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REGULAR MEETING JuIV 25, 2016 <br />County line on Chapin and Prairie Street. The recommendation passed with a majority vote. Out <br />of respect to South Bend's Native American community, Portage Avenue was not considered as <br />an option. Out of respect for South Bend's Hispanic community, Western Avenue was not <br />considered as an option. An internet survey was held and a paper survey was made available at <br />the widely held public meetings. The potential impact on residents and businesses are captured in <br />the report. The notable impacts are as follows: address changes, signage changes, and cost of <br />stationary. These impacts largely affect businesses. A U.S. Post Office employee was present at <br />the meetings to respond to address changes. If a street name changes, the Post Office will reroute <br />the mail. However, the Post Office would want the individual or business to request an address <br />change later but the mail will continue to be rerouted if no official address change request is <br />made. None of these costs would be immediate. The results of the survey are attached in the <br />report. Eleven (11) streets and two (2) structures were identified as recommended places of <br />having the name of Martin Luther King Jr. Renaming Western Ave received forty -seven (47) <br />votes and expanding the current MLK Drive received forty -three (43) votes. The Committee is <br />recommending expanding the existing street. <br />A few issues came forward during the course of the public meetings and process. A majority of <br />residents want a new Dr. King Street and they want it now. However, they don't want it to be <br />their street. Also, race came forward as a factor during the process. Comments such as "where <br />are the white people streets" and "put the street in a black only neighborhood" came up during <br />the process. Also, during the last meeting three (3) businesses present acknowledged race was an <br />issue during the process. The electronic survey produced conflicting results and many people <br />duplicated their responses. <br />In conclusion, it is recommended that no more committees should be established to address <br />renaming a street for Dr. King. Feedback from both residents and business owners on all sides of <br />the issue recommended that a decision be made. <br />Council President Tim Scott thanked the Committeemembers for fulfilling their duties and taking <br />the time to do so adequately. <br />16 -57 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF <br />THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, PUBLICLY <br />ACKNOWLEDGING AND COMMENDING THE <br />MONROE CIRCLE COMMUNITY CENTER ON THEIR <br />10th ANNIVERSARY OF SERVICE, OUTREACH AND <br />PARTNERSHIP <br />Councilmember Gavin Ferlic made a motion to change the title to Bill 16 -58. Councilmember <br />Karen White seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis read the resolution in its entirety. He invited the team from <br />Monroe Circle to address the Council. <br />Johnathan Anderstrom thanked the Council for bestowing such a high honor on Monroe Circle. <br />He thanked Granger Community Church for the thousands of volunteers and the millions of <br />dollars it has donated to renovate the Five Hundred (500) block of Western Avenue. Mr. <br />Anderstrom thanked God for giving them all the strength to do the challenging work of <br />community development. <br />John Hunt, 501 Monroe, stated he is trying to give back to the community which has given him <br />so much. <br />Rachel Phillips stated she is a volunteer at the center. Mr. Anderstrom has a love for this <br />community and the children of this community. We have a lot of children falling through the <br />cracks and it is the job of Monroe Circle to fill up those cracks and get those children to live full <br />and successful lives. <br />2 <br />