05-27-08 Common Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING MAY 27, 2008 Reading on June 9, 2008. Councilmember Puzzello seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. REPORTS FROM AREA PLAN COMMISSION BILL NO. 18-08 AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, ANNEXING TO AND BRINGING WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AND AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE FOR PROPERTY LOCATED IN GERMAN TOWNSHIP CONTIGUOUS THEREWITH; COUNCILMANIC DISTRICT ONE, WILLIAM A. GEYER, 52610 PORTAGE RD, SOUTH BEND, INDIANA Councilmember Varner made a motion to refer this bill to the Zoning and Annexation Committee and set it for Public Hearing and Second Reading on June 23, 2008 and Third Reading on July 14, 2008. Councilmember Dieter seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. NEW BUSINESS Councilmember Varner advised that he attended the Redevelopment Commission and that the $1 million dollar façade project for WNIT comes from resources allocated in the Downtown TIF District. He further noted that those funds can only be allocated for certain projects like the façade project and not for salaries. Councilmember Henry Davis stated that he is a member of the LaSalle Square Shopping Center Steering Committee Meeting and attended a meeting last week. He stated that they will be hearing opinions from a Chicago based firm on the complex and be moving forward on the development of LaSalle Square. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR COMMENTS FROM MR. JERRY NIEZGODSKI CONCERNING THE 2009 BUDGET Mr. Jerry Niezgodski, 2930 Bonds, South Bend, Indiana, stated that budget time is coming up and it was nice to see that the City Controller urged the various department heads to present two budgets. One with the dooms day scenario with House Bill 1001 and its impact and then a more status quo budget as if 1001 wasn’t an issue. He urged the City Council’s newest members to do a little more research than has been done in the past. He asked the members of the Council to do a cursory look at other cities in Indiana such as Indianapolis, Mishawaka, Ft. Wayne, Evansville, to find based on population per 1,000, that South Bend has the most full time employees. During the entire budget process, Mayor Rhea and Mayor Luecke both were together in agreement that House Bill 1001 had dire consequences. Mayor Luecke reported repeatedly in various announcements that they were done cutting fat, that bone and muscle were next to be cut. He stated that if you look at the numbers, you will find that the City of Indianapolis, has based on per thousand residents a little over six full time employees. Ft. Wayne has six plus full-time employees. The closest City to South Bend in numbers is Mishawaka; they have a little over seven full-time employees per thousand residents. South Bend has twelve full-time employees. So when you strap late the numbers and take Mishawaka as the closest example to South Bend, we should have approximately 700 – 750 full time employees. But the City has over 1,200 employees. Mr. Niezgodski questioned why all the other cities have fewer employees and seem to be getting things done much more effectively and efficiently. The City needs to review how the various departments are doing their jobs and decide whether or not they are doing the job effectively and 25