03-13-06 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING MARCH 13, 2006 Capital Budget Process with the Council and hopes that the information that the Council received was good information. The Departments worked very hard as the Department of Administration and Finance implemented a new process that required each department to submit more detail than every reported before in the past. The investment in neighborhoods is to be commended. Ms. Fanello stated that where she came from reinvesting in neighborhood was not practiced. Ms. Fanello stated that it is awesome to see some of the things that the City of South Bend does to reinvest in their neighborhoods. She noted that the City should be commended for taking such an interest in the neighborhoods. Ms. Fanello highlighted some of the key points in the Capital Budget. She stated that out of the 3 million dollars in the local road and street fund, that 2 million of those dollars are funded by the wheel tax. Those dollars go towards paving and other infrastructure improvements. About 4 million dollars as per the detail that was submitted is going for water and sewer. $702,500 dollars in the Parks Department is being invested in various upgrades and replacements throughout the various centers and green space. Ms. Fannello stated that there is approximately $500,000 dollars being invested in technology improvements throughout the city. Last month the City’s new website was released, and are now taking on-line payments for the Water Department, Ordinance Violations Bureau and Parking Tickets, etc. All of these advancements in the various departments helps the City to become more efficient. 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 Pfeifer, Kelly, White and President Rouse thanked City Controller Catherine Fanello for all her hard work and appreciate her detailed information and responding to the Council’s request for more information. There being no one present wishing to speak to the Council either in favor of or in opposition to this bill, Councilmember Varner made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council concerning this substituted bill as amended. Councilmember Kelly seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. BILL NO. 13-06 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, APPROPRIATING $220,000 OF BUILD INDIANA GRANT FUNDS WITHIN FUND 230 FOR THE PURPOSE OF FACILITATING ADAPTIVE REUSE OF THE FORMER DREWRYS BREWERY FACILITIES AT 1408 ELWOOD AVENUE Councilmember Kelly, Chairperson, Community and Economic Development Committee reported that this committee met on this bill this afternoon and voted to send it to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. Mr. Andy Laurent, Economic Development Specialist, Community and Economic Development Department, 1200 County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Boulevard, South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill. Mr. Laurent advised that this bill appropriates $220,000 of State of Indian Build Indian Grant Funds. These funds will be used to facilitate the adaptive reuse of the former Drewry’s Brewery complex located at 1408 Elwood Avenue, South Bend, Indiana. The Division of Economic Development has been working with the property owner and a developer for over five years to revitalize this large brownfield site. The execution of a purchase agreement between the developer and the property owner appears to be feasible within the next few months. This is the appropriate time to begin the process of funding the pre-development activities that will facilitate this private land transaction. The use of these Grant Funds will be environmental cleanup associated with the buildings located on site. 7