09-28-15 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING September 28, 2015 we have better practices as it relates to our racial disparities I cannot continue to give my support to. Henry cannot do that. For the district too. Councilmember Dr. Ferlic- I can tell you from personal experience that Mr. Bartels’ father was more concerned about minority hiring and hiring the handicapped than any person in South Bend. I can also tell you that their store will pay millions of dollars in taxes. His stores in South Bend, Mishawaka, in Southern Michigan, in Elkhart, and all over the community. So I applaud him on his efforts. As Mark Neal said they are great City partners. You can count on them and I think we should continue to support them. Councilmember Oliver Davis- I can have someone from Martin’s come up? Can you clarify one issue for me and that is with the gate. I heard there was a gate at one of your other stores. Is there any reason why that option can’t be utilized? And if it works it works and if doesn’t work you can open it up similar to how you did over at University or whatever that store was. Is there any reason that the two can’t be similar? Robert Bartels- I don’t object to the idea. But I do not want to be here negotiating specific things without a traffic study and having data in front of us. Councilmember Oliver Davis- I’m cool with that. Robert Bartels- I think first it’s step one and then its step two. I don’t want to get into a design discussion on the specifics. I don’t know how to respond to that best. If the City wants a crash gate there and asks us for a crash gate there we will certainly consider it. I might also then; I’m going to lose my temper. I think we’re in the details of something we don’t fully have information about. When we do we will respond to it. Councilmember Oliver Davis- We’ve talked on the phone and I’ve been over to your office. You have to understand where we are at. As a business person I respect what you’ve done and your father and everything else. Also, as a government leader I get asked these questions okay? I’m not in your shoes and you’re not in mine. I don’t want to lose my temper on people when they call me either. When people ask me and they send me letters they have a right for me to ask this question to you. Because that’s not good quality service you understand that of all people. If I go off on the people when they send me a letter and then I get mad at them and lose my temper because sent me packages, packages, and packages like my dear friend has done, I have to ask her question. So, I am just telling you, I being very straight with because you said that. I am taking the time here because this is my district. When I drive down there I have been stopped by many people when I wash my car I’m being stopped for the last three (3) months on the issue. I have to have these answers. I’m all supportive of what you’re doing but I have to live with my people. You work there but I live there. That’s what I’m saying I’m very glad that you, we both don’t know the traffic study but I just want to make it clear that when the traffic study comes that it’s on the table that you would be willing to do like you’ve done in other places. That’s all I’m asking. There is no need for both of us to lose our temper on that. Robert Bartels- Putting the gate up is certainly on the table. Maybe we make a commitment to talking about this in six (6) months after the store is open. I am more interested in responding to a problem that really exists. If the problem doesn’t really exist then why pretend like it exists. If there is a problem with that gate six (6) months after we can pick a date and have all the folks that showed at the first meeting, invite widely, I am into customer service and we are on the same team. I want the best customer service. I want the safest customer experience. I want the right kind of thing happening in the neighborhood. If something bad is happening we are more than committed to responding to it. That’s the picture I was trying to show you before. So perhaps, we can give it an opportunity to breathe a little and let a little of the emotional component, a little of the feelings come off this issue and then reengage it. I am fully willing to do that, in fact, I’d be a fool not to. We stand for doing the right things for the right reasons every time we can. So perhaps that type of commitment is welcomed. Councilmember Oliver Davis- I appreciate that. You and I have been at area plan together and all the sudden the neighbors came they filled this room up with area plan. We’ve been at this for a while so I just appreciate it. I just wanted everybody in the neighborhood to know that you have 14