HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-20-2025 Personnel & Finance Budget Meeting Minutes SignedOFFIC E OF THE CITY CLERK
BI NCA L. TIRA DO , C ITY CLERK
PERSONNEL & FINANCE
Committee Members Present:
Committee Members Absent:
Councilmembers Pre sent:
Others Pre se nt:
Pre se nters:
Agenda:
AUGUST 20, 2025 6:00 P.M.
Sheila Niezgodski , Karen L. White , Rachel
Tomas Morgan
Dr. Oliver Dav is
Canneth Lee , Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers
(A rrived Late), Sherry Bolden-Simpson *
Bianca
Margaret
Palmer*
L. Tirado , Jasmine Jackson,
Gotsch , Lari·onna Green , Bob
Ky le Willis , De nise Riedl , Sandra Kennedy
2026 Administrative Departments
(Administration & Finance I Legal I Human
Ri g hts Commission) Inno vation &
Technology Budget Overview
Members marked with an asterisk (*) are in virtual attendance.
Please note the attached link for the meeting recording:
https://docs.southbendin.gov/WebLink/browse.aspx?dbid=0,0&mediaid=399084
Please note the attached link for the meeting presentations:
http,: d oc s.southbendiu.go, 1\, ebLi11k /01fol 395495/Row I .a,p\.'?dbid =0&dbid=0&,tartid=395.t95&startid =3
95495&ro,\= l&ro"=I
Co mmittee C hair Sheila iezgodski called to order th e Personne l & Finance Co mmittee mee tin g
at 6:00 P.M.
City Clerk Bianca L. Tirado announced: Good Evening , members of the public . [f you would like
to s peak during the meeting on a s pecific agenda item , please submit yo ur request in th e chat -
directions to do so are in the chat. We ask that you provide yo ur [F ULL NAME] and [ADDRESS],
as those are required for all s peakers at in-person Council meetings.
J asmine J ackson
0-!JEF D EPUTY 0TY 0.ERK / 0-!JEF OF STAFF
INTEGRITY I SERVICE I ACC ESSIBI LITY
Matthew Nea l
D EPUTY QTY QERK / D IRECTOR OF POLICY
i\ll;m;~1rct Colsch
D IRECTOR OF 5PEOAL P ROJECTS
EXC ELLEN C E I ACCO UNTAB ILIT Y I INNOVAT ION I INC LU SION I EMPO WERMENT
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
(~-) crrYOFSOUTHBEND I OFFICEOFTIIECITYCLERK
Committee Chair Niezg odski pro v ided informa ti o n regardin g the 2 026 Budg et O ve rv iew proce ss.
C it y Res id e nt s c a n acc ess th e C it y Budge t Survey to pro v id e th e ir input usin g the fl owin g link:
https: snuthbendin.~o\ hud~et . A dditional qu esti on s pe rt a inin g t o thi s me e tin g o r th e budg e t
hearin g can be e m a il e d to th e Pe rsonn e l and F in a nc e Co mmittee C ha ir, She il a Ni ezgo d ski , at
sneiz~od:--k.i 11 :outhhendin.~o\ a nd th ey w ill be dir e cte d to th e a ppropri a te d e partme nt. T h e Fina l
Budge t H earing is sche dul e d fo r Octo b e r 13. 2 02 5 .
K y le Willi s , C it y Co ntroll e r, w ith offices o n th e 12 th fl oo r of th e Co unty -C it y Building South
B e nd , IN 4 6 60 I , pro v id e d an ove rv iew of the A dmini stration (A dmin ) a nd Fina nce D e p a rtm e nt 's
prop osed 2 0 26 bud ge t (whi c h includ es a fe w int e rd e pa rtme nta l bud ge t s) w hil e presenting a
PowerP o int th a t s howc ase d th e D e partme nt s goa ls a nd a ccompli shm e nt s w ith e mphas is o n Fo ur
Wind s Fi e ld , Madi so n L ifes ty le Di stri c t, Wa te r Utility, H a ll of Fam e Award , a nd staffi n g sta bility.
K y le Willi s prese nt e d th e final bud ge t fo r th e Co nt ro ll e r 's Offi ce to be a seve n po int tw o pe rc e nt
(7.2 %) increase . L ia bility In s ura n ce in c re a se d by o ne po int fo ur pe rce nt (1.4 %). Ce ntral Serv ic es
d ec re as e d by fo ur po int seve n pe rce nt (4 .7%). Human Reso urc es d e creased by seve n po int tw o
p e rce nt (7.2 %). Ky le Willi s sta te d th at th e re we re in c reases prim a ril y due to hazard o u s w a st e
di s posa l and as k e d fo r ques ti o n s o r c o mments fro m Co un c il o r th e public .
Co mmittee Me mb e r K ar e n L. White as ke d if th e re is a ny reaso n to be co nc e rn e d in reg ard to
li a bility c overage d ec reas in g a nd wh o do es th e C it y pay for th at coverage .
K y le Willi s sta te d that th e re is no reaso n to be c o nc e rn e d a nd th e C it y p ays e n v ironm e nt a l
liti gati o n fo r li a bility coverage.
Co mmittee Vi ce C ha ir R ac he l To m as M organ as ke d regarding th e new positi o ns t ra n sfe rr e d fr o m
Ve nu es , Pa rk s, a nd Arts and th e D e partme nt of Co mmunity In vestm e nt to A dmin and F in a n ce if
th e fo ur (4) new full time e mpl oyees a re und e r K y le 's direct s up erv is io n o r are o nl y in the
D e p artme nt 's bud ge t.
K y le Willi s st a ted th a t the new pos iti o n s are o nl y in th e budge t.
Co un c ilme mbe r O ph e li a Goo d e n-Ro dge rs as ke d if th e C it y has a la rge numbe r of cl a im s fo r
po th o les and po th o le re la te d d am age .
Sand ra K e nne d y, C h ief Legal Offi c e r, w ith o ffic es o n th e 12th fl oo r of th e County -C it y Building
So uth B e nd , IN 4 660 1, st ated th a t th e C it y rece ives a la rge numb e r of cl a im s fo r po tho les.
Co mmittee C h a ir N iezgo d ski as k e d fo r cl arifi cati o n o n th e increase in regard to th e Capita l line
it e m und er Cent ra l Se rv ic e s.
Ky le W illi s sta te d th a t a new gas d e tec ti o n sys te m wo uld be in sta ll e d wh e re th e garb age trucks
are pa rk e d a nd se rv iced .
Co mmitt ee C h a ir N iezgo d ski as k e d fo r cl a rific a ti o n o n th e in c rease in regard to th e O th e r Se rv ic es
and C harges lin e it e m und e r Cent ra l Se rv ic es .
K y le Willi s sta ted th at the re ar e du es and me mbe rs hip s includ e d in th a t lin e it e m and he wo uld
fo ll ow up regarding w ha t is dr iv in g th at increase lik e new c o nt rac t s o r tire rem oval a nd di s po sa l.
EXC ELLE NC E ACCO UNTABILIT Y I INNOVA TI ON INC LU SION I EMPOW ER MENT
455 County-City Building 1227 W Jefferson Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 I p 574.235.9221 I f. 574 .235.91731 www .southbendtn.gov
.... C IT Y OF SOUTH BE D I OFFI CE OF T I IE CIT Y CLE RK
Co uncil Pre s ident Canneth Le e as ke d w h y th e a ucti o n of c it y v ehicl es cha n ge d from in-pe rso n to
o nline .
Ky le Willi s sta te d th a t th e a uction is la bo r inte ns ive and th e d e ci s io n to go v irtual was ma d e
bec a use it is m o re e ffici e nt a nd e c o nomic a l but bidd e rs can still co me and loo k a t th e ve hi c les
pri o r to a uction .
Co un c il Pres id e nt Lee as ked w he n the a u ct io n is he ld a nd how is th e publi c no tifi e d .
Ky le Willi s st a ted he wo uld fo ll ow up .
Committee Chair N iezgo d ski h e ld the publi c h earin g, a nd no bod y s po k e.
Co mmittee C ha ir adjure d th e n ex t prese nt er to s howcase th e ir present a ti o n .
