09-25-06 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 25, 2006 be evaluated and considered by the public and the City together. The news on the fate of the greenhouses and conservatories broke to the public on September 7, 2006, today is September 25, 2006, and the public has only been given eighteen days to launch a defense for buildings that are irreplaceable for plants and exotic species that are absolutely priceless. She believes that money can be found and she does not believe that the City has to cut off essential services to find it. Individual talent, the talent of concerned citizens and empowered City employees can find solutions together, they just need to be give adequate time which is all that is required to find cost effective solutions that benefit over time. She is respectfully requesting to be put on a task force that is formed. The Council, Administration and Citizens owe it to the benefactors to continue the legacy that they donated to this Community; it is owed to the future, and must save what would be a crime to abandon. This topic has been referred to Councilmember Derek D. Dieter, Chairperson, PARC Committee. st Ms. Janet Maciulski, 1117 S. 31 Street, South Bend, Indiana spoke opposed to the closing of the greenhouse and conservatories. She stated that she is concerned about what was mentioned in this afternoon’s committee meeting. She wondered why Mr. St. Clair’s report was turned in today instead of in a timely manner that would allow the Committee Members to actually have time to look at the information and have some idea before a vote would be taken on the same day? Why would the amount of money be subtracted from the budget being $100,000.00, when the citizens were told that it would cost almost $300,000.00 to maintain and operate the greenhouses and conservatories for a year? Is that $100,000.00 the cost of demolition? She wondered why with a 1.3 million dollar surplus, for capital projects at the end of 2007 year as stated by Mr. St. Clair, why the operation of the greenhouses couldn’t be included in the budget for at least one more year. So that all options could be investigated, instead of making such a hasty decision. No programs need to be cut if that is really a surplus in the capital projects. Where is the power now? Please make sure that this doesn’t turn into being such a huge mistake. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Council, President Rouse adjourned the meeting at 8:45 p.m. ATTEST: ATTEST: ___________________________ __________________________ John Voorde, City Clerk Timothy A. Rouse, President 28