02-13-17 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 13, 2017 time on the Council is that we hear a lot from the community that, honestly, as representative people in the government —and even oftentimes in the Administration —we listen, but we don't really act in favor of what we are hearing. I don't think that we are as responsive as we could beI'm thinking about the West Side Main Streets plan and how that went forward with so much remonstrance, or the smoking ban, or making an abandoned housing process happen. Councilmember Williams- Preston stated that City decisions have often leaned in favor of research. She stated, Which is really important —what the research says, what the consultants say —but something has to be said for the user experience. She stated that this has come to bite the City back, even one (1) year out, citing the traffic light at the intersection of Michigan Street and South Street —a traffic issue, not unlike what has been brought up over the course of the evening. She stated, We know that a young boy was actually killed in an unfortunate traffic accident, but it was directly related to something that the research said was okay but the people who lived in the neighborhood said, "This is not going to work." For two (2) different bills tonight I've heard, "What about the traffic? What about the traffic ?" So, that's weighing on my mind, too. She stated that having to make decisions on bills on the same evening as they are read and discussed was not necessarily always good. She stated that there is also sometimes a good deal of information that the Council has that the public does not have, and that she thinks there needs to be something done about educating the public appropriately. She stated that she would most likely vote against the bill. Councilmember Tim Scott made a motion to send Bill No. 78 -16 to the full Council favorably, conditioned upon four (4) written commitments: no access to Mayflower Road; no off - premises signs; if any structure is located within three - hundred (300) feet of Mayflower Road, Type -C screening shall be required in front of the residential buffer yard, otherwise partial screening shall be required once the site develops any additional structures; and an enhanced landscape buffer at Dylan Drive. Councilmember Dr. David Varner seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes and one (1) nay (Councilmember Regina Williams- Preston). 07 -17 PUBLIC HEARING ON AN ORDINANCE TO VACATE THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED PROPERTY: E/W ALLEY FROM EAST RIGHT OF WAY OF LAUREL STREET A DISTANCE OF 144 FEET AND WIDTH OF 12 FEET, NORTH OF THOMAS STREET AND SOUTH OF WASHINGTON STREET Councilmember John Voorde, Chair of the Public Works and Property Vacation Committee, reported that they met this afternoon and send this bill forward with a favorable recommendation. Jonathan Cook, 63460 Orange Road, South Bend, IN, served as the presenter and petitioner of this bill. Mr. Cook stated that he is the Chairman of the Campus Cleaning Committee for the History Museum. He stated that the part of Jefferson Street that was left in the area was a remnant of when the building was constructed. He explained that there is a half -alley used by homeowners living adjacent to the alley, as well as the museum. He stated, We have come to the conclusion that the current situation works. Everybody is happy with a half - alley, so we are only asking for a vacation of Jefferson Street. Brandon Anderson, 808 West Washington Street, South Bend, IN, continued the presentation of this bill. Mr. Anderson stated that he is Deputy Executive Director of the History Museum. He asked the Council to follow along with him on the map that he provided them. He stated, #18 is the alley, and you can see how that is continuous with the property; how it connects with all of our property that we received in 1980, with the mansion, and then opening up our History Museum in 1994, on the west of the property. So, # 18 would allow for the continual expansion of the site, which would in the future allow for us to be able to move, possibly, a historic building. Councilmember Oliver Davis made a motion to send Bill No. 07 -17 to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. Councilmember John Voorde seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. 19