03-13-06 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING MARCH 13, 2006 Councilmember Pfeifer, Chairperson, Personnel and Finance Committee, reported that this committee met on this bill this afternoon and voted to send it to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. Councilmember Varner, Chairperson, Public Works and Property Vacation Committee, reported that this committee met on this bill this afternoon and voted to send it to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. Mayor Stephen J. Luecke and City Controller M. Catherine Fannello made the presentation for this bill. th Mayor Stephen J. Luecke, 14 Floor County-City Building, South Bend, Indiana, thanked City Controller Catherine Fannello and all City Department Heads for the tremendous effort in putting together this Capital Budget. Mayor Luecke advised that this is the Capital Budget for 2006. Catherine has brought a new eye and a new perspective and a new level of detail to the budgeting process that will benefit the administration and Council. As the Council looks to approve this budget and future budgets as they will be able to track expenditures on these dollars moving forward. He is greatly for her new service to this community. As everyone is fully aware the Capital Budget is what allows the City to invest and replace vehicles and equipment in annual programs, such as streets, neighborhoods and some support for outside organization and in major project such as building Fire Station #2 or constructing Riverside Trail. These are important dollars that we spend as we had noted over the past couple of years we are beginning to see a squeeze on the Capital Budget. In 2004, the Capital Budget was $28 million dollars. In 2005, around $30 million dollars and this year 2006 the budget is proposed at just under $20 million dollars. Nevertheless, this budget is believed to provide the equipment that is necessary for personnel and the facilities and to continue to invest in neighborhood and neighborhood programs and to serve the Community well. Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand advised that it is necessary to accept the amended version of Exhibit A, which the City Controller filed with the City Clerk’s Office last week, and also that the amended version be marked Exhibit A, it was referenced in Section I, but does not have that title on it. Councilmember Pfeifer made a motion to that effect, seconded by Councilmember Rouse. The motion carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. Councilmember Pfeifer asked Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand if Exhibit A include both of the documents that Councilmember Varner wanted included and the one that she wanted included. Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand stated no, that she was going to recommend that those documents be a separate motion, because that Exhibit A that is referenced by the Ordinance itself is just the attached detail and is not the advanced detail that was further provided by the City Controller Catherine Fanello. Councilmember Pfeifer made a motion that the additional information requested by Councilmember Varner and Councilmember Pfeifer be included with the bill on file with the City Clerk’s Office. Councilmember Varner seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. th Ms. Catherine Fanello, City Controller, 14 Floor, County-City Building, South Bend, Indiana, advised that this ordinance is necessary for appropriating funds for the City of South Bend 2006 Capital Budget. Additionally, she stated that the substituted bill reflects an additional appropriation of grant funds in the amount of $327,800 from the EMS fund number 288. The Fire Department was awarded a grant for equipment and will receive the funds this summer. Funds will not be released by the awarding agency until an invoice is presented. The City’s twenty percent match of $81,400 is listed in the capital budget under Turnout Equipment. Ms. Fanello further noted that she enjoyed the 6