11-14-05 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETINGNOVEMBER 14, 2005 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 Kuspa seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of seven ayes and one nay (Councilmember Puzzello) BILL NO. 70-05 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AMENDING CHAPTER 13, ARTICLE 4, SECTION 13-57 AND 13-57.05 OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE TO CLARIFY PROHIBITED NOISES WITHIN THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND Councilmember Dieter made a motion to continue this bill until the November 28, 2005 meeting of the Council. Councilmember White seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. BILL NO. 72-05 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA AMENDING CHAPTER 17, ARTICLE 2, DIVISION 4, SECTIONS 17-20, 17- 21, 17-23 AND 17-25 OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADJUST REGULAR SEWAGE RATES AND HEAVY DEMAND SURCHARGE RATES AND TO CLARIFY OTHER CODE PROVISIONS Councilmember Timothy A. Rouse, Vice-Chairperson, Utilities Committee, reported that this committee held a Public Hearing on this bill this afternoon and sends it to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. th Mayor Stephen J. Luecke, 14 Floor County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, Indiana made the presentation for this bill. Mayor Luecke handed to John Voorde, City Clerk the City of South Bend Combined Sewer Overflow Long Term Control Plan Advisory Committee Handbook dated July 2005 and asked that this be made part of the record. Mayor Luecke advised that the proposed ordinance relates to rate increases for Sewage Works. The purpose of the increase is to allow the Sewage Works Utility to meet its on- going and future revenue needs. Dollars paid into this fund cover the operation, maintenance, debt service, and capital expenses of the Bureau of Sewers and the Bureau of Wastewater. South Bend has invested a great deal in early action projects over the last 15 years. This is acknowledged by IDEM and EPA and yet they are pressing South Bend and other cities with combined sewers to implement long term control plans that take it to the next level in achieving the goals of the Clean Water Act. This will mean the largest environmental infrastructure investment program in the history of this community and will begin a phased and prioritized effort that will span the next two decades. First, the focus of the relief for neighborhoods with chronic backup issues during heavy rains. Mainly of the cost effective means of reducing large volume overflows of sewage to the St. Joseph River. The vast majority of the rate increases are for capital expenditures for this project. The capture and treatment of more storm water and sewage, will show upward pressure on operation and maintenance expenses reflected in the rates over the next four years. Mr. Jack Dillon, Ph.D., Director, Division of Environmental Services, 3113 Riverside Drive, South Bend, Indiana, stated that Mr. John Skomp, from Crowe, Chiszek and Company, LLC., 10 West Market Street, Suite 2000, Indianapolis, Indiana, performed a 24