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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-06-72 Council Special Meeting MinutesSPECIAL MEETING NOVEMBER 6, 1972 Be it remembered that the Common Council of the City of South Bend met in special session on Monday, November 6, 1972 at 7 :38 p.m.. in the Council Chambers on the 4th Floor of the County - City Building. Council President Peter J. Nemeth called the meeting to order and the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was given. City Clerk Irene K. Gammon read the call for the special meeting as follows: "TO: THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COMMON COUNCIL You are hereby notified that there will be a special meeting of the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana on the 6th day of November, 1972 at seven - thirty o'clock p.m., local time in the Council Chambers of the County -City Building, for the purpose of: Citizen Discussion on Revenue Sharing The Chief of Police or any member of the Police Force is directed to serve a copy of this notice to each member of the Common Council and make due return hereon. Dated: October 31, 1972 /s/ Jerry J. Miller /s/ Odell Newburn Mayor /s/ Roger 0. Parent /s/ Peter J. Nemeth /s/ Walter M. Szymkowiak /s/ Walter T. Kopczynski /s/ Joseph T. Serge /s/ Terry S. Miller ATTEST: /s/ Robert G. Taylor /s/ Frank Horvath /s/ Irene K. Gammon City Clerk If ROLL CALL PRESENT: Councilmen Serge„ Szymkowiak, Miller, Parent, Taylor, Kopczynski, Horvath, Newburn and Nemeth. ABSENT: None Council President Peter J. Nemeth expressed the thanks of the Council to the citizens for being present tonight and taking an active interest in their government. He asked that anyone wishing to speak should come forward and give his name and address and that speakers restrict themselves to a reasonable time so that everyone would have an opportunity to be heard. Mr. John Derksen, President of the St. Joseph County Drainage Board, urged the Council to con- sider using some of the revenue sharing money for drainage projects, expecially in the Bowman Creek and Phillips Ditch areas It will require two retention basins to solve the serious problems faced by the city and suburban area. One basin will cost from $500,000 to $600,000. Mr. Derksen said that if the city would construct one retention basin, perhaps the county could construct the other one. Mrs, Louvenia Cain, of the Model Neighborhood Planning Association Board, asked for an explana- tion of revenue sharing and where the money could be spent. Council President Peter J. Nemeth explained that revenue sharing is money returned to local government for priority expenditures, which can be ordinary and necessary capital expenditures or ordinary and necessary maintenance expenditures for a variety of services, such as police, fire, traffic, drainage, streets, health and recreational, and social services for the poor and aged. Mrs. Cain said she hoped the funds would be used for the social and physical problems of our city. Mr. Lester Fox, of REAL Services, said he hoped the Council would consider using funds for ex- tending services to older adults. He said they believe that federal funds -should be used to support special programs in the field of aging. Mr. Burnett Bauer, President of the Western Avenue Business Men's Council, said their organiza- tion feels three projects in their area should be considered. One is a grade separation at the railroad crossing on North Sheridan Street to bring together the north and south areas of the city. The second is the widening of Western Avenue, which has been talked about for many years. Third, the lighting on Western Avenue should be improved to make it a better place to live and do business. Sidewalks on Western Avenue are also in need of repair. Mrs. Jane Cobb, of the Y.W.C.A, said they want to increase their services to school -age pregnant girls and need to acquire land and a building to do this. The present building is being used beyond capacity. They would like the Council to consider using revenue sharing funds for this project, which would involve $33,000 for acquiring land and $5,000 for remodeling and equipment. Mr. Roland Kelly, Chairman of the Public Information Subcommittee of the Mayor's Civic Center Committee, read a statement asking that the Council consider using a substantial amount of revenue sharing funds for the Civic Center project. Mr. Carl Brandt, Sr., 20272 Baughman Court, asked that the Council consider revenue sharing funds for the drainage problems in the Baughman Court area in Center Township. There are 21 property owners affected by the problem of water backing up. Miss Virginia Guthrie, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association, said that the first consideration of using revenue sharing funds must be for property tax reduction. The Association is recommending that the Council eliminate the 124, property tax levy on the 1973 tax rate for the Motor Vehicle Highway Fund. They recommend that revenue sharing funds be used to buy the motor and radio equipment for the Police, Fire and Sanitation Departments and the motor and other equipment for the Park Department, thus reducing the property tax rate. The Associa- tion is also suggesting that the Council use revenue sharing funds to help the citizens of the Southeast area of the city, to set up a Police Academy, to relocate Fire Station #4 from the Walnut and Thomas Street location, and to set up a Fire Training Building which has been recommended for a number of years. 