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REGULAR MEETING <br />NEW BUSINESS <br />JULY 11, 2016 <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis commended the South Bend Police for handling this past weekend <br />very well and keeping us very safe. The officers are certainly in our prayers and we all are <br />striving for peace. <br />Council President Tim Scott commended the citizens of South Bend on having proper respectful <br />discourse over the past few days and keeping South Bend out of the national news. Hopefully out <br />of all the tragedies experienced the past few weeks we can build upon the dialogue which took <br />place this weekend. <br />PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR <br />Samuel Brown, 222 East Navarre Street South Bend, thanked Councilmember Regina Williams - <br />Preston for getting an event he had on the Board of Public Works agenda. That is the definition <br />of good public service and responding to the resident's needs. We were able to divert the side <br />street to make the event better. Mr. Brown also commended the police force for their outstanding <br />work. They were very kind and very polite. We had a lot of people from out of town at the event <br />and South Bend put a good effort forward. The community as a whole can come together if we <br />all work together like we did for this event. We want our officers to be safe and respectful and <br />we want our residents to conduct ourselves in a fine manner. <br />Jesse Davis, P.O. Box 10205 South Bend IN, stated he has heard of a lot of problems at Brothers <br />Bar at Eddy Street Commons. He stated there were two (2) serious incidents his son reported to <br />him that happened over this past weekend. One (1) involved Michael Floyd who was a Notre <br />Dame football player who supposedly had an altercation with South Bend Police officers. Mr. <br />Davis stated Michael Floyd tweeted out some negative things about the police officers and their <br />interactions with him. Also, Mr. Davis claimed there is video of the police taking down another <br />gentleman who then hit his head and it caused an incident. Mr. Davis asked how the nuisance <br />ordinance works because it would seem Brothers should be on that list. He also questioned why <br />the police officers are there if they are there on the clock. If they are working at a bar and being <br />paid to be there they are not representing South Bend. <br />Jasmine Brown, 230 Sage Street, stated she is a proud citizen of South Bend and the Westside. <br />Ms. Brown expressed her pride of South Bend but has seen divisiveness on political and social <br />issues especially related to recent national events. Although our police - community interactions <br />have improved they can still be better and best practices can still be found. Ms. Brown stated she <br />has noticed blight in our neighborhoods that needs to be addressed. There are many unresolved <br />issues regarding the police in South Bend and we have been blessed that some of these tensions <br />have not exploded into something worse. We need proactivity with our city leaders and an <br />increase in engagement. She stated she will continue to work with the youth in South Bend and <br />follow as the Police Chief asked and address police officers with respect. She asked the city <br />leaders of South Bend to come out into the community and help address these divides. We need <br />not just equality but also equity. <br />Ruth Warren, 1520 Sunnymede South Bend, spoke in opposition to the proposed fire station in <br />Potawatomi Park. She expressed her respect for the Fire Department and their commitment to <br />South Bend but has many questions regarding this park. She asked what the decision making <br />process is for this station, how the stipulations in the deed for the park relate to the creation of <br />the fire station, how the station will be financed and what will the amount of the bond be, by <br />what criteria was this spot chosen for the new station, what are the indicators and metrics of <br />public safety and how would this proposed station increase that safety, what are the statistics and <br />data behind the calls that Station Nine (9) currently receives, and what does the data show about <br />the number and type of calls for all South Bend stations. Perhaps the river rescue is in the current <br />correct position right now and Station Nine (9) could be expanded. <br />EVNIT619111NMUNILWI <br />There being no further business to come before the Council, President Tim Scott adjourned the <br />meeting at 7:54 p.m. <br />