06-28-72 Council Special Meeting Minutes

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SPECIAL MEETING JUNE 28, 1972 RESOLUTION NO. 313 -72 (CONTINUED) Councilman Szymkowiak thanked Mr. Nemeth and Mr. Miller for their presentation and then opened the public portion of the public hearing. Mrs. Audrey Conley, Director of the Convention Bureau for the Chamber of Commerce spoke in favor of the resolution. She said that she is glad that the City Council feels all ideas should be coordinated. The 1972 state legislature passed a 3% tax on hotel and motel rooms for a con- vention center for St. Joseph County. The committee that was appointed to research this project included people in the county, the County Commissioners, the Mayor of South Bend, the Mayor of Mishawaka, and the City Council. All are in agreement that the logical location for such a center is downtown South Bend. Mr. Harold Zisla, a teacher at Indiana - University -South Bend and former Director of the South Bend Art Center, said he was overwhelmed at the enthusiasm and expertise of the presentation. The South Bend Art Center is in favor of the river front site. They feel that a combination Art Center -Civic Center, and a place to display the Studebaker Collection of cars should be con- sidered and suggested that all activities be coordinated. He said he feels that meetings should be arranged with the Council and all agencies who would be involved and that these efforts will culminate in a dramatic, viable enrichment of our community. He then read a statement express- ing the views of the South Bend Art Association on a proposed cultural complex. Mrs. Ruth Price, President of Southold Restorations, spoke to the Council and asked that they consider some of the existing structures in South Bend which have historic significance, such as Tippecanoe Place. She said it is not necessary to have all new buildings. She pointed out that Tippecanoe Place, as the home of Clement Studebaker, would be the logical place to house the collection of Studebaker vehicles. She continued that last year Southold held an Open House at Tippecanoe Place with the hope of attracting 5,000 people. More than 15,000 attended to tour Tippecanoe Place. This should not be overlooked in overall planning since it would be an attrac- tion for tourists in the South Bend area. Mr. Tom Brubaker, Michiana Arts and Science Council, supported the resolution and its presenta- tion. He said he feels the Council is providing fine leadership in the aesthetic, academic and recreational aspects of the proposal and said that the Michiana Arts & Science Council will be glad to help in any way they can. Miss Virginia Guthrie, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association, said that no one has talked yet about what this proposal is going to cost. She said that, as a member of the Mayor's Committee several years ago, she visited Louisville to see the proposed center they were to build there. She said that not one of the proposed buildings has ever been built. Mrs. Janet Allen, 125 West Marion Street, said that the people participating tonight were a professional group; artists, people concerned with the downtown - a specialized group and not what you might consider the public. She said they are beginning to talk about letting the public participate in this whey they want the public to come up with their share of the money. She said that all the people should be given a chance to say what they want and where they want it. Councilman Parent said that the people here tonight are all part of the public and do not repre- sent just one segment of the community. He said that it is important that a city know its roots and know %h ere it wants to go. A cultural complex is a help to a community to get to know itself better. Councilman Horvath asked if passing this resolution tonight would bind the tax- payers for any increase in their tax rate for the coming year. Councilman Nemeth said that the resolution would not have that effect. Any appropriations would have to be in the budget and would have to be by ordinance to be binding. Councilman Horvath asked about the proposed position of planner. Councilman Nemeth answered that the resolution would just approve going ahead with the study of the cultural complex and find out how much it would cost. The financing is not being considered here at all. Councilman Horvath asked how soon the Committee would be appointed to continue the study and start the ground work. Councilman Nemeth said that Mayor Miller will appoint the committee. He then asked Mayor Miller if he would care to comment. Mayor Miller said that he felt it would be premature to talk about the committee until he got the input from the Council in the form of the Resolution. He said we are obligated to have the cultural center 800% completed by late 1975 in order to get the $1,200,000 in credits. Council- man Kopczynski asked if the study made had indicated how many people would use the cultural center. He asked whether the facility would be used by 15% of the people and funded by the other 85 %. He said he would like to see all districts of the city represented on the committee to be appointed, as well as all ethnic groups and labor representatives. Councilman Serge said that the youth of today need someplace to spend their time and asked if the cultural center will have something to offer the young people. Councilman Nemeth said that it is impossible to get anyone to go anyplace unless they want to. He said that he would hope that a center such as this unified complex would have something to offer everyone. He said that if groups of school children could be brought to a cultural center for tours of displays such as the Studebaker vehicle collection, this would provide a chance to bring out their talents and appreciation of such a center. Councilman Parent said that the Committee to be appointed should be properly representative of the community and should include the young, retired, women, various career segments, the skilled, laborers, and others. Mrs. Janet Allen asked the Council if they would be willing to open the session up to general questions from the audience. The Council agreed to this. She then asked Mrs. Conley if the convention center could be used by young people for dances and other things when there were no conventions. Mrs. Conley said that they would hope the community would use the hall and auditor- ium for proms, dances and other activities because this would be a community project. Council- man Kopczynski asked Mrs. Conley if the Chamber of Commerce has any projected figures on the needs and use of such a civic center. Mrs. Conley said that their study will be mailed to Mayor Miller, the members of the County Commissioners and the members of the City Council. She said that the feeling in Evansville was "We ought to do something for Evansville" and their committee is called "Evansville Future ". The cost to the taxpayers of Evansville for their center was $3000 in 1971 but they have generated six million dollars in new construction for-the city. There is a 50 million dollar project going on in downtown Evansville. She said, as a general rule, local people are the hardest to sell on a project. Councilman Kopczynski asked what the proposed center will be - a cultural center, civic center, or art center. Mrs. Conley said that they hope it will be a combination of all three. The public hearing concluded and Councilman Szymkowiak turned the meeting over to President Nemeth. Councilman Parent moved that the Council adopt the resolution which approves the idea of a Civic Center. Councilman Kopczynski seconded the motion. The resolution was adopted by a roll call vote of seven ayes (Councilmen Serge, Szymkowiak, Miller, Parent, Kopczynski, Horvath and Nemeth) two absent (Councilmen Taylor and Newburn). Upon motion made by Councilman Kopczynski, seconded by Councilman Miller, and carried, the meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m. ATTEST: CITY CLERK