02-26-01 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 26, 2001 Councilmember Kelly stated it seems a shame to him that issues are being debated that should be fairly cut and dry. What everyone is trying to do is provide for the safety of people and property. Councilmember Kelly agrees that contract is exorbitant in terms of costs but at the same time it needs to be done and the City is doing its best to get it right and move ahead. The motion to accept the amendment to the Resolution as offered by Councilmember Ujdak passed by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes and one (1) nay by Councilmember Kirsits. Councilmember Varner stated that he received a telephone call from Ms. Gail Waltman, Centre Township Trustee, and she gave him a rational explanation on how they arrived at the monthly fee which seemed logical to him and he would be glad to explain it to Mr. Stein. Councilmember Varner indicated that the reason the Council is still discussing this matter is because it came to the Council late and out of the blue and it wasn't until this afternoon that the real reason that this was before the Council was actually discussed. The fact of the matter is it is related to the inability or the perceived inability or the requirement to provide services to a newly annexed area subject to the state statute within a specified period of time. This Agreement is an insurance policy on behalf of the City to insure that the people are protected but also to insure that any contest of the annexation which would occur at a later date over the delivery of fire services could be defended. When it is put into this context, it has a logical beginning and a logical ending because the services have to be provided. There were objections from the union about the costs but the Council never really knew why they were arguing about this or discussing it. Councilmember Varner stated that in the future it would help that when something like this occurs, that the Council is made fully aware of what the motivation is because, in this instance, the Council did not fully understand what that motivation was until this evening. Councilmember Varner further stated that he believes the City is obligated to provide the service and while this may not be the best solution individually, collectively, it is the best solution right now which answers all the needs. Therefore, Councilmember Varner made a motion to adopt this Resolution as amended. Councilmember Kelly seconded the motion which carried by a roll call vote of eight (8) ayes and one (1) nay by Councilmember Kirsits. RESOLUTION NO. 2970 -01 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, ENCOURAGING THE INDIANA STATE LEGISLATURE TO PASS FUNDING MECHANISMS FOR ADDITIONAL LOCAL ROAD AND STREET FUNDS WHEREAS, currently there are three (3) bills pending in the Indiana State Legislature which address possible funding mechanisms for additional funds for local road and street projects; and WHEREAS, Senate Bill 0258 would shift approximately $136 million in state tax receipts to accounts for state and local roads with the state proposed to receive $67.2 million each year and the local governments proposed to receive $55 million each year with the money to fund this proposal coming from the state sales tax on gasoline which is currently $0.05 on the dollar; and WHEREAS, House Bill 1811 is proposed to raise the state gasoline tax which is currently the sixth (6t'') lowest in the nation from its current level of $0.15 to $0.18 per gallon and the diesel fuel tax to $0.17 per gallon with the proposed raises being $0.01 in 2002 and $0.02 in 2003; and WHEREAS, Senate Bill 0339 would transfer $10,000,000 from the Build Indiana Fund to the Environmental Remediation Revolving Loan fund as follows: $5,000,000 on July 1, 2001 and $5,000,000 on July 1, 2002. It also would transfer $20,000,000 from the Underground Petroleum Storage Tank Excess Liability Trust Fund to the Environmental Remediation Revolving Loan Fund as follows: $10,000,000 on July 1, 2001 and $10,000,000 on July 1, 2002; and