HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008 Annual Report - Public Works and Property Vacation Committee2008 Annual Report of the Public Works
and Property Vacation Committee
of the South Bend Common Council
Date: December 1, 2008
To: The South Bend Common Council
The Office of the City Clerk
From: 5~` District Council Member David Varner, Chairperson
Public Works and Property Vacation Committee
I am submitting the following Annual Report of the activities of the Council's Public Works and
Property Vacation Committee which is a requirement of § 2-10 (i) of the South Bend Municipal Code.
Duties: The Public Works and Property Vacation Committee is charged with "overseeing the
various activities performed by the Building Department, the Department of Public Works and related
public works and property vacation issues" pursuant to § 2-10 (i) (8) of the South Bend Municipal
Code.
Members: There were four (4) Council Members on this Committee, namely: Tom
LaFountain who is the Vice-Chairperson, Derek Dieter, Henry Davis, Jr., and myself.
Meetings:: There have been thirteen (13) committee meetings held to date, with an additional
Committee meeting scheduled for December 8, 2008 to hear two (2) vacation of public property
requests.
Activities: Like last year, the primary activities of the Public Works and Property Vacation
Committee this years was to review requests to vacate public ways, which is governed by Chapter 18,
Article 5 of the South Bend Municipal Code and Indiana Code § 36-7-3-13.
Additional activities included reviewing appropriation requests from the Local Road and Street (LRS)
Fund; reviewing additional appropriation requests from the City Administration for various capital
improvements; requesting the Director of the Department of Public Works to approve the design of a
_ .-special sign honoring Ryan Newman for winning the 2008 Daytona 500; and reviewing the City
Administration's request for an appropriation to pay a compromise judgment involving Clay Utilities.
Recommendations for 2009: If I continue to Chair the Public Works and Property Vacation
Committee in the new year, I would recommend that we focus upon:
2008 Public Works and Property Vacation Committee Annual Report
December 1, 2008
Page 2
Developing better accountability and transparency in local government, especially with
regard to public works projects, capital purchases & expenditures
• Developing a brochure which would summarize pubic way vacation procedures. Such
brochures could be distributed through the Office of the City. Clerk and the Department of
Public Works. Although significant strides have been made in the vacation process, a user
friendly brochure which could be made available also on the Council's website may be a
valuable educational tool and also be useful tool for the public.
Challenges for 2009: Like some of the other Standing Committees, an ongoing
challenge of the Public Works and Property Vacation Committee is to attract citizen members who
have the interest and time to service on this committee.
Respectfully submitted,
~_ _~i
ember David Varner, Chairperson
Public Works and Property Vacation Committee
cc: Mayor Stephen Luecke
Gary Gilot, Public Works Director