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CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK
<br /> Committee Chair Broden stated, I'm going to roll through some questions to your presentation. I
<br /> do want to acknowledge that, as Committee Chair, I will get this to the rest of the Committee but
<br /> late incoming was a letter from Mr. Myron Larimer who is the Chief Executive Officer of the
<br /> Greater South Bend Mishawaka Association of Realtors. That has been received by me and I also
<br /> know it has been copied to Suzanna Fritzberg,Jamie Morgan and a couple others. Thank you very
<br /> much and I appreciate that input. Contained in that,for the benefit of Council Members,were some
<br /> key concerns listed as well as some recommendations as we evaluate this. You'll have that
<br /> available asap this evening.
<br /> She went on, Just a couple of things, and these are in no particular order, it is just based on the
<br /> flow of your presentation. You had mentioned eight (8) health and safety criteria, I'm assuming
<br /> your presentation enumerated those, I believe?
<br /> Councilmember Williams-Preston interjected, Can you say them real quickly again?
<br /> Ms. Fritzberg stated, It's in the PowerPoint.
<br /> Committee Chair Broden continued, I just wanted to make sure that is common knowledge with
<br /> everybody here this evening. You mentioned healthcare costs, for every dollar spent there is a
<br /> return on investment, and you characterized that as healthcare savings. I can't let that go without
<br /> saying that is only one (1) piece and is only the tip of the iceberg from where I stand. With my
<br /> professional background and now over twenty (20) years of cycling through the lead stuff since
<br /> the Harvard report. You know, educational attainment,job, life-long earnings, this is just the tip
<br /> of the iceberg of the issue. I can't let that stand out there without adding that other piece. The
<br /> enforcement plus help is great. Congratulations on the lead grant, I don't know if anyone has said
<br /> that yet from Council or at least on behalf of this Committee, but those are huge to actually get
<br /> those for the benefit of our community. Congratulations to the grant writers and all the people who
<br /> prepared that, staff-wise. I know that is not an easy task and it requires collaboration, so, kudos to
<br /> you all. I know many of us were aware of it and we saw it tucked in the budget but the home repair
<br /> and the small-scale grants, all of those are great. I do think for the communication of those, and I
<br /> know there has been an uptick on it, but it would be good to locate that on our website. In real
<br /> proactive ways, I think regardless of what happens with or without this program, we have to nail
<br /> that. We have to nail that hard. We have to promote it.
<br /> She went on, In terms of the Census Tract, your roll-out, you indicated that you have a priority
<br /> list. You're going to go from Census Tract Six (6), blah, blah, blah. I mean, I think in fair
<br /> disclosure, I think as a community, we need to let that list be known. That is just my opinion. I
<br /> don't think we should hide the ball on this. If we've got the data that supports it, then we should
<br /> share that data, ok? I also understand there might be some concerns about, and this is from
<br /> meetings I had sat in with many of the individuals here tonight, an inequitable treatment giving
<br /> one (1) landlord a leg-up and another not so much,right? I do think, and I'll venture here because
<br /> we have to be smart about it,but the legality of that and the ability to do that to actually do targeted
<br /> programs and actually take programs to where they are most needed. My understanding is we
<br /> reserve that right and even if we don't have that right outright, it is smart, given our resources as a
<br /> City, ok? So, I do think that list would be helpful, at least as a Council Member, I would be
<br /> interested in that. And, as a business person. I have rentals and I would like to know that as well,
<br /> right? When is it going to hit? When can I prepare for it?
<br /> EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION I INCLUSION j EMPOWERMENT
<br /> 455 County-City Building 227W Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f 574.235.9173 TTD 574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov
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