HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013 Annual Report - Public Works & Property Vacation Committee2013 Annual Report of the Public Works and Property
Vacation Committee of the South Bend Common Council
Date: December 30, 2013
To: The South Bend Common Council
The Office of the City Clerk
From: 6 "' District Council Member Oliver Davis, Chairperson
Public Works and Property Vacation Committee
This Annual Report is filed as a requirement of Section 2 -10 (i) of the South Bend Municipal
Code which calls for a report from the Chairperson of each of the Council's Standing Committee
by the 2 °d Monday in December.
Duties:
The Public Works and Property Vacation Committee is charged with the following duties
pursuant to Section 2 -10 (i) (8) of the South Bend Municipal Code:
"Overseeing the various activities performed by the Building Department,
the Department of Public Works and related public works and property
vacation issues"
2013 Committee Members:
The member of the Committee this year include Council Members Valerie Schey who serves as
Vice - Chairperson, Dr. David Varner, and Gavin Ferlic, along with myself as Chairperson. The
committee did not have any citizen members this year.
Meetings:
This year we have had twenty -five (25) committee meetings to date, making it one of the busiest
years for this committee.
Public Works and Property Vacation Committee Meeting Topics:
A variety of topics were reviewed by the Public Works and Property Vacation Committee.
Petitions requesting the vacation of public property constituted the majority of the ordinances
which were referred to the Public Works and Property Vacation Committee for review and
recommendation. Vacations of public property local procedures are consistent with the
governing state law set forth at Indianan Code § 36- 7 -3 -13.
2013 Annual Report of the Public Works and Property Vacation Committee
Page 2
Other major topics included:
• Bill No. 1 -13 ADA Transition Plan
• Two -way traffic discussions
• Bill No. 08 -13 Updating the Block Party regulations so that valid 501(c)(3) non -profit
corporations would be exempt from the $50 filing fee but would be required to comply with
all other regulations
• Discussion of the request for a change of the Martin Luther King Street designation
• Discussion of concerns of problems in Lafayette Falls which focused on uncompleted or
improper work by Weiss Builders & the negative impact on various public works
• Discussion and request for more information on the Sample /Oliver Overpass
There were two (2) primary additional areas which the Committee focused their efforts on the
high water table and its effect on residential properties located near the former New Energy
Plant when the plant closed. Many, many meetings were held by the Committee so that the City
Administration, and in particular, the Department of Public Works had the opportunity to
provide detailed information on a regular basis to both the Council as well as to the affected
property owners. Monitoring the ground water levels and keeping a pump running resulted in
lowering the levels on a temporary basis.
The Council introduced Bill No. 18 -13 which amends the Building Code and requires a series
of ground water tests and verification of data before new building permits would be issued.
The new requirements were aimed at preventing the kind of basement flooding problems faced
by homeowners living near New Energy. The Bill was passed and approved by Mayor
Buttigieg.
As a result of continued discussions and meetings, the 2014 budget has monies earmarked for a
permanent solution to the ground water problems affecting the properties near the former New
Energy Plant. With new ownership of the plant and continued dialogue between the Council,
Administration, new plant owner and affected property owners, the Public Works and Property
Vacation Committee should continue to carry out it due diligence requirements in monitoring
this topic so that it will be amicable resolved.
I wWad f the Committee meetings for their dedication in addressing these
cono having the City Administration continue to work with the Council.
es Co vis, Chairperson
P Vacation Committee
cc: Eric Horvath, Department of Public Works Director