Deni se Ri e dl , C hi ef Innovati o n Offic e r, w ith offi ces o n the 12 th fl oo r of th e Co unty -C it y Building
So uth Be nd , IN 4 660 I , prov id ed an ove rv iew of th e Innovati o n a nd Tec hn o lo gy (I T)
De partme nt 's proposed 2026 bud ge t w hil e prese ntin g a P owerP o int th a t s howcase d th e
De partme nt s goa ls and acco mpli shment s w ith e mphas is o n th e fo ll owin g: Se rv ices pro v id ed by
t hree -o n e -o ne (3 11 ), imp rove d cy ber sec urity by in sta lling o ne hundre d (100) n ew cam eras , th e
ki osk p rog ram th a t offe rs c iti ze n s a new way to p ay th e ir bill s around town , up grad es m a d e to th e
So uth B e nd we bs it e , and th e Ve nu es , P arks , and A rt s pay me nt p o rt a l. De ni se Ri e dl prese nt ed th e
fi na l bud ge t cut to be ze ro po int ze ro-fo ur pe rce nt (0.04%) and as ke d fo r qu es ti o n s o r comme nt s
fr o m Co uncil or th e public .
Co mmittee Vice C ha ir To mas Mo rgan as ked in regard to the Bloo mb e rg Mayo r 's Ch a ll e n ge , w ha t
we re so me iss ues th a t we re fa c e d and how can th e D e pa rtm e nt be mo re p ro du c ti ve.
De ni se sta te d th a t o ut of o ne hundre d th o u sand (100 ,000) pho n e ca ll s, e ig h t th o usand (8,000) of
th ose ar e see kin g he lp a nd fi n anci a l ass ista nce w ith th e ir wate r bill.
Co mmittee Vice C ha ir To m as Morgan as ke d if D e ni se anti c ipates an ex pa n s io n of cam eras and
fo rse e s potenti a l g rant fundin g .
De ni se R ie dl sta te d tha t th e D e p artme nt co uld have an ex pa n sio n of cam eras but so m etim es th e
fund s d o n 't c o m e o ut of th e IT bud get and it co me fr o m o th e r proj ect s bud ge ts. In regard to g rant
fu nding, D e ni se Ri e dl a lso sta te d it is poss ibl e.
Co mmittee Me mb e r White stat ed tha t w ith the po te nti a l sa lary increase fo r th e two (2) pos iti o ns
in th e D e p artm e nt co m es with c o nce rn in regard to ba lan ce b e twee n o th e r d e partm e nt s.
De ni se Riedl sta te d th a t th e Director of P ro j e ct M a nage m e nt pos iti o n a lr ead y e x ists in th e C it y
O rdin a n ce and th e sa lar y has been se t. D e ni se Ri e dl a lso sta t ed th a t s he has researche d s imil a r
pos iti o n s w ith in th e c it y to e ns ur e a simil a r sala ry is m e t.
Co un c ilm e mbe r Good e n-Ro d ge rs ex pressed c on cern fo r c u sto m e r sa ti sfac ti o n in reg ard to th e
three -o n e -o ne (3 11 ) call ce nte r and as ke d if th e re is an o pt io n to leave a vo ice m a il.
De ni se Ri e dl sta te th e re is a voi ce m a il sys te m in pl ace prim a ril y fo r afte r ho ur ph o ne call s.
EXC EL LE NC E ACCOUN TA BILIT Y INNOVATI ON I INC LU SION EM POW ER M ENT
455 County-City Building ! 227 W Jefferson Blvd . South Bend, Ind iana 46601 I p 574 .235 .9221 I f. 574 .235 .9173 ! www .southbendin.gov
CITY OF SOUTH BENO I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
C ouncil Pr es ident Lee as ked fo r cl a rity regardin g th e Real Time Crime C ente r (RT CC) and w hat's
to co me.
De ni se Ri edl stated th a t th e gro wt h of RT CC has been e no rm o us a nd has save d th e So uth Be nd
Po lic e D e pa rtm et a lo t of tim e in regard to tim e s pe nt o n in ves ti g ati o ns and grand th e ft a ut o c ases .
Co uncilm e mb e r Goo de n-Ro d ge rs as ked w he re to new res id e nt s rece ive th e ir we lco me pac ket.
De ni se Ri edl stated th at th ey ar e ma il ed to new res id e nt s.
Co uncilm e mb e r S he rr y B o ld en-S imp so n as ked if th e De partme nt was no ti fie d th at th ey wo uld
no t rec e i ve th e g rant mo ney fr o m th e Nati o nal Telecommunicati o ns a nd Info rm ati o n
A dmini stration .
