06-26-06 Community & Economic Development

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Joint Meeting of the Utilities Committee and the Public Works and Property Vacation Committee 2006 South Bend Common Council The June 26, 2006 joint meeting of the Utilities Committee and the Public Works and Property Vacation Committee of the South Bend Common Council was called to order at 4:16 p.m. in the Council's Informal Meeting Room. Persons in attendance included Council Members Pfeifer, Varner, Kuspa, Kirsits, Rouse and White; Mayor Stephen J. Luecke, Public. Works Director Gary Gilot, City Attorney Charles Leone, Don Inks, Community and Economic Development Executive Director Sharon Kendall, Citizen Member Gene Pendl, City Clerk John Voorde, Mrs. Kopola, Jamie Loo of the South Bend Tribune, and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Council Attorney. It was noted that the members of the Utilities Committee include Council Members Kirsits, Kuspa, Puzzello and Pfeifer; and Citizen Member Gene Pendl; and that the members of the Public Works and Property Vacation Committee include Council Members Varner, Pfeifer, Dieter, Puzzello and Citizen Member Kurt Youngs. Bill No. 'f 9=Ofi; The Joint Committee meeting was called to hold a public hearing on Bill No. 19- 06 which would amend Chapter 17, Article 2, Division 5, Section 17-29 of the South Bend Municipal Cade addressing authorization to enter into special rate contracts for sewer service. Public Works Director Gary Gilot provided a copy of a one-page email sent this afternoon to Council Members Kirsits, Puzzello, Pfeifer and Kuspa (copy attached); and reviewed the same. Dr. Varner, a sponsor of Bill No. 19-06 along with Council Member Kirsits noted that a proposed substitute version of the Bill was sent to the Council and emailed to the Administration (copy attached). He stated that it is his belief that the state statutes grant rate approval to the Council and that the final authority rests with the Council. The Bill is proposed in light of the lack of the public nature of the current process and that he believes that there should be an ongoing justification for any reduction in cost in light of the subsidy which results. Dr, Varner added that all should be eligible for consideration based on written policies; that there should be ongoing accountability and the right to public input on such requests to justify cost savings, and as of today we have not seen the benefits.