05-23-77 Council Meeting Minutes

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Nn 11 REGULAR MEETING MAY 23, 1977 REGULAR MEETING RECONVENED (CONTINUED WHEREAS, a petition has been filed under the provisions of Chapter 119 of the Indiana Acts of 1937 by more than fifty (50) owners of taxable real estate of the City of South Bend, Indiana, requesting said Board of Park Commissioners of the Park District of the City of South Bend to issue park district bonds for the purpose of providing funds to be applied on the construction of a lighted baseball field at Belleville Park, the development of Paul F. Boehm Park (Edison Road), the replacement of the irrigation system at Erskine Golf Course, the construction of tennis courts at Riverside Manor and Voorde Parks, the lighting of tennis courts at Marshall Field, and for the complete renovation of Potawatomi Park Zoo located in Potawatomi Park, and on the payment of the incidental expenses in connection therewith and on account of the issuance of bonds there - fore;and WHEREAS, the Common Council finds that the construction of such park and park development and the complete renovation of Potawatomi Park Zoo by the Board of -Park Commissioners of the City of South Bend, Indiana, is in the best interest of and will be for the general benefit of the Cit, and its citizens; and WHEREAS, it is necessary for there to be an appropriation in an amount not to exceed Two Million One Hundred Seventy Thousand Dollars (2,170,000.00), in order that the above projects proceed. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana: That the proposed issuance of park district bonds by the Board of Park Commissioners of the Park District of the City of South Bend, Indiana, in an amount not to exceed Two Million One Hundred Seventy Thousand Dollars (2,170,000.00), the purpose of which is to provide funds to be applied on the construction of a lighted baseball field at Belleville Park, the development of Paul F. Boehm Park (Edison Road), the replacement of the irrigation system at Erskine Golf Course, the construction of tennis courts at Riverside Manor and Voorde Parks, the lighting of tennis courts at Marshall Field, and for the complete renovation of Potawatomi Park Zoo, a public park within the City of South Bend, Indiana, is hereby approved. Passed and adopted by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, on the 23 day of May 1977. /s/ Mary Christine Adams Member of the Common Council A public hearing was held at this time on the resolution. Mr. James Seitz, Superintendent of Public Parks, introduced Mr. Thomas Broden, Jerry Hubner, members of the Park Board, as.well as Allen Schrager, attorney for the Park Board. He said the Park Board is deeply concerned about the zoo. He said the response from the citizens of South Bend was overwhelming in their approval of the bond issue., He said the 11,388 persons who signed the bond petition clearly indicated they want a zoo in South Bend and that they want the other projects listed in the bond issue. He said the passage of the Animal Welfare Act of 1970 requires zoos to be licensed, and that Potawatomi is faced with either fixing the zoo or closing it down. He said in looking toward the future the Board decided to spend enough money to obtain a complete zoo which will meet the Federal requirements now and in the future. He said he had met with Dr. McCraley, County Health Officer, and reviewed the plans for the new zoo. He said Dr. McCraley made some recommendations that they will incorporate into the new plans. He said bond issues are expensive to prepare and sell and are very time consuming. He said it costs no more to sell bonds for $1.5 million than $225,000 and in his opinion it would be poor judgment and no doubt more expensive to sell bonds for $225,000 and try to improve the zoo on a piecemeal basis. He said that some trees will have to be removed for construction at the zoo, but the zoo plan calls for the planting of over one hundred trees and thousands of shrubs. Mrs. Irene Mutzl, 320 Parkovash, spoke against the bond issue. She indicated that seepage does flow into the St. Joseph River from the zoo. She in- dicated the three or four months the Park Board had to obtain signatures for the bond issue, against the thirty days to get remonstrator's signatures was not fair. She asked what the Counci: was prepared to cut out if they voted favorably for the resolution, because she was sure they were interested in keeping the tax rate as low as possible. She also asked how the bond issue would make the City a better place to live. Mrs. Judy Olson, 1641 Vernerlee Lane, spoke in favor of the bond issue, as a member of the Zoological Society. She said the 175,000 people who visit the zoo deserve a good zoo. Mr. Darrold Kollar, 2113 Hastings St., spoke against the bond issue. He said there were other projects in South Bend that should have priority over animals. Council Member Taylor indicated both sides had an opportunity to express themselves and it showed beyond any kind of a doubt that the majority of the people favor the necessary improvements to the zoo. He said in response to Mrs. Mutzl's question, we have to be interested in the quality of life in the City. He said you measure a city by basic.services, but you also measure it by its parks. He said the Council will scrutinize the entire City budget and wherever they can save money they will do it. Council Member Adams indicated that last year the Council cut the budget below the frozen tax rate. Council President Parent said he thought the zoo is probably the least expensive park activity, looking at the total number of people that are served by that park. He said he supported the bond issue and commended the Park Board, private organiza- tions and citizens that worked on this. Council Member Horvath made a motion to adopt this resolution, seconded by Council Member Szymkowiak. The resolution passed by a roll call vote of nine ayes. RESOLUTION NO. 561 -77 A RESOLUTION TO FREE A LIABILITY IN THE OFF - STREET PARKING REVENUE BOND FUND TO THE GENERAL FUND OF THE CITY. WHEREAS, the Off - Street Parking Revenue Bond Fund, as of the most recent auditing of its accounts, has been shown to be indebted to the General Fund of the City of South Bend, in the amount of one hundred and fourteen thousand, two hundred and six dollars ($114,206.00) charged to the On- Street Parking Meter Fund for services performed by the South Bend Meter Maids in controlling the use of metered parking spaces in the downtown area; and,