De ni se Ri edl st ated that th ey did rece ive o ffici al no ti ce.
Co uncilme mb er She rr y B o ld en-S imp so n as ked w he re sh e can view th e cat cam e ra.
De ni se Ri edl stat ed o nlin e o n Yo uT ub e.
Co mmittee C ha ir N iezgo d ski a sked how th e sal ary was de termin ed fo r th e s up erv iso r pos iti o n.
De ni se Ri edl st ated th at s he has res earch ed s imil ar pos iti o ns w ithin th e c it y t o e nsure th e
s up e rv iso r salary was co n s iste nt.
Co mmittee C ha ir N iezgo d s ki o pe ned t he public hearin g .
Ma rk Pi asec ki , 10 1 Co nes toga Lane, So uth B end , IN 4 66 1 7, s po ke in favo r regardin g bud ge ta ry
cuts and as ked if th e C it y is at ri sk fo r ran so m war e.
De ni se Ri edl stated yes, th e C it y is at ri sk fo r ra n so mware .
Jaso n Ove rh o lt , o nlin e , no address prov id ed , se nt tea m s messages in o pp os iti o n of th e three -o ne -
o ne (311 ) call cent e r and in favo r of utili z in g a rtifici a l inte lli ge nce (A I) ins tead of li ve age nt s.
Deni se Ri edl stat ed th at th e C it y is in ves tin g in AI th at shows res ult s a nd is ad o pting Mi c rosoft
365 Co pil o t and tran s lati o n a ppli cati o ns .
Co mmittee C hai r N iezgo d ski cl osed th e public hearing and as ked Co uncil fo r co mm e nt s .
Co mmittee C ha ir adjured th e nex t prese nte r t o showcase th e ir prese nt ati o n .
Sandra Ke nn ed y p rov id ed an ove rv iew of th e Legal Dep art ment's pro pose d 2026 bud ge t w hil e
prese ntin g a P owe r P o int th at showcase d an o rgani zati o na l c ha rt and a breakd own of c urre nt staff
a nd th e ir rol es . Sa ndra K e nn ed y stated th at the Legal De partm e nt has o ne (1) va canc y th a t w ill
be fill ed in Oc to ber. Sandra K enn ed y prese nt ed th e fin al bud ge t c ut to be three po int o ne pe rce nt
(3.1 %) and as ked fo r qu es ti o ns o r co mm e nt s fro m Co uncil o r th e publi c .
Co mmittee Me mb e r W hite ex presse d co nce rn fo r th e large bud ge t c ut and want s to know how
thi s will impact th e Lega l De partme nt.
EXC EL L ENC E ACCOUNTAB ILI TY INNOVATI ON INC LUS ION EM POW ER M ENT
'155 Coumy-City Building 1227 W Jefferson Blvd I South Bend, Indiana 46601 j p 574.235.9221 If. 574235.91731 www southbend1n.gov
CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
Sandra Kennedy stated that the majority of the decrease is coming out of the travel line item , but
if an employee needs to travel the Department has factored in those expenses. Sandra Kennedy
also stated the reason she cut the internships is because she cannot afford to cut any staff.
Committee Chair Tomas Morgan expressed concern about the budget cuts and wants the Legal
Department to have the oppurtunity to travel , continue education, and offer internships.
Council President Lee thanked Sandra for making the budget cuts she made and wants to ensure
the Legal Department has what it needs to function.
Committee Chair Niezgodski held the public hearing, and nobody spoke.
Committee Chair Niezgodski made a few closing comments regarding the importance of
internships and a balanced budget.
With no further business , Committee Chair Niezgodski adjourned the Personnel & Finance
Committee meeting at 8:00 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted ,
JLj;/~-
Sheila Niezgodski , Committee Chair
NOTI C E FOR HEARI NG AN D SIGHT
IMPAIRED PERSONS
Auxiliary Aid or Other Services may be Available upon
Request at No Charge.
Please give Rea sonable Advance Reques t when
Possibl e
EXC ELLE NC E I ACCOUN TA BILIT Y I INNO VA TION I INC LUSIO N I EM POW ER M ENT
455 County-City Bu il ding 1227 W Jefferson Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 I p. 574.235.9221 1 f. 574.235.9173 1 www .southbend1n .gov