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REGULAR MEETING November 27, 2017 <br /> Commission needs to be more customer-service minded and we will work tirelessly to make sure <br /> that happens. <br /> Councilmember Karen White inquired about the timeframe and deadlines that come with this <br /> Interlocal Agreement. <br /> Mr. Mueller stated, This is an Interlocal Agreement that has to be approved by four (4) main <br /> bodies. It has to be approved by both the Common Council and the County Council as well as <br /> ratified by the Mayor and the County Commissioners. It has to be the same text in all of those <br /> votes. If we were to make changes, given our timeline, it would be hard to get them onto all the <br /> agendas without special sessions. <br /> Councilmember Jo M. Broden followed up asking, So it would be difficult but not impossible? <br /> Mr. Muller replied, Practically, it is very difficult but I wouldn't say impossible. All these bodies <br /> could have special sessions. <br /> Councilmember Jo M. Broden interjected, Would it require special sessions if, let's say we work <br /> on it jointly this week to make sure everybody is apprised of the changes? My assumption is that <br /> hasn't happened yet where the County Council and Common Councilmembers have gotten <br /> together and looked at this,jointly, together. Does the calendar allow changes to the Interlocal? <br /> Councilmember Oliver Davis asked, What day does the County Council meet? <br /> Angela Smith,Deputy Director of the Area Plan Commission, with offices on the 11th floor of the <br /> County-City Building, South Bend, IN, stated, The Commissioners meet on the 11t and 3rd <br /> Tuesdays of each month and the Council meets on the 2"a Tuesday of each month. Their <br /> committees are typically held on the 4th Tuesday,however, in December 2017 they are meeting on <br /> December 19. <br /> Council President Tim Scott stated, With all due respect, Councilmember Broden, you are <br /> assuming the County Councilmembers want to be a part of this process. Every Councilmember <br /> I've talked to in the County doesn't care about it now that the budget decision has been made. I <br /> also don't understand what changes you are recommending. Are you recommending certain <br /> changes to the Interlocal Agreement right now? <br /> Councilmember Jo M. Broden replied, Yes, I would like to make some changes to the Interlocal <br /> Agreement. Or at least make sure changes were contemplated in the process. Specifically, one (1) <br /> change would be with regard to the termination clause. If either side terminates within this <br /> Interlocal Agreement,to go from a joint board to separate boards.Operating independently by City <br /> and County. One (1) possible amendment to this agreement would be to include the options, not <br /> the requirement,to revert to the previous structure,which they are currently operating under,or to <br /> the Area Plan Commission. What this agreement proposes as of now actually precludes us from <br /> looking at those options in the future. A second change to consider is giving more clarity to the <br /> evaluative measures and who exactly is responsible for that. Even the reporting requirements <br /> precludes us as a Council. If we are going to be adding an entire department, I would like to be in <br /> the position, as a Councilmember, to address this oversight portion of it. Apparently there is a <br /> transition plan. I assume that is a draft plan at this point, but I would like to see that presented to <br /> us.I would like to know what the benchmarks and evaluative measures are before taking a vote on <br /> this. <br /> Councilmember Tim Scott asked, Would the County ever take this Commission back into their <br /> budget if there was severability? <br /> Mr. Mueller replied, Almost certainly, they would not and they don't have the resource to do so. <br /> Those options are simply off the table. <br /> Councilmember Dr. David Varner stated, From an administrative perspective, Mr. Mueller has <br /> stated we have two (2) steps we need to take care of. One (1) is tonight and one (1) is by the end <br /> of the year. From an administrative perspective going forward, under the Department of <br /> Community Investment, do you believe the management can be handled? Or do you anticipate <br /> there will be more changes? <br /> Mr.Mueller replied,We fully anticipate to be able to execute what is contemplated in the Interlocal <br /> Agreement. We can't say,for certain,what the County will decide to do in the middle of next year <br /> or the year after that. I imagine they will stick with it. <br /> 7 <br />