09-23-74 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 23 1974 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED) lad received a fifty percent match from the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation for the site work at the Zing Recreation Center. He stated that the funds were received too late to show in the additional appropriations to be made July 1 to December 31 of the present year in the 1975 budget. He reques "-he Council to approve the appropriation of $32,754 from the General Fund for use as the city's share to match the $40,000 grant received from the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission Eor work on the Centennial and Pier Park area. The balance of the money being $7,000 would be ased to purchase materials for the installation of water and sewer lines for Belleville Gardens ?ark. Kr. Gene Evans, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association, wondered if the income received had shown up in the miscellaneous revenues in the 1975 budget, and Mr. Seitz indicated that it had not. Councilman Szymkowiak made a motion that the ordinance be recommended favorably to the Common Council, seconded by Councilman Kopczynski. Councilman Kopczynski wondered about the possibility of using revenue sharing funds for Belleville Gardens Park, and Mr. Seitz indicated that he would probably have to request revenue sharing funds to finish the project. Councilman Kopczynski state that he has followed the progress of the Park Department and he felt a fine job had been done by Mr. Nemeth and the Park Department crews. Council President Nemeth wondered about the plans for Centennial Park, and Mr. Seitz stated that a plan would be drawn to include a "people's area" when people could congregate - -a passage recreation area and a retaining wall along the river, which wou have to be constructed. Council President Nemeth asked if much of the area would be covered with concrete or grass. Mr. Seitz stated that a great portion of the area would be lawn area with tree and flowers, etc. Councilman Kopczynski stated that he had seen a park similar to the plans for Centennial Park in Cleveland, and he expressed disappointment in that park, hoping that South Bend park would not turn out like Cleveland's had. The motion carried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING THE SUM OF $26,730.00 FROM THE LOCAL ROADS AND STREETS FUND, AND $2,970.00 FROM LINE ITEM 260.0 OF THE CUMULATIVE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND TO R & S 66 AND R & S 67 AS SET FORTH IN SECTION I OF THIS ORDINANCE. This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. Rollin Farrand, Director of the Department of Public Works, made the presentation for the ordinance. He explained that the ordinance would appropriate funds for the design of two intersection areas within the city. The first would deal with the evaluation and redesign of the Williams Street intersection in order to provide for an easier and more efficient movement of traffic from Wayne Street to Lafayette and Western. He stated that there were three ways of responding to the problem: doing nothing about it, taking out the jog at Taylor and constructing an S curve to handle traffic on Chapin; or provide turning radii sufficient to handle traffic. He stated that the Western Avenue Businessmen's Association was interested in the proposals as the traffic would affect Western Avenue because Western Avenue constituted a major access into the downtown area. Regarding the Portage intersection, there were five problems that complicated traffic movements: traffic entering onto Portage, conflicts with school children, high speed vehicles, substandard lane widths on Portage and interruptions of continuous traffic. Mr. Gene Evans, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association, wondered about the total cost of the project. Mr. Farrand stated that the contract was based on a 7 -8% design fee. Mr. Evans asked if the funds would be available in the Local Roads and Streets Fund. Mr. Farrand stated that he was anticipating that that would be the source of funding. Council President Nemet] wondered about the possibility of a connector back to Williams. Street. Mr. Farrand stated that this might have to be a consideration if the right angle turns were not adequate. Councilman Kopczynski stated that there was a great need for the projects; however, he wondered if the city was designing too many projects and would not have any money available in the future for actual construction. Mr. Farrand stated that some of the decisions are simply priorities. He felt the department was not designing projects that could not be built within a four -year program. He mentioned the problem cities encounter on receiving funds for specific projects. Councilman Kopczynski stated that the Council, some time ago, had appropriated money for a study on Sample Street. He wondered about this project, and Mr. Farrand stated that the survey had been completed and that he would provide an update on that project for the Council. Councilman Miller wondered about the design contractors, and Mr. Farrand stated that Clyde Williams would design both project Councilman Miller wondered if the Woodlawn and Hamilton area could be done in- house. Mr. Farrand stated that the department had reached its limits on in -house work. Councilman Miller wondered if the traffic count really justified signalization of the intersections being considered. Mr. Farra stated that there were five considerations on installing signals, and the speed factor warranted t installation. Councilman Szymkowiak wondered about the widening of Western Avenue near the via- duct. Mr. Farrand indicated that a meeting had been held with the state because it was a state highway, and the city was not anxious to put money into the project at this time. Councilman Serge made a motion that the ordinance be recommended favorably to the Common Council, Iseconded by Councilman Kopczynski. The motion carried. ORDINANCES AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF $950.77 FROM THE MUNICIPAL BONDS OF 1965 FUND TO THE GENERAL SINKING FUND OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, and AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $6,800.00 TO ACCOUNT NO. 610.0, CURRENT OBLIGATIONS - INTEREST ON BONDS ", FROM THE GENERAL SINKING BOND FUND OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, and 1 1 1