03-12-01 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING MARCH 12, 2001 BILL NO. 19-01 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA COMMON COUNCIL APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A LEASE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPPING OF A NEW PUBLIC WORKS SERVICE CENTER, PLEDGING COUNTY OPTION INCOME TAX REVENUES TO THE PAYMENT OF RENTALS THEREFORE AND REGARDING CERTAIN RELATED MATTERS Councilmember Aranowski reported that the Public Works and Property Vacation Committee and the Personnel and Finance Committee conducted a joint meeting on this bill and sends it to the Council with a favorable recommendation. Mr. Gary Gilot, Director, Department of Public Works, 1300 County -City Building, South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill. Mr. Gilot indicated that the Lease Agreement is a mechanism that finances the new Public Works Service Center which will be located on 7.8 acres immediately north of the current MSF building. They currently have cramped quarters with the Street Department sharing the space with the Police and Fire Departments. In order to make this first step to open up room in that building they will move the Street Department out of that building along with the traffic division as well as the other portion of Traffic and Lighting from the Equipment Services Building and the Sewer Department so that they are all under one roof in the new Public Works Service Center. That will enable the City to redesign the existing MSF building to serve the needs of the Police and Fire Departments. The Building Corporation will issue bonds which will be repaid out of COIT. The intended term is twenty (20) years with two (2) annual payments of four hundred fifty thousand dollars ($450,000.00). This is an estimate based on a maximum issuance of $10 million dollars. It is hoped that this will be less than that and they will adjust the semi - annual payments and or the term of the repayment period based on the actual experience. The bonds will not be sold until a day or two after the Board of Public Works open bids for this project so they will have a firm price. Councilmember Varner inquired what is the City's COIT allotment for this year. Mr. Gilot stated that the total COIT budget that was appropriated by the Council in the 2001 CIP was $7,559,928.00. Councilmember Varner stated that that was the capital budget for the single year and he clarified that he is interested in what the City's COIT receipts will be. Mr. Gilot stated that COIT starts out with a cash balance of $5 million dollars but he stated that he will get back with that information. At the privilege of the floor portion of the meeting, Mr. Gilot informed the Council that the COIT revenue for 2001, is $4.6 million dollars. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. There being no one present wishing to speak to the Council either in favor of or in opposition to this bill, Councilmember Aranowski made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council concerning this bill. Councilmember White seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. BILL NO. 21 -01 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AMENDING SALARY ORDINANCE NUMBER 9137 -00 FOR A NON - BARGAINING EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2001 Councilmember Coleman reported that the Parks and Recreation Committee met on this bill and sends it to the Council with a favorable recommendation.