HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-11-16 Residential NeighborhoodsOFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
KAREEMAH FOWLER, CITY CLERK
RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS JULY 11, 2016 3:55 P.M.
Committee Members Present: Karen L. White, Jo M. Broden, Regina Williams- Preston (late),
John Voorde
Other Council Present: Dr. David Varner, Oliver Davis, Tim Scott, Gavin Ferlic
Others Present: City Clerk Kareemah Fowler, Jennifer Coffman,
Kathleen Cekanski- Farrand, Adriana Rodriguez
Agenda: Neighborhood Walks Schedule
Fireworks Complains
City -wide District Trolley Tour
Other
Committee Chair Karen L. White called the meeting of the Residential Neighborhoods
Committee to order at 3:55 p.m. with three (3) topics for discussion.
The purpose of this meeting is to oversee the various activities and issues related to
neighborhood development and enhancement. We had identified concerns and issues that we
wanted to advance as a Committee during our organizational meeting, which are on our agenda
today.
Various districts had asked if we would come and walk through their neighborhoods in areas that
they want the Council to become more aware of. We did this last year in some of the
neighborhoods, and we talked about having a City -wide district trolley tour, which we benefitted
from in the past.
The Committee discussed dates that they are available to walk through the neighborhoods. The
First, Second, Third, and Fifth Districts all requested walkthroughs by the Council. The
Committee decided to walk District Five (5) on August 4th, District Three (3) on August 18th, and
District Two (2) on August 25th all beginning at 6:00 p.m. The Committee also decided to set
aside July 28th to walk through District One (1). The Council will rely on the district
455 County-City Building • 227 W. Jefferson Boulevard • South Bend, Indiana 46601
Phone 574- 235 -9221 • Fax 574- 235 -9173 • TDD 574- 235 -5567 • www.SouthBendIN.gov
JENNIFER M. COFFMAN ALKEYNA M. ALDRIDGE EMILY SEXTON
CHIEF DEPUTY/ CHIEF OF STAFF DEPUTY/ DIRECTOR OF POLICY ORDINANCE VIOLATION CLERK
representatives working with the neighborhood associations to identify where they would like us
to walk.
Committee Chair White initiated discussion regarding the purpose of the walking tours, what the
Council hopes to gain, and how the Council should take in information to be put to use and get
results.
In the past, concerns have centered on Code Enforcement, clean neighborhoods, trash, sidewalks
and curbs, animal control and lighting.
Councilmember Tim Scott stated that the Mayor's Office, the Department of Code Enforcement,
and others have joined the Council in their walking tours in the past, and that they are more than
welcome to join again.
Councilmember Oliver Davis stated that the Council would be able to get a trolley for one of
their neighborhood tours.
Committee Chair White brought up fireworks and the timeframe during which they are allowed,
and asked Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski - Farrand to give a brief overview of the statute
dealing with fireworks.
Council Attorney Cekanski-Farrand stated that the local community has a very limited ability,
primarily through Fire Marshall Chico Rodriguez. The County and the City worked together to
put moratoriums on fireworks a few years ago when it was very dry in the interest of public
safety. In the past, Chico has come to our meetings to give an update because he interfaces with
the state on a regular basis with regard to enforcement. Also, it is complaint driven.
Committee Chair White asked if any of the Councilmembers have received complaints, and
many of the Councilmembers answered that they had one (1) or multiple calls regarding the
timing of the fireworks. She mentioned that the Council could look at enforcement pertaining to
the complaints from 311 or the Police or Fire Department just to see how it was responded to. It
is really driven by the state, but the issue we can control is the enforcement.
Councilmember Dr. Varner stated that he had a constituent ask him to begin the process of
outlawing fireworks, and the Council determined that the request was outside of the realm of
possibility.
Charlotte Pfeifer 1013 West Washington Street, here to represent 466 Works which is the Near
Southside Revitalization Corporation. They started in 2013 and have had a number of meetings
with community groups. They had a group that came down and presented a City -wide plan for
them. It hasn't been adopted, but it will be coming to the Council soon and they're going to
move forward with it. The group's boundaries are Michigan Street, Sample Street, Miami and
Ewing, and the following churches lie within their boundaries: Mt. Carmel Baptist Church and
Broadway Christian Parish, Gloria Dei, St. Lukes and St. Matts. None of the members of those
churches live in the neighborhood. There have been starts and stops in that part of town from
making sure we're including the neighbors, but we're really excited about the churches coming
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together with the neighbors building homes and helping businesses. We have Riley High
School, IVY Tech, the new fire station, millions of dollars in City investment, but no neighbors.
We have some wonderful neighbors, but we want more young families with children and senior
citizens who are looking to downsize.
What we have are a lot of vacancies and deteriorated homes. We now have homeless people
who are taking over vacant homes on the corner of Michigan and Indiana. People will come up
and ask for money even as they are attending funerals at our churches. She went to church at
11:00 a.m. on Sunday, and a person who looked like a lady of the night was operating at 11:00
a.m. She stated that it is time for us to go back to that side of town and pick up where we left off
and move forward, and that's what we are trying to do, and we need the City and the Council's
help.
Council President Tim Scott stated that Eric Horvath, Director of Public Works will need to
come back to discuss Light Up South Bend.
With no other items on the agenda, Committee Chair White adjourned the meeting at 4:14 p.m.
Respe tfully Submitted,
Karen White, Committee Chair
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