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REGULAR MEETING APRIL 25, 2016 Carter Chambers, 52055 Oak Past Granger IN, spoke in favor of the bill. He stated he is on the South Bend Lacrosse team and the flag and star represents to him passion, energy and determination. This gives the South Bend School Corporation elementary and middle school kids a chance to play under a great symbol. Willow Wetheral, 1741 Wall St., spoke in favor of the bill. She was part of the public process to give input on the flag. She thinks the process was handled very well even though whenever you are doing something with so many different opinions it is going to be difficult. It really is a great design and is already doing what it was intended to do by being adapted by the community so quickly. Ms. Wetheral expressed she loves wearing her shirt (which was inspired by the flag design) around the City. She stated people love the shirt and ask her where they can purchase one and at the St. Patrick's parade she handed out many flags because children especially were so enthusiastic about the design. Ms. Wetheral presented several names of people who could not be at the meeting but expressed support of the flag. This design is clearly working and she hoped that it is passed unanimously tonight. Johnathan Anderstrom, 526 W. Western Ave, spoke in favor of the bill. This flag meets all the criteria that you would want in a city flag. It has distinct characteristics and a unique design as well as projecting the heritage, solidarity, innovation and consecutiveness of our great City. Mr. Anderstrom expressed that flags are incredibly powerful symbols that can offer hope and rally groups of people together of varying backgrounds and heritages. We are seeing these positive attributes of a flag with what the community is already doing. Lisa Gallagher, 54384 Ivy Rd., spoke in favor of the flag. She stated her favorite part of the flag is that the community was involved in the entire process. To have a city that solicits input from the community members is inspiring and she really likes the design. Chuck Bueder, 15893 Ashville Lane Granger IN, spoke in favor of the flag. He stated flags express symbols that represent our greatest ideals and the symbol of a star is perfect to do so. Mr. Bueder asked the Council to also remember to protect the real stars through good outdoor lighting practices. Those wishing to speak in opposition of the bill: Marguerite Taylor, 714 E. Corby Blvd., spoke against the bill and represented the North East Neighborhood Council. She stated the flag is great and she was one of the people who voted online however; at their meeting they had a very long conversation about the history of the six - pointed star and its symbolism to the Jewish Community. Ms. Taylor read a letter from the President of the North East Neighborhood Council which requested the Council reject the flag design with the six - pointed star. Ms. Taylor submitted the letter which is on record in the City Clerk's Office. Gary King, 730 N. Hill St., spoke against the bill. Mr. King referenced the classic story "The Emperor's New Clothes" and how he is the only person who can see what is really going on. Unfortunately we have all these people who think this is a great flag and are really getting involved with spreading the flag but last November the Council passed a resolution that had criteria for the flag including symbols of connectivity, ethnic heritage and innovation. Mr. King believes this design does not meet the criteria that the Council set forth and the Council should vote no. The six - pointed star, representing the six (6) Council districts, is nowhere referenced in the resolution. The process was flawed because instead of displaying all the flags they narrowed it down to only three (3) that had essentially the same design and all had the six (6) pointed star. The Chicago Flag is the only flag in the United States that has that red star and every time we look at that flag we will think of Chicago and not South Bend. Mr. King presented his idea to replace the star with the torch of Indiana. Charles Smith, 2023 S. Taylor, thanked the little kid for coming and speaking. He stated he is not for the flag or against the flag but the City should have had a more inclusive process in picking the flag. Ann Puzello, 1247 E. Lasalle, stated as a private citizen she can change her mind about her opinions and this is an instance where that happened. She stated she has spoken to people since the Committee meeting, including the Invocator for tonight, and learned that the Star of David is 5