10-09-17 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING October 9, 2017 Councilmember Davis asked, What are we doing in this budget to prepare for the 2020 issue that you just raised? You don't have to answer tonight. What's in the budget that helps, regarding the CSO?And also, given what's happened today on the federal level, with how President Trump's team changed that with the EPA, how does that affect our financial plans when it comes down to our CSO issues? What are we doing? How does our budget affect that? The panhandling issue: what are some considerations moving through the position in order to not only address downtown issues but citywide issues? Those are my key issues. Mayor Buttigieg stated that he would be sure to get back to Councilmember Davis regarding the issues he raised. Councilmember Karen White thanked the Administration for the fact that the budget reflects a good deal of the Council's priorities. Councilmember White stated, I can say that for the last three (3) years,we've been really wanting to address those quality-of-life issues, from curbs to sidewalks,to housing just ensuring that our neighborhoods are safe and that they are thriving as well. You don't have to answer this now, but in terms of early childhood education, do you have certain centers you are looking at? How do you plan to interface the $100,000? Where will those dollars be placed and what are your outcomes? Mayor Buttigieg responded, The very short answer is that we don't have predetermined who we are going to work with, but the focus would be tied to the past equality metrics. So, every early childhood center gets a rating from one (1)to four(4), where four (4) is of the highest quality and one (1) is, essentially,that it's safe as a daycare. Our focus would be on moving our existing center to up that past equality metric. You can get a three (3)to a four(4);you can get a two (2) to a three (3). Councilmember White stated, That would be helpful. Councilmember White asked regarding the Historic Preservation Commission, I know that we've been having discussion within the budget hearings, but what would that look like, in terms of actually integrating one (1)particular office within the City, and what are our expected outcomes, and how would we know that we've been successful? Mayor Buttigieg made note of Councilmember White's questions. Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston asked, What does the $600,000 for community policing mean?Where is the money in the budget to fund the peace-building end to reducing violence? We have lots and lots of organizations who come before this Council, different committees, to talk about their work. So, I'd like to learn more about how we're partnering with them. I'm still very interested in learning more about how we can reconsider what we're doing in terms of our Citizen Review Board. I don't think it will take a lot of money. I think it will take a commitment from this Administration to listen and to hear what the community has asked for. I'd really like to see some language in here that addresses that and makes a commitment to next year, coming together and figuring out how we can be more responsive to that peace. So, if we're going to get an administrator downtown that's addressing public safety, what I want to know— and what I think the people that we represent want to know—is: how is that really affecting my life every single day, on the street, in our community? Councilmember Williams-Preston thanked the Administration for their neighborhood prioritizing, adding that she would like to see an increase in funds allocated toward Curbs and Sidewalks. Mayor Buttigieg made note of Councilmember Williams-Preston's questions. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Those from the public wishing to speak in favor of this bill: Steven Holmes, 1941 East Donald Street, South Bend, IN, stated that he was generally in favor of the budget, but that he was worried that the South Shore project is too expensive a project given that it only shortens the duration of the train ride by ten(10) minutes. Mr. Holmes stated that if federal money does not come in for the project that City money should be diverted elsewhere. On the other hand, if funding goes as planned, Mr. Holmes stated that he thought it was a good use of City dollars. 12