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Home My WebLink About01-08-15 Press Release - Tim Scott - New Year of Celebrations, Changes and Progress �f Common South Bend tilli GON� APSM MA40 O NEWS RELEASE 1w Date: Thursday, January 8, 2015 From: Council President Tim Scott\ "Contact: 538-1936 A New Year of Celebrations, Changes and Progress As South Bend begins its yearlong community-wide celebration of our City's 150 years of rich history and diversity, the City Council is kicking off an enhanced Invocation Initiative. For the past several decades each City Council meeting has begun with an Invocation. Last year, the dedicated South Bend Police and Fire Chaplains gave many Invocations at our meetings which were truly words of inspiration and reflection. We are most grateful to publicly thank each of them and we look forward to continuing this very strong partnership for many years to come. In keeping with the U.S. Supreme Court decision of Greece v. Galloway et al, handed down last year, this historical portion of our City Council meetings will continue, with this year's first Invocation being given next Monday by John Warren, Chairperson of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi. Their traditions honor the "Four Directions of East, South, North and West during prayer..." and the Council is thankful that they have agreed to join our Chaplains and others who will be providing this special service throughout 2015. I am also pleased to announce new memberships on each of the eleven (11) Council Standing Committees, with that listing being attached. Each Committee will hold an organizational meeting to discuss goals and objectives for the new year. I have also asked each Committee to review the year-end Committee Annual Report from last year so that any ongoing projects or concerns can continue to be addressed and moved forward. The South Bend Common Council also has a somewhat unique policy of having interested members of the public become engaged as a citizen member on our committees. Any South Bend resident who is interested in serving is encouraged to complete an application form, available from the Council's website or the Office of the City Clerk and submit it to the Council Member who chairs the Committee. The following Council Committees have openings: Community Investment, Community Relations, Health & Public Safety, Information & Technology, Residential Neighborhoods, Parks & Recreation, Personnel & Finance, Public Works & Property Vacation, Utilities, and Zoning&Annexation. At next Monday's Council meeting, a formal announcement will also be made that applications are being requested for qualified persons who wish to serve on the Redevelopment Commission [2 appointments] and the City's Diversity Compliance Board [1 position]. Monday, January 19, 2015 at noon will be the deadline for filing completed applications with the Office of the City Clerk. 2015 is shaping up to be a year of many celebrations, new initiatives and service to our residents. We encourage everyone to be an important part of our City's rich diverse culture and participate in the many offerings ahead. 2015 COMMON COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEES (01-8-15) COMMUNITY INVESTMENT COMMITTEE Oversees the various activities of the Department of Community Investment. This Committee reviews all real&personal tax abatement requests. Gavin Ferlic, Chairperson Henry Davis, Member Dr. David Varner, Vice-Chairperson Dr. Fred Ferlic, Member COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE Oversees the various activities of the Office of Community Affairs and is charged with facilitating partnerships&ongoing communications with other public and private entities operating within the City. Karen L. White, Chairperson Valerie Schey, Member Gavin Ferlic, Vice-Chairperson Derek Dieter, Member COUNCIL RULES COMMITTEE Oversees the regulations governing the overall operation of the Common Council, as well as all matters of public trust. It duties are set forth in detail in Section 2-10.1 of the South Bend Municipal Code. Tim Scott, Member Dr. David Varner, Member Gavin Ferlic, Member HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE Oversees the various activities performed by the Fire and Police Departments, EMS, Department of Code Enforcement,ordinance violations,and related health and public safety matters. Derek D. Dieter, Chairperson Dr. Fred Ferlic, Member Karen L. White, Vice-Chairperson Valerie Schey, Member INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE Oversees the various activities of the City's Division of Information Technologies in the Department of Administration & Finance so that the City of South Bend remains competitive and on the cutting edge of developments in this area. Reviewing and proposing upgrades to