10/08/07 Council Meeting Minutes

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