02-27-12 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 27, 2012 some wonderful work just this past week they clipped a ribbon on some of the lighting upgrades that were done at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center which also affected the park maintenance building, Fire Station #6 and the Charles Black Center. He stated that Mr. Burke is working on how can we improve our energy environment and economy all together not two out of three is close enough but we really have to have something that is a better energy policy that saves us money and saves the carbon footprint on the energy source and that helps the environment and helps the city’s pocketbook. In doing that, we need to think about life cycle costs instead of initial cost. He stated that they will go though the list of what was suggested and knows that they are elements of Mr. Burke’s thinking on strategy and policy for the City to invest our limited resources in a wise fashion so that we can be good stewards to the public resources that have been entrusted to us. He stated that they have done some good things on fixed source energy used in our buildings and they have done some good things associated with mobile sources, vehicles, trucks, and the fuel that they pump through the tanks. He stated that they have looked at trying to lock prices in and tried floating in the spot market some years they do better one way than another. He stated that they don’t have a perfect crystal ball and there is no body on staff who is an expert in futures. He stated that there is a lot to learn on this topic, he stated that Mr. Burke is a really smart person on this topic, they hired an expert on Energy Policy, and so if they move forward the Administration and Council welcome input. Mr. Gilot stated that he was very much involved in the make-up of the Green Ribbon Commission. He stated that it was not politically based; it was people who had backgrounds in the environment and was a nice cross-section of the community. There were over 60 people on that list. He stated that he could not tell you their party affiliation would be. He stated that typically they would have 30 or 40 people show up in committee structures and work on ideas on how to spend the grant money wisely. So they have already convened, they have hashed through some of these issues and to use them again as a community cross section to formulate strategy is a better move than trying to resurrect a 1982 Commission. He stated that he will leave the clean-up of the Code Book to a later discussion of Mayor and Council. Councilmember Oliver Davis asked when the Green Ribbon Commission will meet again. Mr. Gilot advised that there is a tentative date to meet on Earth Day. Councilmember White, Chairperson, Personnel & Finance Committee, reported that this committee held a Public Hearing on this bill this afternoon and voted to send it to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. There was no one else present wishing to speak in favor of this bill and there was n one present wishing to speak in opposition to this bill. Councilmember Gavin Ferlic made a motion to adopt this Resolution as amended. Councilmember White seconded the motion which carried and the Resolution was adopted by a roll call vote of seven (7) ayes. BILLS - FIRST READING BILL NO.04-12 FIRST READING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, APPROPRIATING $208,735.00 FROM THE NONREVERTING LOSS RECOVERY FUND (NO. 227) IN 2012 FOR IMPROVEMENTS AT BELLEVILLE AND HOWARD PARKS Councilmember Varner made a motion to refer this bill to the PARC Committee and set if for Public Hearing and Third Reading on March 12, 2012. Councilmember White seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of seven (7) ayes. 15