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REGULAR MEETING
<br />FEBRUARY 13, 2017
<br />Councilmember Oliver Davis announced that a Martin's Supermarket by Mayflower Road will
<br />be opening on March 23, 2017.
<br />Councilmember Dr. Varner announced that the organizational meeting for the Utilities
<br />Committee would be the day of the next Council Meeting, on March 7th, 2017.
<br />Councilmember Jo M. Broden announced that the Health and Public Safety Committee would be
<br />conducting an organizational meeting on February 20th, 2017, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
<br />Afterward, there would be a Group Violence Intervention presentation from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30
<br />p.m. Councilmember Broden suggested that March 1St, 2017 or March 6th, 2017 be calendared as
<br />potential dates to continue the discussion begun at the Health and Public Safety meeting on
<br />February 201h, 2017.
<br />Councilmember Jo M. Broden announced that the Solid Waste Management District approved
<br />$40 annual curbside fees with a no- household - hazards waste fee.
<br />Councilmember Jo M. Broden stated that the Commerce Center project would be coming back to
<br />the Council in the near future. Councilmember Broden intends to share letters with other
<br />Councilmembers, the Administration, and the news media, with an interest of a frank
<br />conversation: a request directly to the management of I &M, Mr. Toby Thomas. She encouraged
<br />the other Councilmembers to join her and Councilmember John Voorde. She informed the
<br />Council and public that there would be a public meeting to be held on Thursday, February
<br />2017, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Century Center, where an open house will be hosted
<br />outlining plans for the over two - hundred (200) additional affected customers.
<br />Councilmember Regina Williams- Preston asked Clerk Kareemah Fowler if the Community
<br />Relations Committee had secured the first Wednesday of the month for meetings. Clerk Fowler
<br />stated that she thought that she had heard as much, but was not sure. Clerk Fowler, for a short
<br />time, explained the conventions for setting a meeting date, and the two decided to set a date at a
<br />later time.
<br />Councilmember Regina Williams- Preston asked how she could get an update on Olive Street and
<br />Sample Street. Councilmember Tim Scott explained that she should consult the Department of
<br />Public Works; through Eric Horvath and Jitin Kain.
<br />PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR
<br />Jasmine Brown, 230 Sadie Street, South Bend, IN, stated that a term that needed to be given up
<br />in 2017 was "tax abatement," arguing that, in light of the revenue shortfalls the Mayor
<br />referenced earlier in the evening, the City needed to make money now instead of hoping to make
<br />some later. Ms. Brown thanked the Council for extending WNIT public access television. She
<br />stated, My understanding is that it's only for one (1) year. We deserve more than one (1) year.
<br />This is our public access site for the community. This is an opportunity for the public to be
<br />heard. If there is any consideration in the near future that you guys have on this, I would like you
<br />to extend the contract for longer than that. You asked us to exercise our voices: that's one way I
<br />exercise my voice. She stated that she has participated in a program on public access for upwards
<br />of three (3) years.
<br />Samuel Brown, 222 East Navarre Street, South Bend, IN, stated, When you do what is right —
<br />and you do so on December 12th, 2016...I did what was right. I did what was required of me. I
<br />came in, addressed the Council, told them what I wanted to do— nobody got back with me. This
<br />should have been taken care of. I came to the Council, I did what was right. I didn't appreciate
<br />having to wait almost two (2) months, or whatever it was, to have this addressed. Let's move on.
<br />The Clerk's Office: I'm in and out of that Clerk's Office all the time. Once again, I went to the
<br />Clerk's Office and did what I had to do, got this letter time stamped, but it says right here —and
<br />this is the part I don't particularly appreciate —it says, "Sitting on the Human Rights
<br />Commission is a very serious commitment." I haven't missed a meeting, I always go early;
<br />anytime they want me to take a case when everybody is ducking out saying they have someplace
<br />to goI think the attorney for the Human Rights Commission can testify that Sam Brown raised
<br />his hand and said, "I will be available." I work hard at what I do. I take everything I do very
<br />seriously. Contact Sam Brown, but don't send me these letters that I don't really have no control
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