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REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 28, 2016
<br />Councilmember Broden asked what the process was for acquiring a new Council Attorney. Legal
<br />Research Assistant Rodriguez explained that the job has not yet been posted. Because
<br />Councilmember Broden had sent recommendations that needed to be included in the job posting,
<br />Ms. Rodriguez stated that she would update the job description and get it subsequently posted.
<br />PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR
<br />Samuel Brown, 222 East Navarre Street, South Bend, IN, stated that he was there as a
<br />commissioner of the Human Rights Committee. He explained that he had been appointed as a
<br />Human Rights officer after the death of his predecessor in office. Mr. Brown stated that he felt
<br />fortunate to be chosen and hoped to be approved for a full term. Mr. Brown stated, I think I need
<br />your blessing to have a full term, and I hope you give that to me. He stated that he would follow
<br />up with a letter to Council President Scott and that he hoped that all the commissioners give a
<br />favorable recommendation for him to do a full term. Mr. Brown explained that he has not missed
<br />a meeting or conference, that he has done everything asked of him, that Director Lonnie Douglas
<br />of the Human Rights Commission is happy with his performance, and that City Attorney
<br />Aladean DeRose gave him a recommendation, as well. He hoped that the Council would bless
<br />him with a full term.
<br />Jesse Davis, P.O. Box 10205, South Bend, IN, was curious about a new facade going on Main
<br />Street Row. Mr. Davis stated, I'm just kind of curious on how we decide where we're tossing
<br />$400,000 for fagades, because there are a lot of fagades along the Smart Streets corridor that are
<br />in worse shape than that building was. He stated that he wanted to know who made this
<br />determination, and noted that he did not recall this coming up at a previous Council meeting. Mr.
<br />Davis wanted to know where the money came from and who determined where it should be
<br />spent. He stated, I saw that Great Lakes Capital owns the building. There seem to be a lot of ties
<br />between Great Lakes Capital and Bradley Management Group ... things of that nature. He stated
<br />that there were many unknowns regarding this transaction of —what he assumed to be —tax
<br />dollars.
<br />Sharon Banicki, 3822 Ford Street, South Bend, IN, thanked Councilmember Dr. Varner for
<br />helping on Election Day, stating that it was deeply appreciated. Ms. Banicki stated, I have an
<br />internet address for you. I know the budget clock starts early, and there was some question as to
<br />where I got some of my figures during the last budget talks. It's actually on the State of Indiana
<br />website. It's gatewayinfoonline.org. It has everybody that's paid by any public entity on there.
<br />Ms. Banicki explained that she was able to see how much everyone on the Council is paid. She
<br />continued, stating, When people come asking for these outrageous and outlandish raises next
<br />year, use this as a resource so that you can see that the other cities are not paying what you've
<br />been led to believe.
<br />Becky Reimbold, 1127 East Bronson Street, South Bend, IN, stated that she wanted to first
<br />express gratitude to the Councilmembers, the staff, the caring community members present, and
<br />to the developer and designers and architects who have chosen to invest in South Bend. She
<br />stated, My family and I have invested in our home neighborhood and also in the East Bank
<br />Village. Four (4) years ago, we purchased the building at 714 East Jefferson, where I have
<br />operated my business for the last six years. We are also founding member owners of the Purple
<br />Porch Coop, at 123 North Hill Street. We, along with other business people and residents in the
<br />neighborhood that I have spoken with, are invested in this concept of a village atmosphere on the
<br />east side of the river —an area distinct from, but connected to, the Central Downtown. We are
<br />concerned about the height and the mass of the proposed Commerce Center project. And while
<br />we understand that density is important, that large -scale grocery and pharmacy are desirable in
<br />the Downtown area, the original zoning guidelines in that East Bank Village Plan are well -
<br />crafted and they should be followed. They represent a shared vision and many hours of careful
<br />work by experts and stakeholders in the process. This plan is not out -of -date and, in fact, it has
<br />been referenced by the City multiple times over the past three (3) years, in relation to other
<br />development projects in the neighborhood. The City has already agreed to increase the original
<br />sixty (60) foot maximum allowable height to seventy -five (75) feet for the Wharf property and
<br />then further to ninety -six (96) feet for the Niles and Jefferson property. Allowing a highrise will
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