11-22-76 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 22, 1976 REGULAR MEETING (CONTINUED) WHEREAS, September 10, 1976, the Board of the St. Joseph County Airport Authority adopted a resolution approving the issuance and sale of bonds of the St. Joseph County Airport Authority for the purpose of securing funds to be applied on the�cost of improvements to the St. Joseph Couni Airport specifically set forth in said resolution, and, WHEREAS, on September 28, 1976, the St. Joseph County Airport Authority adopted its Ordinanc( No. 76 -8 authorizing the issuance of general obligations bonds of the St. Joseph County Airport Authority District in an amount not to exceed $7,000,000.00 designated "St. Joseph County Airport Authority Airport Improvement Bonds," to secure funds for the purposes set forth in said Ordinance and to apply on the cost of said improvements to the St. Joseph County Airport, and, WHEREAS, the Common Council of theCity of South Bend believes that the contemplated improve- ments to the St. Joseph County Airport as set forth in said Ordinance No. 76 -8 of the St. Joseph County Airport Authority are necessary and desirable. NOW, THERFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana: 1. That it favors the establishment of an Airport Authority District for St. Joseph County, Indiana, and it approves and confirms the action of the County Council of St. Joseph County, Indiana, had on June 19, 1973, creating by its resolution an Airport Authority District for St. Joseph County, Indiana, and 2. It approves the Ordinance of the St. Joseph County Airport Authority, adopted September 28, 1976, being Ordinance no. 76 -8, authorizing the issuance and sale of general obligation bonds of said St. Joseph County Airport Authority District designated "St. Joseph County Airport Author? Improvements Bonds" to secure funds to be applied to the cost of improvements to the St. Joseph County Airport as specifically set forth in said Ordinance. /s/ Mary Christine Adams Member, South Bend Common Council A public hearing was held at this time on the resolution. Mr. Thomas Nate, President of the Airport Authority, indicated the Airport Authority had adopted a resolution for a bond authorizat: of $7,000,000 to expand the terminal at the Michiana Airport. He said the Airport Authority hope( to receive substantial Federal funds, and they will not use these funds to expand the scope of the project, but to defray the total cost of the project. He indicated that a consultant had use( passenger flow to determine the size terminal needed. He presented a graph which depicted the passenger flow. He indicated that 72% of the operating budget of--,the airport,comes from revenue produced by the consessions and air carrier operations at the airport. He indicated it was neces- sary that they get the processing for the bond handled as quickly as possible and they needed the approval of the South Bend Common Council. Mr. Simon Sclamberg, 2013 Berkley, spoke against the expansion:.. He said he had heard they intended to put a bus terminal at the airport, in order that this would be a multi -modal facility and the public had not been properly informed. Mr. Walter King, a corporation pilot, took opposition to the bond issue. He indicated he was not opposed to a reasonable and realistic expansion of the airport terminal, however, for the amount of money being requested he did not feel the, public had received adequate information. He discussed the expansion of the terminal at the Toledo airport at a cost of slightly under $6,000,000. He said the Toledo airport was serviced by four air lines, not two. He indicated South Bend was not goin( to receive any additional service in the immediate future. He said he thought there should be-a scaled down bond issue that could provide a very adequate terminal building to meet the community needs for the next 25 -30 years. Mr. Robert Vasoli, a University of Notre Dame sociology professor indicated the Airport Authority had spent a lot of money on studies of the need for a terminal. He indicated passenger traffic would not be as heavy as predicted by the Authority. He indicated that he did not know how the Council could make a judgement on the bond issue until they know what it is going to buy. He said he thought the Council should have some answers to the questions that have been raised. Mr. John Kagel, representative of the South Bend - Mishawaka Chamber of Commerce, gave a nine page statement from the Chamber to the Council. This statement listed companies and people in the community who were in favor of this expansion. Mrs. Jane Swan, 2022 Swygart, asked if this meant theSouth Bend residents would be paying a double issue, since this was a countywide project. Council President Parent indicated they would not pay double. Mrs. Janet Allen, 125 W. Marion, indicated that some of the people listed on the - statement from the Chamber were the same people who favored Downtown Urban Redevelopment. She indicated she certainly would question any project that asks for $7,000,000 when they do not know exactly how much it is going to cost. Mr. Nate indicated the Airport Authority felt the public had been kept abreast of what the project entailed, and that a bus terminal will be constructed only if a bus company wishes to locate its facilities at the airport. Mr. John Lindstaedt, president of the St. Joseph County Fair Tax Association spoke in favor of the project. Mr. Paul Bognar, 807 W. Washington, spoke in favor of the project. Council Member Serge indicated he had received many calls regarding the fact that people do not want the bus terminal located in that area. Council Member Taylor indicated he fell the project has been highly publicized and both pro and con have had ample opportunity to express opinions. He indicated he would vote in favor of this resolution. Council Member Adams indicate she felt the Council had to look at this issue realistically, and this would be an additional burden to the taxpayers. She indicated the County Council felt the two councils should get toget- her and discuss this, since the County Council, through Area Plan, had authorized an independent Study and they would have the results back next week. She made a motion that this resolution be continued until the December 13 meeting of the Council, seconded by Council Member Kopczynski. Council Member Dombrowski indicated he would support this resolution. Council Member Horvath sat he was in favor of the resolution, but did not think the bus terminal should be moved in the air- port. Council President Parent indicated he did not think the bus terminal should be moved from downtown.Mr. Nate indicated they were working with the Department of Transportation to get the criteria on what they call multi - modal, and the decision to move would be strictly up to the bus company. Council Member Kopczynski indicated he felt it would be best to continue hearing on thi resolution until the next meeting. Council President Parent indicated he felt they did not need to delay the hearing. He said he was in favor of the general approach to solving this problem. A roll call vote taken on the motion lost by a vote of two ayes (Council Members Adams and Kopczynski) and seven nays (Council Members Serge, Szymkowiak, Miller, Taylor, Dombrowski, Horvat and Parent). Council Member Taylor made a motion that this resolution be adopted, seconded by Council Member Dombrowski.