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REGULAR MEETING December 10, 2018
<br /> identify, maintain and make known to its residents, places of shelter during severe weather,
<br /> whether that weather be the result of heat, heat index, cold, wind chill or other life threating
<br /> conditions such as tornadoes. Section Three (III) If a Gateway or Intake Center, defined, in part,
<br /> as a single-entry point into the system of care, linking homeless individuals with shelter, case
<br /> management, and appropriate community services, is not operational by November 1, 2019, the
<br /> City of South Bend will encourage service providers of weather amnesty that are supported by the
<br /> City of South Bend resources to meet the weather amnesty start date of November 1, 2019 by
<br /> beginning the process as early as possible,no later than June 1,2019, and will expedite all fire and
<br /> building code inspections and permitting required by the State, local or other entities to the
<br /> maximum extent possible while still ensuring the safety of the building for occupancy and use.
<br /> Section Four (IV) That all community partners who are supported by the City of South Bend for
<br /> the construction, leasing, and any other fees associated with operating a weather amnesty shelter
<br /> in the City of South Bend,meet the expected timelines to commence the start and ending dates of
<br /> the weather amnesty program. Section Five (V) The representatives of local governments,
<br /> including the City of South Bend, the City of Mishawaka, the St. Joseph County Council, the St.
<br /> Joseph County Commissioners, and the local public schools, service providers, public safety
<br /> officers,business representatives,officials in the criminal justice system,neighborhood advocates,
<br /> academics, community members and all others, come together in the year 2019, and thereafter to
<br /> plan services for homeless populations, including the establishment of a Gateway or Intake Center
<br /> and additional scattered-site, permanent supportive housing units and solutions to help housing
<br /> instability.
<br /> Councilmember Oliver Davis continued, Again, this shows a collaborative effort of everybody
<br /> coming together to really emphasize this. We can see what we have done in the past,we can learn
<br /> from it and maximize our strengths and minimize our failures. We can come together to make our
<br /> City a model that we have talked about earlier tonight to help us really lead how we handle this.
<br /> Not all of the other cities have to deal with all seasonal changes. Some deal with hot all the time,
<br /> others cold, but we deal with homeless issues throughout the whole entire year. How they deal
<br /> with heat and how they deal with weather that is cold and so we are glad to be here tonight to
<br /> present this to you.
<br /> Councilmember Karen White stated, As one (1) of the co-sponsors, I would like to thank
<br /> Councilmember Davis for bringing this before us and also for Councilmember Broden and
<br /> McBride for coming together to put together what we have before us. We would like to
<br /> acknowledge the work of Community Investment and others and, of course our attorney, for the
<br /> work they have done to ensure that what we have before us is the very best at this particular time.
<br /> I'm very appreciative of sections four (4) and five (5) in particular because it makes it much
<br /> broader based in regard to the other entities that need to be at the table. Again, I think it is very
<br /> important that we start those conversations early on and that we work collaboratively together to
<br /> address this public health issue within our community. I think South Bend has stepped up and we
<br /> need other entities to as well. This resolution speaks to that and I'm very supportive of that.
<br /> Council President Tim Scott opened the floor to questions and comments from Council Members.
<br /> Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston stated, I just want to echo some of what Councilmember
<br /> White mentioned. First (1St), thank you, Oliver, for being a champion of this as well as
<br /> Councilmembers Broden and McBride on this homelessness issue which affects not only one (1)
<br /> particular part of the City but the entire City. Again, this is important. I look forward to coming
<br /> together with regional partners in the County to make sure we are doing this right and well. I also
<br /> want to thank all of those who are here tonight with your activism and posters. It really makes a
<br /> difference and it means a lot. I can't say we would really be on this issue if it wasn't for the
<br /> community coming out. Thank you for everything you do in the interim as we try to get this
<br /> together. You guys are out there every day making it happen for those people who are in need on
<br /> the street. We really appreciate you coming out and doing what you do as well.
<br /> Councilmember Tim Scott stated, I do appreciate all the co-sponsors and sponsors of this bill.
<br /> Thank you very much. It was that conversation we had a few months back when we were voting
<br /> before on doing this. I believe Vice President Davis and I had a conversation about that. I think
<br /> section five (5) on here is very important. I agree with Councilmember Williams-Preston. The
<br /> people here voicing their opinion, we definitely appreciate. Is the City doing everything it could?
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