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REGULAR MEETING January 11, 2016 already happened but he encouraged people to contact him before the meeting before hand for any questions they may have. PRIVILEDGE OF THE FLOOR Jesse Davis, P.O Box 10205 South Bend IN, welcomed the new Councilmembers and voiced his support for tiny houses which he thinks is an affordable housing option in South Bend. He also reported he- has heard much discussion about tiny houses being a solution for the homeless and that he will be back numerous times regarding this issue and hopefully change some of the ordinances or zoning issues that are stopping the development of these tiny houses. Samuel Brown, 222 East Navarre St., South Bend, welcomed the new Councilmembers and gave a brief update on the MLK street renaming project. He stated it is going a little slower than he wanted but it is going to get done. He reported they are doing a lot of research before the project gets done but on his end he doesn't understand the people who don't see the importance of naming a street after Martin Luther King because his record speaks for itself. Nicki Stillson, 62555 Poppy Rd. South Bend, spoke in support of the tiny house program and is one of the founding members of Michiana Tiny House Enthusiasts. She wanted to make the Council aware of the growing desire for tiny houses, both mobile and permanent, in South Bend. She wants the Council to amend the code and ordinances to allow for tiny houses. She gave multiple benefits of tiny houses including attracting a wide range of people not just millennials but also the retirement population, filling vacant lots in South Bend and lots that are too small for normal houses, and helping South Bend become a city looking towards the future. She reported other cities across the nation have already made this work and it can be done. April Lidinsky, 536 S. Sunnyside Ave South Bend, she wished to thank everyone on the Council for their service and expressed her excitement for the new faces on the Council. She also came in support of the tiny house movement as she teaches about them at IUSB. She stated she thinks tiny houses can help move South Bend forward and thinks a good idea is doing a pilot program for tiny houses downtown so people can see what they look like and how they work. Anna Shirk, 33415 Pleasant St. South Bend, spoke in support of tiny houses and how they promote smart sustainable living. She thinks ordinances currently make it very difficult to own a tiny house. Tiny houses can help millennials have affordable housing and deal with the vacant lot problem at the same time in addition with the homelessness problem. She spoke also about the environmental benefits that tiny houses bring. She asked the Councilmembers to please exchange contact information with her after the meeting. Jennifer Betts, 511 S. St. Joseph St. South Bend, welcomed the new Council to 2016 and thinks this can be a great year for new and engaging ideas to come to South Bend such as tiny houses but other wonderful ideas as well. Margaret Pfeil, 511 S. St. Joseph St. South Bend, wanted to welcome the new Council and stated from the standpoint of social ethics the parks in this area helps reduce violence. She stated studies have shown residents having access to green space helps reduce violence and should not be viewed in a purely economic framework. Andrew Tucker, 127 S. 34`" Street South Bend, stated he works as an ecologist at a nonprofit in South Bend. He wanted to express his thoughts on how the city can work with natural areas. The first is public ownership and maintenance which can be achieved with working with nonprofits and local universities. A second model is partnership with a land trust with experience in supporting natural areas. Although land trust and private entities they operate in ways that promote the public good such as maintaining trails and other community positives. He stated these models help engage citizens and keep them in their communities. Kristi Haas, 3808 Clydesdale Dr., wanted to reiterate the idea that natural areas supported by the city provide more than simple financial value to the city.