HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-27-2025 Public Works & Property Vacation Committee Minutes SignedOFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
BI ANCA L. TIR A DO , C ITY C LERK
PUBLIC WORKS & PROPERTY VACATION
Committee Members Present:
Committee Members Absent:
Other Council Prese nt:
Others Present:
Presenters :
Agenda:
JANUARY 27, 2025 4:20 P.M.
Troy Warner, Dr. Oliver Davis , Ophelia
Gooden-Rodgers , Sheila Niezgodski
one
Sherry Bolden-Simpso n, Canneth Lee ,
Rachel Tomas Morgan , Karen L. White
Bianca L. Tirado , E li vet Quijada-avarro ,
Matthew Neal , Bob Palmer
Chris Dressel , Michael Schmidt
Organizational Meeting
Up date -Alley Vacation Process and
Ordinance
Bill No. 25 -05 -Re so lution Ap pointing the
Board of Public Works and It s Delegees as
the Common Council's Agent for
Overseeing the Guaranteed Energy Savings
Contract for Improvements for the South
Bend Fire Department
Please note the attached link for the meeting recording:
http://docs.southbendin.gov/WebLink/browse.aspx?dbid=0&mediaid=390595
Committee C hair Sheila iezgodski called to order the Public Works and Property Vacation
Committee meetin g at 4:20 p .m .
Organizational Meeting
Committee C hair Niezgodski stated that the Public Works & Propert y Vacation Committee
oversees various activities performed by the Department of Public Works , billing department and
various Public Works and property vacation issue s .
EXC ELLE NC E ACCO UNTABILI TY INNOVA TI ON I INC LUSION I EMPOW ER MENT
455 Coun t y-City Bu ilding 1227 W. Jefferson Blvd . I South Bend , Ind iana 46601 I p 574 .235 .9221 I f. 574 .235 .9173 1 www .southbendin.gov
® CITY OF SOUTH BE D I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
Update -Alley Vacation Process and Ordinance
Chris Dressel , Senior Planner of Commun it y Investment, with offices on the 12 th floor of the
Co unty -City Bui I ding , presented an update regarding the Right-of-Way (ROW) vacat ion
ord in ance . C hri s Dressel summarized the 2024 Ordinance Changes and proposed the 2025
Updates to include fee payments , enve lope preparations, and adjacent property owner
notifications . An earl y engagement process w ill be added , as well as criteria set by the Board of
Public Works (BPW). In addition to the existing one hundred and fifty dollar ($150) publication
fee , a three hundr ed dollar ($300) fee for staff processing was added. There is now a ninety (90)
day expiration date for petition requests following BPW review. The updated ROW Vacation
ordinance seeks to help petitioners and improve efficiency regarding the a ll ey vacat ion process.
T he ordinance co rr ects a scrivener's error, adds a fee to cover filing assistance, updates
requirements for cert ifi ed e nve lop es , and makes it so petitioners must receive signatures fro m
fifty-one percent (51 %) of adjacent property owners .
Committee Chair Niezgodski opened the floor to committee members for questions.
Committee Member Dr. Oliver Davis stated appreciation for the update regarding adjacent
property owner notifications.
Committee Vice Chair Ophe li a Gooden -Rodgers asked what wi ll be done to publicize the changes
once they are made .
Chris Dressel responded that there wo uld be updates made to the forms required for the ROW
vacation procedure.
Committee Chair Niezgodski stated that the updat ed procedures add clarity to the process for
residents.
Council Vice President Rachel Tomas Morgan asked what wo uld be considered acceptable
evidence that a petitioner reached out to s ur rounding property owners.
C hri s Dressel responded that a written statement from the petitioner s igned that they have
attempted to contact the owne r wou ld most lik e ly suffice .
Counci l Vice President Tomas Morgan stated that the burden to receive signatures li es with the
petitioner, not the C it y .
Committee Chair iezgodski confirmed that the City wi ll help clarify the process for the
petitioner, but the onus is on the petitioner to further the ROW vacation .
Counci l President Canneth Lee asked how soon the changes wi ll be made and enacted.
Chris Dressel responded that a draft sched ul e wi ll be g iven at the next council session .
Committee Chair Niezgodsk i commented on her involvement with the process and stated that
questions may be directed to her or Mr. Dressel.
EXC ELLE NC E I ACCO U NTA BILITY INNOVATI ON INC LU SIO N EMPOW ER M ENT
455 County-City Building 1227 W Jefferson Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 I p. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov
® CITY OF SOUTH BEN D I OFFICE OF T H E CITY CLERK
Bill No. 25-05 -Resolution Appointing the Board of Public Works and Its Delegees as the
Common Council's Agent for Overseeing the Guaranteed Energy Savings Contract for
Improvements for the South Bend Fire Department
Michael Schmidt, Assistant City Attorney, with offices on 12 th floor of the Co unty -City Building ,
stated that Bill No. 25 -05 authorizes the City 's Board of Public Works and an internal team to
seek a guaranteed energy sav in gs company to anal yze and assess the City 's needs . Request For
Proposals (RFP's) will be so licited , and an interview process will occur. A sco ring matri x will be
implemented , and negotiations will ensue with the hi g hes t-scoring respondent.
Committee Chair Niezgodski asked committee members for comments and nobod y spoke.
Committee Chair Niezgodski held the public hearin g and nobody spoke.
Committee Member Troy Warner moved to send Bill No . 25-05 to the Full Council with a
favorable recommendation , which was seconded by Committee Vice Chair Gooden-Rodgers and
carried by a vote of four (4) ayes.
Committee Chair Sheila ie zgodsk i -Aye Committee Vice Chair Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers-Aye
Committee Member Dr. Oliver Davis -Aye Committee Member Troy Warner -Aye
With no further business , Co mmittee Chair Niezgodski thanked the Council and adjourned th e
Public Works and Property Vacation Committee meeting at 4:42 p.m.
Respectfu ll y Submitted ,
Sheila Niezgodski , Committee Chair
NOTIC E FOR HEARI NG AN O SIG HT IMPAIRED PERSO NS
Aux.ili ary Aid or Other Services may be Avail a bl e u1>o n Ret1u est at No Chall!C.
Pl nsc l!ivc Rcaso nahl l' ;\d\·a ncc Hc,1u cs 1 when Possibl e
EXC ELLE NC E ACCO UNTABILITY INNOVA TI ON INC LU SION EMPOW ERM ENT
455 County-City Building 1227 W Jefferson Blvd. I South Bend. Indiana 46601 I p 574.235.9221 I f. 574 .235 .9173 1 www .southbendin .gov