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REGULAR MEETING September 11, 2017
<br /> Councilmember Gavin Ferlic made a motion to accept Substitute Bill No. 17-56. Councilmember
<br /> John Voorde seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of seven(7) ayes.
<br /> Councilmember Gavin Ferlic, Chair of the Community Investment Committee, reported that they
<br /> met this afternoon and send this bill forward without a recommendation.
<br /> Councilmember Oliver Davis, 1801 Nash Street, South Bend, IN; Councilmember Karen White,
<br /> 1912 Malvern Way, South Bend, IN; and Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston, 838 North
<br /> Elmer Street, South Bend, IN all served as presenters of this bill.
<br /> Councilmember Davis pointed out Councilmember John Voorde as another sponsor of this bill,
<br /> then stated, Over the last few weeks, I've had the privilege of meeting with several people. Mr.
<br /> Richard Collins has led a nice community organization that has kept us involved, for us to be
<br /> more pro-active. Several people were kind of caught off-guard, and we believe that people need
<br /> to be understood and also for us to be up-front and to be educated about what is going on with
<br /> this whole process. So, from talking with Mr. Collins, I then further talked to Dr. Dave Varner—
<br /> sorry he could not be here tonight—but I met with him to talk about ways in which we can reach
<br /> out to the Redevelopment Commission, since this decision regarding the monies is coming from
<br /> the Redevelopment Commission. I talked about it to Dave Varner and said we will form a
<br /> resolution in support of giving them some guidance and recommendations of how we as a
<br /> Council would like to proceed. I would like to also thank all four(4) sponsors who led out in
<br /> helping this, and all of you all tonight at our committee meeting. We have made some changes
<br /> that you all had input on. I also thank Mr. Bob Palmer for his help regarding that.
<br /> Councilmembers White, Williams-Preston, and Davis, one (1) after the next, read the text of the
<br /> resolution to the Council and public.
<br /> Councilmember Davis stated that at the committee meeting he witnessed a synergy in the room
<br /> "for us to really come together to make this a win-win for everyone—pro-transit, pro-
<br /> neighborhood. And it can be done. And, listening to the neighbors, I really believe that we can
<br /> look at different options and make sure that we can do what's outlined here in this resolution."
<br /> Councilmember Tim Scott noted that the copy of the resolution displayed on the projector screen
<br /> for the Council and public was not the most current version of the text.
<br /> Councilmember Davis, discussing documents he had passed out to those present at the Common
<br /> Council meeting, stated, This is a summary of what I tried to write down from what I gathered
<br /> from the meetings. These are all the news links—that we have been able to see—of those who
<br /> have covered the story. We tried to put in as many of the news links so that you can go back to
<br /> all the news links. Pros and cons, everybody's comments could be included in the links, so we
<br /> wanted to make sure that everybody was heard.
<br /> This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and
<br /> opponents were given an opportunity to be heard.
<br /> Those wishing to speak in favor of this bill:
<br /> Samuel Brown, 222 East Navarre Street, South Bend, IN, stated, The only problem I have with
<br /> this is trying to find the original copy of where the tracks are going to go. I want to make sure the
<br /> people that's going to be affected by this, that they'll be compensated fairly. I want to see the
<br /> plan. I want to see exactly where it comes. I want to know the people who are going to be hurt by
<br /> this.
<br /> David Godollei, 55109 Moss Road, South Bend, IN, stated that the current plan will be much too
<br /> costly,proposing instead that the South Shore Station be returned to its original location on
<br /> Washington Street, which will save the City a great deal of money.
<br /> Rich Collins, 55478 Moss Road, South Bend, IN, stated that South Bend and St. Joseph County
<br /> will gain nothing from the proposed plan except a loss of sixty(60) families,the destruction of
<br /> Ardmore, and an enormous tax money loss to its residents. Mr. Collins stated that he had listed
<br /> on a document programs that would be in the interest of the City to create. He stated, We have a
<br /> terrible problem with the homeless. People have water bills that are driving them to the poor
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