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CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK
<br /> community leaders across the county to shrink. Duplications of staffs was something that was atop
<br /> of everyone's mind.I think that kind of fits in with what you're saying.There was a push to provide
<br /> efficiencies to try and get the community moving to the next level of where this community was
<br /> going. That is the velocity of the Area Plan Commission. And over the years, when the Plan
<br /> Commission first (1St) started, it was an organization that did everything. I mean, we went after
<br /> HUD grants back then, we had private contractors and consultants for plans, and we were actually
<br /> the cog at that point. Then it went into the 1970's, the community decided to go in another
<br /> direction, so they created MACOG. That took a big chuck out of the Plan Commission. Then the
<br /> Building Department was still separate for a long time and then Code Enforcement, the City and
<br /> the County. The Plan Commission started to lose some of the efficiencies,really,because it was a
<br /> County agency and it is funded by the County. So, you, the City, were at the mercy of the budget
<br /> process and the combination of some of the activities, the County started funding for other things
<br /> like comprehensive plans. It kind of lost the effect and has been for a while.
<br /> He continued, So now we are up to today, I mean, we can have a philosophical discussion of
<br /> whether it is right or wrong for you. It has been right for Mishawaka as you mentioned, and they
<br /> seem to be doing fine. The advantage you would have with staying a member of the Plan
<br /> Commission is the cost. Our services are roughly $300,000 plus and that is pure staff cost. Now,
<br /> we keep the fees, but the fees don't anywhere near offset our cost on that. The other thing is, I
<br /> think, by having a staff that is truly county-wide, we see everything. We offer a true apolitical
<br /> service to our county. We really look at the issue purely and I think we've done that pretty well.
<br /> I'm not saying you're going to lose that but those are really two (2) main advantages we have.
<br /> There are a lot of Plan Commissions in Indiana, sixteen (16) to eighteen (18) give or take, and
<br /> most of those are in the smaller counties. Really, the next two (2) counties that have Plan
<br /> Commissions our size would be Tippecanoe and West Lafayette. Once you get past those two (2)
<br /> and ours, those are really rural communities. Some are growing but really, I'm neutral on this. If
<br /> you stay, you stay, if you leave, you leave. Tim mentioned some advantages for us as a staff.
<br /> Roughly fifty percent(50%)of our workload would go away but I have plenty of stuff to do to fill
<br /> that void. That took a little convincing on the County Council's part but it's really what is best for
<br /> the City of South Bend. I'm neutral on that and I see both sides of it.
<br /> Committee Chair Davis stated, I'm glad you asked him that and I'm glad we have time. Even
<br /> though they are going to move forward on some of the things pending our vote today, it's not a
<br /> decision you just make overnight. I mean, we really have to consider what we heard today and
<br /> more questions that we can ask because there are some times I've taken on some county issues
<br /> that I know some of my county people, not so much they were hesitant, but they were in tough
<br /> positions and I can speak freely because, I mean, whoopity-do. And vis versa, you know? There
<br /> were some things said that they can speak freely to that I can't. So, I do understand the idea where
<br /> we want only South Bend voices on South Bend issues. I clearly see that but at the same time there
<br /> are some times when you can have people share things that I may not be able to necessarily voice
<br /> the same way and consider partial or non-partial when, you know, county persons have something
<br /> to say and nobody can say, well, they aren't a part of my district kind of thing. Yeah, so, that is
<br /> where the arguments you heard here are real issues. I'm glad you brought it up because it's in my
<br /> heart, too.
<br /> Committeemember Jo M. Broden stated, The two (2)positions, the Zoning Administrator and the
<br /> Zoning Specialist positions, remind me, did we receive those positions' descriptions at budget
<br /> time?
<br /> EXCELLENCE j ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT
<br /> 455 County-City Building 227 W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f 574.235.9173 I I D574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov
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