1173 SPECIAL MEETING NOVEMBER 6, 1972 Mrs. Frederick Mutzl, 320 Parkovash, and Vice President of the Fair Tax Association, read a letter from the Association urging that the revenue sharing funds be used entirely for property tax reduction. Mrs. Mutzl said that much needs to be done in fighting crime in the city, especially juvenile crime. Mr. Al Soeneker, of the Council for the Retarded, spoke on Project Star as a recipient for revenue sharing funds. This is a rehabilitation program for the mentally retarded in the inner - city areas. He said this is a crucial priority item and said that 67/ of the mentally retarded people in special education classes are from the Model Cities and the Ohio - Keasey areas. He said funds are needed for health clinics and information centers to avoid epidemics, such as the last rubella epidemic which caused blindness and loss of hearing in many children in the inner- -city areas. Mr. Sigmund Kulik, 18823 Madison Road, recited a list of federal agencies and federal boards operating in the city and said there are many different programs and many funds. He said the Council is very much aware of the real problems of the city,such as streets, sewage, drains,: etc . and urged that the Council do those things which are absolutely necessary with the revenue sharing funds. Mr. Conrad Damien, 718 E. Broadway, spoke for the Project Committee of the Southeast Neighborhood, He said the citizens there have been promised many things to benefit the neighborhood but the money has never materialized. He said the residents want police protection, better lighting, repair of curbs and sidewalks, and help with the problem of juvenile delinquency. Facilities for recreation are very limited. They would like mini -parks and winter recreational facilities. They feel public safety is the top priority. He said the needs of the Southeast Neighborhood are very critical and the Council should give this top priority in revenue sharing funds. Mrs. Edith Kyler, 1013 W. Jefferson, asked that the Council give consideration to the traffic patterns in the city. She said some work is now underway but the plans will take 20 years to complete, and asked that the Council use revenue sharing funds for these traffic projects so that they can be speeded up. Mrs. Suzanne Flower, of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, spoke for the Volunteer Service Bureau. She said the bureau needs involved citizens as well as money to implement welfare, educational, recreational, medical and cultural programs for retired citizens. Arthur Quigley, of the Northeast Council, said that revenue sharing funds could help fight juvenile delinquency in the Northeast area. He said the Council cut funds for Kelly Park in that area, but perhaps with revenus sharing funds a compromise could be worked out so that the park could be financed at less than the original estimate. Renalda Robinson, of the Code Enforcement E -3 Project, said her message was "Help ". She said that code enforcement funds are going to be cut off and many citizens who were going to receive help to rehabilitate their homes in the South Bend Avenue area will not receive it. Mr. Joseph Burkus, President of the Bendix Union, said that the money from revenue sharing should be used for property tax reduction. He said the majority of the members of the union feel that this is the most important priority, especially to give tax relief to those on fixed incomes. Hollis Hughes, Director of the Model Cities Program, said that new demands have been made on city governments to meet new needs and challenges. He said he feels the intent of revenue sharing is to help the cities meet the social and health needs of their citizens. Mr. Fred Craven, 1012 E. Fairview, said that the Council's job is to benefit all the people and the best way to benefit all the citizens is to provide property tax reduction. This is the first of several payments in revenue sharing funds and there are no strings attached. He urged that the Council provide property tax reduction before there are strings attached to future revenue sharing payments. Mr. Nemeth again thanked the citizens for coming to this meeting to show their interest in city government. He said the Council members will try to do the best they can to assist the city in getting the most beneficial use of revenue sharing funds. Councilman Taylor made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Parent. The motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 8 :35 p.m. ATTEST: CITY CLERK APPROVED: +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ++