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CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK <br /> Councilmember Voorde stated,Just real quickly,one(1),having a dedicated fund is just a common <br /> sense approach. We are overdue in doing that. I think your two-dollar($2) fee is, correct me if I'm <br /> wrong, set to take into consideration the impact on residents to begin with. The two dollars ($2) <br /> reflects the sensitivity. So I think we need to be awfully careful in compromising the two dollars <br /> ($2)to begin with. It's difficult to establish and difficult to administer.The impervious information <br /> may be available in the Assessor's Office. It won't take a genius. It might take a lot of work but <br /> that is probably intern-level work and cooperation with the Assessor's Office. It might be on the <br /> Property Information card and then once that is established, that doesn't change the way income <br /> might. I hope we move along with this expeditiously. <br /> Committeemember McBride stated, I think one (1) of the things that needs to be considered and I <br /> am still concerned with is two dollars ($2) may not be anything for me. But coupled with that, <br /> Portage Township lost funding and we are looking at low income residents. We had the electric <br /> bill hike that went in this year. The water hike already went in this year. There are other things that <br /> are impacting that. So it is not just one (1) single thing that is saying two dollars ($2) or twenty <br /> four dollars ($24) a year doesn't impact a person's income because you have other things that <br /> affects that person's income. A lot of families are coming from two (2)parent homes or are living <br /> in an affluent neighborhood. So all of those things coupled, I think the time of the implementation <br /> is going to be key. Now, we are in the winter months. We have people looking at disconnection <br /> and things of that nature. And I thank you for considering not implementing it January 1 and <br /> delaying it to June, I think that is a great start and where we need to go but there are other factors <br /> that people need to consider and say it's only two dollars($2)a month.That is a burden on people. <br /> Councilmember White stated,I want to make sure of the next steps.Councilmembers need to email <br /> questions to Committee Chair Teshka and Eric? <br /> Committee Chair Teshka replied, Just to me. <br /> Councilmember White followed up, Ok, I sent some statements and questions to Eric this <br /> afternoon and I'll forward those to you.They are pretty much in line with what we were just talking <br /> about. <br /> Committee Chair Teshka stated, If everybody forwards that stuff to me, I can get that to Eric and <br /> Kara. <br /> Councilmember White then asked, When is the next time we will be taking action on this? <br /> Committee Chair Teshka replied, December 10th, 2018. In the meantime, we could call an <br /> additional meeting if need-be. I think, right now, we will plan on having an additional meeting. I <br /> know President Scott wants to say something but thank you, Eric, for everything. I look forward <br /> to working with you on this. I feel a sense of urgency on this. I didn't think Utilities was going to <br /> be my gig when I came in but the more I talk with Jitin and Eric, we have a real problem with our <br /> aging infrastructure, as do most cities east of the Mississippi. It's great living in a one hundred <br /> fifty two (152) year old City with a rich history but that infrastructure piece is going to be <br /> something tricky moving forward and we have to address it.I understand what everybody is saying <br /> about wanting to make sure this is an equitable process. We want to make sure we are taking care <br /> of our residents who maybe are not as well off. We definitely want to make sure of that and it <br /> sounds like they've got an eye toward that. I know in our conversations with you, we have talked <br /> EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT <br /> 455 County-City Building 227W Jefferson Bvld South Bend.Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f574.235.9173 TTD574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov <br /> 11 <br />