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REGULAR MEETING APRIL 22, 2013 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />After much discussion between Councilmember’s regarding the bill and amendments, <br />Councilmember Schey made a motion to continue this bill until the May 13, 2013, meeting of the <br />Council. Councilmember Varner seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) <br />ayes. <br /> <br /> <br />BILL NO. 17-13 PUBLIC HEARING OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, <br /> INDIANA, COMMON COUNCIL APPROVING AND <br /> AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A LEASE FOR <br /> THE CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPPING OF A NEW <br /> FIRE STATION AND A NEW FIRE SAFETY <br /> TRAINING CENTER AND REGARDING CERTAIN <br /> RELATED MATTERS <br /> <br />Councilmember White, Chairperson, Health & Public Safety Committee, reported that this <br />committee held a Public Hearing on this bill this afternoon and sends it to the full Council with a <br />favorable recommendation. <br /> <br />Fire Chief Steve Cox, 1222 S. Michigan Street, South Bend, Indiana made the presentation for <br />this bill along with Mr. Randy Rompola, Faegre, Baker, Daniels, 202 S. Michigan Street, South <br />Bend, Indiana. <br /> <br />Chief Cox advised that discussions have been ongoing about the need to replace Fire Station #5 <br />located at 2221 Prairie Avenue in South Bend, and the benefit to the City of constructing a fire <br />safety training facility in South Bend. An ordinance and a resolution are being filed this date <br />which commence the process for lease financing of both of these state of the art facilities. He <br />stated that the attached ordinance approves and authorized the execution of a lease whereby <br />construction of both new Fire Station #5 and the fire safety training facility will be achieved <br />through a lease between the City as lessee and the City of South Bend Building Corporation as <br />lessor, for a term not to exceed twenty one years, at a lease rental rate of not more than $561,000 <br />per year, payable in semi-annual installments of $280,500 each. He stated that it is expected that <br />the lease rental payments shall be payable from the Emergency Medical Services Fund and that <br />EMS Funds will fully cover the lease costs. He noted that should EMS Funds and other revenues <br />be insufficient for this purpose, the lease has been structured so that the tax levy will serve as <br />back-up only; enabling marketing of the Building Corporations bonds at a lower rate of interest. <br /> <br />This being the time heretofore set for Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and <br />opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. <br /> <br />Council President Dieter stated that Fire Station #5 was already torn down, and how was that <br />possible before the passage of this bill. <br /> <br />Chief Cox advised that there are sufficient funds in the EMS Fund and those funds were used to <br />pay for the demolition. <br /> <br />Barbara Jewell, 821 Gartner, South Bend, Indiana, advised that there should be full <br />accountability of the money is being spent. <br /> <br />st <br />Dave Wilson, 1109 21 Street, South Bend, Indiana, advised that he is in favor of building a new <br />Station #5, however, he is opposed to a training center. <br /> <br />In Rebuttal, Chief Cox advised that the Board of Public Works posted and approved all bids, <br />detailing the project. He stated that the South Bend Fire Department has never had a training <br />facility and they do not have a place to train. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dieter made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council concerning <br />this bill. Councilmember Schey seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) <br />ayes. <br /> <br /> <br />8 <br /> <br /> <br />