tw o (2) Co un c ilm emb ers a bse nt. Co uncil Pres id ent Ca nn eth Lee -Aye Coun c il V ice Pres id ent Rac he l To m as M o rgan -Aye Co uncilm emb er Ophe li a Goo d e n-Ro d ge rs -Aye Coun c ilm e mb er S haro n McBrid e-Aye Co uncilm ernb er Troy W arn er -A bs en t Coun c ilm e mbe r Sh e rry Bold e n-S imp so n -Aye Councilm emb er S heil a N iezgo d s ki -Aye Co un c ilm ember Dr. Oli ve r D av is -Aye Co un cilm e mber Karen L. Whit e -A bsen t BILLS O N FIRS T R E ADING BILL 0 . 2 REGULAR MEETING 33-25 June 9, 2025 FIRST READING ON AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND , INDIANA, AMENDING ORDINANCE NO . 11160-24, WHICH FIXES MAXIMUM SALARIES AND WAGES OF APPOINTED OFFICERS AND NON-BARGAINING EMPLOYEES OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2025 , TO MAKE POSITION CHANGES IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION Clerk Tirado read the bill to the Council for its fir st ( J5l) reading. Council President Lee entertained a motion to send Bill No . 33-25 to the Personnel and Finance Committee for public hearing and third (3 rd ) reading on June 23,2025. Councilmember Niezgodski moved to send Bill No. 33-25 to the Personnel and Finance Committee for public hearing and third (3 rd ) reading on June 23, 2025, which was seconded by Councilmember Bolden Simpson and carried by seven (7) ayes , with two (2) Councilmembers absent. Council President Canneth Lee -Aye Councilmember Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers -Aye Councilmember Troy Warner -Absent Councilmember Sheila Niezgodski -Aye Councilmember Karen L. White -Absent 34-25 Council Vice President Rachel Tomas Morgan -Aye Councilmember Sharon McBride-Aye Councilmember Sherry Bolden-Simpson -Aye Councilmember Dr. Oliver Davis -Aye FIRST READING ON AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCJL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND , INDIANA , APPROPRIATING ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR CERTAIN DEPARTMENTAL AND CITY SERVICES OPERATIONS FOR THE YEAR 2025 OF $2 ,512 ,780 FROM THE GENERAL FUND (#101), $520 ,000 FROM THE PARKS AND RECREATION FUND (#20 I), $65,000, FROM THE MOTOR VEHICLE HJGHWA Y FUND (#202), $37,500 FROM THE GIFT, DONATION, BEQUEST FUND (#217), $2 ,945 ,000 FROM THE LOCAL INCOME TAX ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND (#408), $650,000 FROM THE WATER WORKS OPERA TIO NS FUND (#620), $2 ,407 ,550 FROM THE WATER WORKS CAPITAL FU D (#622), $5 ,000 ,000 FROM THE SEWAGE WORKS CAPITAL FUND (#642) Clerk Tirado read the bill to the Council for its first ( J5l) reading . Council President Lee entertained a motion to send Bill No. 34-25 to the Personnel and Finance Committee for public hearing and third (3 rd ) reading on June 23, 2025. Council Vice-President Tomas Morgan moved to send Bill No . 34-25 to the Personnel and Finance Committee for public hearing and third (3 rd ) reading on June 23, 2025 , which was seconded by Councilmember Niezgodski and carried by seven (7) ayes , with two (2) Councilmembers absent. Council President Canneth Lee -Aye Council Vice President Rachel Tomas Morgan -Aye Councilmember Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers -Aye Councilmember Sharon McBride-Ay e Councilmember Troy Warner -Absent Councilmember Sherry Bolden-Simpson -Aye Councilmember Sheila Niezgodski -Aye Councilmember Dr. Oliver Davis -Aye Councilmember Karen L. White -Absent 3 R EGULAR M EETING June 9, 2025 F IR ST R EA DI NG O N AN ORDINANCE OF T HE C OMMON C O UNCIL O F T H E C ITY O F S O UTH B EN D , IN DI ANA , FOR BU D GET T RAN SFER S FOR V A RI OUS DE PAR T M ENTS WITHIN TH E C ITY O F SOUTH B EN D , IN DI A N A FOR T H E YEA R 2025 C le rk T ira d o rea d th e bill to th e Co un c il fo r it s fir st ( I st) rea din g. Co un c il Pres id e nt Lee e nt ert a in e d a m otio n to se nd Bill No . 