computer systems and web sites,developing availability&access to GIS data and related technologies are just some of its many activities. Gavin Ferlic, Chairperson Karen L. White, Member Dr. David Varner, Vice-Chairperson Valerie Schey, Member PARC COMMITTEE (Parks,Recreation, Cultural Arts & Entertainment) Oversees the various activities of the Century Center, College Football Hall of Fame, Coveleski Regional Stadium, Morris Performing Arts Center, Studebaker National Museum, South Bend Regional Museum of Art, Potawatomi Zoo, and the many recreational and leisure activities offered by the Department of Parks and Recreation. Dr. Fred Ferlic, Chairperson Henry Davis, Jr., Member Oliver Davis, Vice-Chairperson Dr. David Varner, Member 2015 COMMON COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEES (o1-s-15) PERSONNEL AND FINANCE COMMITTEE Oversees the activities performed by the Department of Administration and Finance,and reviews all proposed salaries,budgets,appropriations&other fiscal matters,as well as personnel policies,health benefits&related matters. Karen L. White, Chairperson Valerie Schey, Member Derek Dieter, Vice-Chairperson Dr. Fred Ferlic, Member PUBLIC WORKS AND PROPERTY VACATION COMMITTEE Oversees the various activities performed by the Building Department, the Department of Public Works & related public works&property vacation issues. Valerie Schey, Chairperson Dr. David Varner, Member Henry Davis, Jr., Vice-Chairperson Oliver Davis, Member RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE Oversees the various activities&issues related to neighborhood development&enhancement. Derek Dieter, Chairperson Gavin Ferlic, Member Karen L. White, Vice-Chairperson Oliver Davis, Member UTILITIES COMMITTEE Oversees the activities of all enterprise entities including but not limited to the Bureau of Waterworks,Bureau of Sewers and all related matters. Dr. David Varner, Chairperson Gavin Ferlic, Member Oliver Davis, Vice-Chairperson Dr. Fred Ferlic, Member ZONING AND ANNEXATION COMMITTEE Oversees the activities related to the Board of Zoning Appeals, recommendations from the Area Plan Commission and the Historic Preservation Commission,as well as all related matters addressing annexation and zoning. Oliver Davis, Chairperson Valerie Schey, Member Henry Davis Jr., Vice-Chairperson Derek Dieter, Member SUB-COMMITTEE ON MINUTES Reviews the minutes prepared by the Office of the City Clerk of the regular, special and informal meetings of the Common Council and makes a recommendation on their approval/modification to the Council Tim Scott Dr. David Varner 2015 COMMON COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEES l01-8-15l TIM SCOTT, 1sT District Council Member PRESIDENT Council Rules Committee,Member Sub-Committee on Minutes HENRY DAVIS,JR., 2"d District Council Member Public Works&Property Vacation,Vice Chairperson PARC Committee, Member Zoning&Annexation Committee,Vice Chairperson Community Investment Committee,Member VALERIE SCHEY,3rd District Council Member Public Works& Property Vacation, Chairperson Zoning&Annexation Committee, Member Personnel& Finance Committee,Member Health&Public Safety Committee,Member Community Relations Committee,Member Information&Technology Committee,Member DR. FRED FERLIC, 4TH District Council Member PARC Committee,Chairperson Health&Public Safety Committee,Member Community Investment Committee,Member Utilities Committee,Member Personnel& Finance Committee,Member DR. DAVID VARNER, 5T11 District Council Member Utilities Committee,Chairperson Public Works&Property Vacation,Member Community Investment Committee, Vice-Chairperson PARC Committee,Member Information&Technology Committee,Vice-Chairperson Council Rules Committee,Member Sub-Committee on Minutes, Member OLIVER DAVIS, 6TH District Council Member Zoning& Annexation Committee,Chairperson Public Works&Property Vacation, Member PARC Committee,Vice Chairperson Residential Neighborhoods Committee, Member Utilities Committee,Vice-Chairperson DEREK D. DIETER, AT LARGE Council Member VICE-PRESIDENT Health &Public Safety Committee,Chairperson Community Relations Committee,Member Residential Neighborhood Committee,Chairperson Zoning&Annexation Committee, Member Personnel&Finance Committee,Vice-Chairperson GAVIN FERLIC, AT LARGE Council Member Community Investment Committee, Chairperson Utilities Committee,Member Information& Technology Committee, Chairperson Council Rules Committee,Member Community Relations Committee, Vice Chairperson Residential Neighborhoods Committee,Member KAREN L. WHITE, AT LARGE Council Member Chairperson. Committee of the Whole Personnel& Finance Committee,Chairperson Residential Neighborhoods,Vice-Chairperson Community Relations Committee, Chairperson Healthy&Public Safety,Vice-Chairperson Information&Technology Committee,Member