02-27-12 Common Council Meeting Minutes

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 27, 2012 6.Developing idling policies for city vehicle; updating cost benefit analysis of the entire city-owned fleet focusing on improved efficiencies and cost effectiveness 7.Developing more partnerships with multiple energy-conscious organizations such as the new Think City electric car which the city was able to purchase for $1. Section III. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption by the Council and approval by the Mayor. s/Henry Davis, Jr. Member of the Common Council s/Oliver Davis Member of the Common Council Councilmember Gavin Ferlic made a motion to amend this bill. Councilmember Henry Davis seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of seven (7) ayes. Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand read the amendments into the record: Section I. The 2012 civil city budget has gasoline budgeted at $3.60 per gallon. In light of the continuing spike in energy costs, the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, believes that there are urgent energy issues warrant the attention of the City Energy Director and staff and the Green Ribbon Commission, so that they may report and update the Common Council and the City Administration in a timely manner. Section II. The Council believes that in addition to the responsibilities set forth in the South Bend Municipal Code which shall be assigned to the entities identified in Section I of this Resolution, that some of the issues which could be addressed include: Councilmember’s Henry Davis, Jr. and Oliver Davis made the presentation for this bill. They advised that since 1982, there has been an ordinance which created an Energy Conservation Commission. They understood that it worked quite well when the energy crisis was experienced in the US during the 1980’s. In light of projected spikes in fuel, and the fact that the city was awarded an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant, they thought that this Commission should be activated. Councilmember Valerie Schey advised that she like so many Americans is ready for our country to move forward in terms of its energy policy. She stated that she is eager for public policy to fully embrace renewables; however, she appreciates the complexity of this issue and believes that decisions of this nature need to be made in concert with the state and federal law makers. She stated that she has submitted three documents to be added to this bill. Copies are available in the Office of the City Clerk. The first is Indiana Senate Enrolled Act No. 251 on clean-coal technologies and nuclear energy production. The second is a review of ethanol and the third is an article from the Bloomberg Report on the high cost of going green. She stated that she hopes that this information will prove to be helpful in fostering a critical examination of this issue. Councilmember Henry Davis, Jr. advised that he would like to see all boards/commissions that are inactive be taken off the books. A Public Hearing was held on the Resolution at this time. th Mr. Gary Gilot, President, Board of Public Works, 13 Floor County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, Indiana, stated that the amendment that Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand read into the record is acceptable to the administration. He stated that it is an opportunity for the Council and Administration to work together on matters of energy policy and to move the ball down the field and a little quicker. He stated that Energy Director Jon Burke has a substantially complete draft on the strategy that builds from the initial work they did with the Department of Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant. Mr. Gilot stated that Mr. Burke has done 14