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REGULAR MEETING October 8, 2018
<br /> Councilmember Tim Scott asked Councilmember Oliver Davis, If this was pulled out tonight, is it
<br /> something you could look at a scope and parameter for a separate budget item before the end of
<br /> this month? In two (2)weeks, would we have parameters to get it passed before November 2018?
<br /> Councilmember Oliver Davis replied,Personally,I thought about that. I can propose those meeting
<br /> dates immediately. I would suggest we move this item to October 22nd, 2018 as that would give us
<br /> enough time to consult with the Administration. Because one (1) of the things I think is important
<br /> is when setting a budget, and I agree that you set a budget to do all those kinds of things, but even
<br /> prior to setting the budget you have to set the vision. You have to set the vision and talk about the
<br /> vision because we may need more, we need less, and we may need all these other kinds of things.
<br /> That is why I was asking what kind of expertise we need because the way the current thing talks
<br /> about is everybody comes from different areas. Now they are all coming from the City. So what
<br /> do we have to have to have that discussion? We can put it together and it won't take long. We can
<br /> look at that. This is not something to drag out the process because, again, I've already publicly
<br /> stated that I think we need to look at this. If you come to Area Plan meetings, it's pretty much me
<br /> sitting in that third(3rd) seat over there talking,talking,talking,talking,talking.Not because I feel
<br /> like doing it some days because half the agenda is South Bend City Council. So those are the kinds
<br /> of things and I do see the need for it. But before we move it over, I would like to work it out. So I
<br /> can set up a timetable and have that ironed out in two (2) weeks. The end result would be to craft
<br /> an appropriation for this. The Administration stated they would like to start it summer 2019. We
<br /> can look if that is the best. I don't have any hard-fast issues. Sometimes I like solving things in the
<br /> same calendar year from that standpoint but outside of that, I'm cool. So, you know, I think we
<br /> need to have that discussion, set the vision, and then maybe we can even craft the ordinance by the
<br /> end of the year. I think we can set this calendar and,again, appropriate the dollars later to see what
<br /> they need from that standpoint. Let's have that discussion. If we would have had that discussion
<br /> prior to tonight, it would have been great. I was very clear from the very first(1St) meeting we had
<br /> and even prior to that, I didn't know how we were going to deal with the legal standpoint because
<br /> a lot of zoning is straight up legal.
<br /> Councilmember Gavin Ferlic stated, I think there are a lot of good points here. I would be
<br /> comfortable either way but, again, I think as long as our goal is to make this happen,I will support
<br /> this.
<br /> Councilmember Oliver Davis interrupted, That's my letter. That is what the South Bend Tribune
<br /> has. There is no changing that. Tonight's hesitation about moving forward, you all kind of saw I
<br /> was kind of hesitant even this afternoon when I walked in here.Not that I tried to stop any kind of
<br /> zoning thing but given all the things that were out here, sometimes with zoning I've learned to not
<br /> be in the fast lane but,and not too slow either,but in the moderate lane that can help us get through.
<br /> Councilmember John Voorde stated, Quite frankly,I would be ready to go tonight. I think we have
<br /> to fund it in the budget and then if it doesn't work, we talk about it. If we don't want to spend it,
<br /> we don't spend it. It still has to come back to us.
<br /> Councilmember Jo M. Broden asked, I think there is an easy timeline on this, right? I mean, we
<br /> usually do these special appropriations in March? Right? So that is plenty of time. Well, we can
<br /> do it at any time but we typically do it then. My understanding was quarter three (Q3) anyways,
<br /> right? So we can hit this in terms of an ordinance, everyone's level of comfort with it,the public's
<br /> understanding of it, all within the first(1St) quarter.
<br /> Council President Tim Scott requested input from the Administration after hearing the Council's
<br /> discussion.
<br /> James Mueller, Executive Director for the Department of Community Investment with offices on
<br /> the 14th floor of the County-City Building, South Bend, IN, stated, Good evening, Council
<br /> Members. We took to heart Councilmember Davis' point at the last Committee meeting. We
<br /> conferred with the Area Plan Commission staff about what this ordinance would mean. As we
<br /> explained at the Committee meeting two (2) weeks ago, the idea is that we look at the Zoning
<br /> Ordinance as a whole. I think we've had a pretty good process with Councilmember Davis and the
<br /> Area Plan team. We've had regular updates and a lot of communication between both the Planning
<br /> Team and the Council. So the idea is, as part of the bigger reform of the Zoning Ordinance, to get
<br /> the resources for the staff members. So there is only one(1)net new position in the budget for this.
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