05-14-73 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING MAY 14 1973 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED) Bendix Woods Nature Center was a great distance away. He mentioned the possibility of acquiring more land to the south in order to make part of the park a nature study area. In Program FA28, he indicated that every year hundreds of trees are planted manually and that the purchase of the tree planter was very important as it would be faster and the risk of the trees not surviving would not be so great. Mrs. Frederick.Mutzl, President of the St. Joseph County Fair Tax Association, indicated that she wanted to comment on the items within the ordinance. She expressed her agreement with Program FA23. In Program FA24 regarding the renovation of the zoo, she asked if the $100,000 would be all that would be needed to bring the zoo up to the Animal Welfare Act. Mr. Seitz indicated that he had not received any standards regarding the act as yet. Mrs. Mutzl felt the city should do what the act sets forth.and she felt renovation of the zoo should wait until the act has been received in order to know what is required. She asked if the $100,000 would be all that would be required, and Mr. Seitz indicated that he had previously mentioned the $100,000 amount was only the beginning. Mrs. Mutzl asked who would pay for the maintenance of the zoo, and Mr. Seitz indicated that the taxpayers would. Mrs. Mutzl again indicated that, since the city has not received the Animal Welfare Act, it should wait regarding the plans for the zoo. She suggested that a smaller amount of money be used to bring the zoo up to standard conditions with the rest of the money being used at the present time in some other program that would benefit the community She asked if there was indebtedness that some of the money could go for, and she asked about improvements and equipment that was needed. She indicated that the citizens did not want to do with revenue sharing money more than what could be paid without adding to the tax burden. She felt the revenue sharing funds should help and not burden the taxpayers. She briefly mentioned the local option tax and how it could possibly go into effect should the county approve it. She mentioned that, in Program FA25 regarding the general park lighting, she would leave that up to Mr. Seitz'good judgment. She also agreed with Program FA26 regarding renovation of the rest rooms at Potawatomi. In Program FA27, she indicated that Rum Village has 160 acres, and she quoted an article indicating that it was a natural place for persons of all ages to view nature, life, etc. She felt it should be left that way and not renovated with the construction of a $150,000 building She agreed to a smaller building and rest rooms; however, she felt that if the city constructed such a building, it would cost the taxpayers in the future. Mr. Seitz indicated that $150,000 would not make the building elaborate. Mrs. Mutzl felt nature should be studied outdoors, and she felt this could be accomplished through the schools. She did not feel the building was necessary, and she indicated that, in the Park Department proposed budget for 1974, a figure for expenses for the building was set out at $40,450. She felt the education belonged in the schools and was not up to the local government. In Program FA28, she asked about the size of the tree planter, and Mr. Seitz indicated that it would plant trees four inches in diameter. Mrs. Mutzl asked about the best time -for planting trees, and Mr. Seitz indicated that the best time for planting was in the spring and fall. Mrs. Mutzl indicated that the part -time summer help would not be utilized for tree planting. Mr. Seitz indicated that, in addition to all other activities, the department had two new parks to maintain.. Mrs. Mutzl questioned whether the tree planter would put men out of work. Mrs. Fanny Grunwald, 227 South Frances, indicated that she was against the nature center. She asked if there still was a Storyland Zoo, and Mr. Seitz indicated there was. She felt the nature area should be left as is, and the city should concentrate on the Storyland Zoo. Mr. James Considine, 1109 Donmoyer, and chairman of the Board of the Zoological Society, indicated that he was in favor of the renovation of the Potawatomi Zoo. He indicated that the Board appreciated and was very glad that this money was being appropriated for the zoo because it had been neglected for many years. He reiterated that the Society had been working very hard to improve the facilities and the money being appropriated would be "seed" money to encourage private money to come into the zoo in future years. He supported Mr. Seitz' comment about needing a planner for the zoo. Mr. Howard Wallace, 1442 East Bowman Street, asked about the specific plans and design of the nature center. Mr. Seitz indicated that it would be placed on the north side of the road, and in the center,trails would be marked; however, it would be left in its natural state. Mr. Wallace indicated that the floor bed was very rich in the park and many plants that grow there are not available in other parts of the county. He suggested that a fence be erected in order to protect these plants. Mr. Seitz indicated that the fence would be included in next year's budget. Mr. Hugo Petersen, 2165 Riverside Drive, of the Board of Directors of the South Bend City Planning Association, indicated that he had been impressed that every allotment had been discussed on the basis of the need. He felt there should be no question on that. He felt renovation of the zoo was important and should be accomplished because, at present, the zoo did not have much to offer. He also felt it was a question of priorities. He asked about the nature center in Bendix Woods. He asked if the $150,000 for the Rum Village Nature Center would be an initial allotment. He indicated that there would be additional expenses in order to keep the center in operating condi- tion and that additional security would also have to be considered and required. He asked if it wouldn't be better to take this money, at the present time, and spend it on the renovation of the zoo. Mr. Al Gostola, 62650 Oak Road, indicated that he was not opposed to anything that was being proposed at the meeting. He complimented the Park Department on their efforts. He mentioned that as far as the nature center, this could be accomplished anytime. He indicated that he would like to see the city acquire additional land in Rum Village at the present time. He mentioned that A.M. General was cutting trees in the area, and he concluded by indicating that the city could not produce more land when the land was being taken away. Mrs. Janet Allen, 125 West Marion Street, agreed with Mr. Gostola. She indicated that she had found it interesting that the people who live in the area of Rum Village were not on the committee that studied the situation. She suggested that the city use $100,000 for marking trails and making additional trails and put $150,000 into the zoo. She indicated that she did not feel the zoo had been neglected and that the "Friends of the Zoo" have helped to improve the situation. Regarding the purchase of the tree planter, Mrs. Allen felt it was needed. In response to Mr. Gostola's comment, Mr. Seitz indicated that the city has talked to A.M. General about land acquisition. Mrs. Mutzl indicated that she agreed with Mr. Gostola and Mrs. Allen regarding the purchase of additional land. She asked if a little revenue sharing money could be used for the house built by the first black man in Leeper Park. Mr. Seitz indicated that there were funds for that, including private donations. Mrs. Joyce Harrington, 1110 South 21st Street, indicated that she taught biology at Indiana University in South Bend, and she felt the nature center would be very helpful. She indicated that she had been appauled that people were not even aware of certain species of plants and animals in the wild. She did not know if $150,000 was necessary for the building, and she mentioned that she would be in favor of acquiring more land. She mentioned that Bendix Nature Center is quite a distance away and it cannot accommodate the groups interested in viewing the center. She also mentioned the fact that there is a great deal of erosion on the trails in Rum Village caused by motorcycles and snowmobile! She felt a fence was necessary in order to protect the area. Mrs. Mutzl quoted certain figures on