35-25 to th e Pe rso nn e l a nd Fin a n ce Co m m itt ee for publi c h earin g a nd third (3 rd ) readin g o n Ju ne 23, 2025 . Coun c ilm e mbe r S h aro n M c Brid e m oved to send Bill No . 35-25 to th e P e rso nn e l and Fina nce Committee fo r publi c h ea rin g a nd third (3 rd ) readin g o n Jun e 23, 202 5 , whi c h was seco nd e d by Co un c ilm embe r D r. Oli ver D avis an d catTi e d by seven (7) ayes , w ith t wo (2) Co uncilm e mb e rs ab sent. C ounc il Pr es id e nt Cann eth Lee -Aye Coun c ilm e mbe r Ophe li a Good e n-Ro d gers -Aye Coun c ilm e mbe r Troy Wa rn e r -A bs e nt Co un c ilm e mbe r Sh e il a N iezgod ski -Aye Co un c ilm e mbe r Ka re n L. Whit e -Absent Co un c il V ice Pres id e nt Rach e l T o mas M o rga n -Aye Co un c ilm e mbe r S h aron M c Brid e-Aye Coun ci lm embe r Sh e rr y B o ld e n-S impso n -A ye Co un c ilm e mbe r Dr. Oli ver D av is -Aye FIR ST R EA DI NG O N AN ORDI NA N CE O F T HE C OMMO N C O UNCIL O F T H E C IT Y O F SO UTH B EN D , IN DI A N A A M ENDI N G T HE LO A N A G R EEM EN T A ND A PPROVING AND AUTH O RI Z I G ACTIO S I R ES P ECT T H E R ETO C le rk T irad o read th e bill to th e Coun c il fo r it s fir st ( I st) readin g. Coun c il Presi d e nt Lee e nte rt a in ed a m o ti o n to se nd Bill No . 36-25 to th e Community In ves tm e nt Co mmittee for p ubli c h earin g a nd third (3 rd ) readin g o n June 23, 2025 . Co un c il Vi ce-P res id e nt Tom as M o rgan m oved to send Bill No . 36-25 to the P e rso nn e l and Fin a nce Co mmittee fo r publi c h ea rin g a nd third (3 rd ) readin g o n Jun e 23, 2025 , w hi c h was seco nd e d by Co un c ilm e mber N iezgo d ski a nd ca rri ed b y seven (7) ayes, w ith two (2) Coun c ilm e mbe rs a b se nt. Coun c il Pres id e nt Cann e th Lee -Aye Coun c ilm e mbe r O ph e li a Goo d e n-Ro d gers -Aye Co un ci lm embe r Troy Warn er -Absent Coun c ilm e mb e r S h e il a N iezgo d ski -Aye Co un c ilm e mber K ar e n L. Whit e -Absent 37-25 Coun c il Vi ce Pres id e nt R ach e l T o m as M o rgan -Aye Co un c ilm e mbe r S ha ron M c Brid e-Ay e Co un c ilm e mbe r S he rry B o ld e n-S impso n -Aye Coun c ilm e mbe r Dr. Oli ver D av is -Aye F IR ST R EA DI NG O N AN ORDI ANCE O F T H E C OMMON C O U N C IL O F T H E C IT Y O F S OUTH BE D , IN DI ANA , AMEN DI NG T H E ZON ING O RDIN A N CE F OR PROP E RTY LO C AT ED 2 01 8 S OUTH MA IN STR EET , 2020 S O UTH M A IN STR EET C O UNCIL MAN IC DI STRI C T NO . 3 IN T H E C ITY O F S O UT H B E D , IN DI ANA C le rk T irad o rea d th e bill to th e Coun c il fo r it s fir st (I st) reading . Co un c il Pres id e nt Lee e nt e rtain ed a m o t io n to se nd Bill No . 