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10/08/07 Council Meeting Minutes
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10/08/07 Council Meeting Minutes
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10/8/2007
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REGULAR MEETINGOCTOBER 8, 2007 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Mr. Phil St. Clair stated that this bill would allow for additional funding in the amount of <br />$1,000,000.00 for Potawatomi Zoo. The funding for the zoo will be put towards the <br />accreditation process that they are seeking in 2009. Currently some of the zoo <br />infrastructure needs addressing such as HVAC repairs, water conservation, structural <br />upgrades in some of the exhibits and buildings, and roof repairs. These are some of the <br />previous accreditation comments that they are working on as well as some of the new <br />standards that the AZA would be passing along in the 2009 accreditation process. He <br />urged the Council to vote favorable on this bill, to help finish some of the much needed <br />repairs at Potawatomi Zoo. <br /> <br />Mr. Terry DeRosa, Director, Potawatomi Zoo, 500 S. Greenlawn Boulevard, South Bend, <br />Indiana, advised that this funding would provide creditable resources for meeting the ever <br />increasing standards set by the American Zoological and Aquarium Association, thus <br />maintaining the upcoming accreditation for 2009 and remaining only one of the 216 <br />facilities accredited through AZA in North America and there are over 800 zoos, and <br />Potawatomi is currently one of the 216 that are accredited. By meeting these rigid <br />standards AZA insures that Potawatomi Zoo maintains the highest standards in their <br />operations such as animal husbandry, veterinary care, education, and conservation <br />programs. Potawatomi provides an engaging and affordable recreational asset to the <br />community, thereby increasing the quality of life for the citizens of South Bend as well as <br />for many of the rare and endangered in the zoo’s care. He thanked the Council for this <br />opportunity and urged their favorable recommendation. <br /> <br />th <br />Mr. Jeff Gibney, Director, Community & Economic Development, 12 Floor County- <br />City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Boulevard, South Bend, Indiana <br /> <br />Mr. Gibney stated that in January of 2007, he received notice that St. Joseph County and <br />the City of South Bend, received a 42.6 million dollar grant from the estate of Ray and <br />Joan Kroc, they are the family that owned the McDonald businesses throughout the <br />United States and internationally. He stated that an 85,000 square foot building will be <br />built in this community. The site that was selected is on the southwest corner of Chapin <br />and Western Avenue. Included in this building on a 9+ acre site will be an education <br />center, performing arts center, gymnasium, aquatic center, fitness center, athletic fields, <br />etc. The total cost of the building will be 22.6 million dollars and the building is paid for <br />through the gift from the Kroc’s. When the Kroc Center opens it will have a 30 million <br />dollar endowment, which will cover approximately 75% of its operating expenses. He <br />noted that 20 million dollars of the 30 million dollars was also part of the gift from the <br />Kroc family. The City has 10 million dollars that needs to be raised here in the <br />Community of South Bend, statewide and nationally. This bill would allow for the <br />approval of a 1 million dollar contribution towards that endowment that would give the <br />City approximately 4 million dollars that the City has to date. Mr. Gibney stated that <br />those funds are coming from the former Business Development Corporation, when they <br />left the partnership with the City of South Bend, negotiations were made and <br />approximately 6 million dollars were paid back to the City. Those funds initially came <br />from the UDAG grant to the City of South Bend that was a loan for the Ethanol Plant. <br />Mr. Gibney urged the Council’s favorable approval of this bill. <br /> <br />Ms. Pfeifer questioned whether Mr. Alonzo Watson’s name will still be maintained at <br />that site. <br /> <br />Mr. Gibney stated that Mr. Watson’s name will be retained, but he was not sure how, if it <br />would be with a cornerstone or some kind of signage. <br /> <br />This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents <br />and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. <br /> <br />Councilmember Puzzello stated that it took a number of years for the problems at <br />Potawatomi Zoo to become apparent to the public and the Council. She thanked Terry <br />DeRosa, for his skills and being able to assess the situation so well and to Marcy Dean <br />who worked with the Zoological Society to crunch the numbers and come up with the <br />needs in those areas that need to be addressed according AZA standards. Councilmember <br />Puzzello noted that things have been moving forward and with thanks to Mayor Luecke <br /> 22 <br /> <br />
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