01-24-11 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 24, 2011 Councilmember Puzzello, Chairperson, PARC Committee, reported that this committee held a Public Hearing on this bill this afternoon and voted to send it to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. Mr. Gary Gilot, Director, Public Works, 13th Floor County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill. Mr. Gilot advised that the purpose of this ordinance is to appropriate a total of$60,000.00 from the Nonreverting Loss Recovery Fund (#227), of which $55,000.00 is for the closure and removal of two underground storage tanks at Century Center, and an additional $5,000.00 for Frederickson Park remediation. Mr. Gilot stated that Century Center has two underground storage tanks that were previously used for heating oil storage for heat and diesel fuel for a generator. The tanks have become unnecessary and the City of South Bend would like to take the appropriate actions to complete the closure and removal of the tanks in accordance with local, state and federal guidelines. If the tanks are left in place they will continually deteriorate over time possible causing environmental contamination to the surrounding soils and to the St. Joseph river, which flows in close proximity to the site. If this contamination were to occur, the environmental cleanup and remediation costs would likely fare exceed the proposed tank closure and removal costs. The additional $5,000 to be appropriated is for data analysis, mapping and reporting twice during 2011 for Fredrickson Park Remediation monitoring and some specific parameter investigation. Any sums unspent from this appropriation will be released back into the Nonreverting Loss Recovery Fund. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. There being no one present wishing to speak to the Council either in favor of or in opposition to this bill, Councilmember Dieter made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council concerning this bill. Councilmember Oliver Davis seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. BILL NO. 05-11 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, APPROPRIATING $995,423 WITHIN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS DEVELOPMENT FUND (#377) Councilmember Puzzello, Chairperson, PARC Committee, reported that this committee held a Public Hearing on this bill this afternoon and voted to send it to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. Mr. Gregg Zientara, Controller, 12th Floor County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill. Mr. Zientara advised that the 2011 budget passed by the South Bend Common Council on October 24, 2010 did not include an appropriation in the Professional Sports Development Fund No. 377 ("PSDA Fund".) As more information is now known concerning the status of the College Football Hall of Fame for 2011, and with the recent Council approval of Coveleski Stadium Revenue bonds with repayment from PSDA revenue, it is now appropriate to establish the PSDA Fund budget for 2011. Mr. Zientara stated that a $500,000 payment to the College Football Hall of Fame for operating expenses. This transfer is funded by a pass-through of hotel/motel tax monies received from St. Joseph County in the amount of$494,325 and accumulated interest in the PSDA Fund in the amount of$5,675. The amounts of hotel/motel taxes paid to the College Football Hall of Fame were $530,137 in 2009 and $521,800 in 2010. The payments to the College Football Hall of Fame will be made on a pro-rata, monthly basis while the facility remains open and in operation. Next is a $100,000 transfer to the Century Center capital account for capital expenses. This amount is consistent with prior years and is 8