3 7-25 to th e So uth B e nd A rea Pl a n Commi ss io n for publi c h ea rin g o n Jun e 16, 2025 , a nd to th e Zo nin g a nd A nn exa ti o n Co mmittee fo r publi c h earin g a nd third (3 rd ) readin g o n Jun e 23, 202 5 . Co uncilm e mb e r M c Brid e m oved to send Bill No. 37-25 to th e South Be nd Area Pl a n Co mmi ss io n fo r publi c h earin g o n Jun e 16, 202 5, a nd to th e Zo nin g a nd A nn exa ti o n Co mmittee fo r publi c h ea rin g a nd third (3 rd ) readin g o n Jun e 23, 2025 , w hi c h was seco nd ed b y Coun c ilm e mbe r Bo ld e n- S imp so n a nd carried b y seven (7) ayes , wi th two (2) Co un c ilm e mbers a b se nt. 4 REGULAR MEETING Council President Canneth Lee -Aye Councilmember Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers -Aye Council member Troy Warner -Absent Councilmember Sheila Niezgodski -Aye Councilmember Karen L. White -Absent 38-25 June 9, 2025 Council Vice President Rachel Tomas Morgan -Aye Councilmember Sharon McBride-Aye Councilmember Sherry Bolden-Simpson -Aye Councilmember Dr. Oliver Davis -Aye FIRST READING ON AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND , INDIANA , AMENDING ARTICLES 1 THROUGH 7 AND ARTICLE 11 OF CHAPTER 6 OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE TO UPDATE REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT Clerk Tirado read the bill to the Council for its first (l51) reading . Council President Lee entertained a motion to send Bill No . 38-25 to the Public Works and Property Vacation Committee for public hearing and third (3 rd ) reading on June 23, 2025. Councilmember Niezgodski moved to send Bill No. 38-25 to the Public Works and Property Vacation Committee for public hearing and third (3 rd ) reading on Ju1i.e 23, 2025 , which was seconded by Councilmember Bolden-Simpson and carried by seven (7) ayes, with two (2) Councilmembers absent. Council President Canneth Lee -Aye Council Vice President Rachel Tomas Morgan -Aye Councilmember Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers -Aye Councilmember Sharon McBride-Aye Councilmember Troy Warner -Absent Councilmember Sherry Bolden-Simpson -Aye Councilmember Sheila Niezgodski -Aye Councilmember Dr. Oliver Davis -Aye Councilmember Karen L. White -Absent UNFINISHED BUSINESS Councilmember Dr. Davis asked for an update on Stevie's Enterprises , Inc. Council President Lee stated he would follow up . Councilmember Dr. Davis asked for an update from Attorney Bob Palmer regarding a requested letter to the Community Police Review Board (CPRB). Attorney Palmer stated that he will be working with the attornery from the CPRB to discuss proposed regulations and dealing with abstentions and will have have an update by June 23, 2025 . Council President Lee shared a status report regarding Berge n Street. A police car has been placed outside of the property and a hearing regarding the recreational vehicle will take place on June 17, 2025. Councilmember Bolden-Simpson shared an update regarding sidewalks on Jackson Road and stated that members of the South Bend School Corporation will discuss laying sidewalks on Jackson Road. NEW BUSINESS Councilmember Bolden-Simpson expressed her congratulations and compliments to all of the new graduates in the South Bend area. Co uncil President Lee expressed his appreciation for Mr. Lynn Coleman and the prayer gathering that was brought together on June 8, 2025 , at the Jon Hunt Pla za. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR Logan Foster, 1138 College Street, South Bend , IN 46628 , spoke regarding the South Bend Municipal Code and Council complaints. ADJOURNMENT Council President Lee adjourned the meeting at 7:28 P.M. 5