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08-26-13 Common Council Meeting Minutes
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08-26-13 Common Council Meeting Minutes
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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 26, 2013 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Mr. St. Clair stated that he would be thrilled to come back to the Council once the land has been <br />identified. <br /> <br />Councilmember Varner: I don’t doubt that. I think that it is important that it be handled that <br />way rather than after the fact. <br /> <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis stated that is what he was saying that because when it comes to <br />park issues these kinds of things are active issues that they would like to be a part of. Typically <br />transfer has already been done kind of attitude. <br /> <br />The following individuals spoke in favor of this bill: <br /> <br />Phil St. Clair, Superintendent, Park Department, 321 E. Walter Street, South Bend, Indiana, <br />spoke in favor of the bill. He stated that these master plans are their road map on how they move <br />forward for five years. We have been doing master plans since I have been in this position, 20 <br />years ago we did a master plan and we wanted to build a softball complex, and we have since <br />generated 12 million dollars in economic impact and have had three (3) Olympic Teams out <br />there, we’ve had the Big East Tournaments out there, and we have had some of the best softball <br />players in the World play out there. We are also looking to put in a bid for the International <br />Softball Congress World Championships in two years, a 3 million dollar economic impact for <br />one tournament. But these things are all initiated through the master plans. We sit down with <br />staff and also sit down with the community We have a public meeting in each district and would <br />be thrilled for each Councilmember would attend these sessions because it is a great opportunity <br />to weigh in your thoughts with regarding the parks as well as your constituents thoughts and we <br />take all that information as well as the in-house issues that we know going on with parks and try <br />to put together a five year plan, an action plan that will help us move forward and address those <br />issues. Obviously what we put in our action plan is contingent upon funding as so when the <br />funding is available we proceed with the plan. If the funding is not available in some of these <br />things they don’t get finished. With regard to the Zoo Master Plan, it is an important component <br />with our application for accreditation with the AZA. I can’t state enough the importance of <br />being prepared for our AZA inspection next year. I think the staff has done a marvelous job with <br />limited resources and keeping the overall infrastructure of the zoo in great shape. There will be a <br />few things that we will need to do to button up before inspection, but I think overall we are not <br />doing too badly. What we lack right now and addressing that right now in leadership positions <br />and the strategic master plan. The Zoological Society has been very gracious and offered to pay <br />for 50% of the master plan. We hope it doesn’t cost $100,000 for the whole plan, but it could. <br />By being able to have a partner to help us fund this master plan is certainly a benefit to the Park <br />Department and a benefit to the Zoo. We need this component to move forward as part of our <br />AZA Accreditation for next year. As I mentioned earlier today, that if we would lose that, and <br />I’m suggesting that we are, but if we did, we could potentially lose about half or more of our <br />animal population at the zoo. I just wanted to point out the importance of the master plans and as <br />I mentioned earlier about 4 to 6 months in length to get these things done, both of them, and <br />obviously for us the sooner we can start the better. <br /> <br />David Nufer, 16660 Norwich Dr. Granger, Indiana, advised that he is present tonight as a <br />member of the Potawatomi Zoological Society and an Executive Board Member of that <br />organization. At the meeting that they had about 10 days ago, the Board did not vote on <br />appropriating the money but the talk was very, very positive and after the City Council <br />appropriates the money we will definitely take a vote and move forward with that. Phil was right <br />it take about 4 to 6 months to complete that project. The Council has heard many, many times <br />over the years and I was a part of a couple of meetings when the accreditation issue was brought <br />up many times, the Council working with the City Administration on the best position work <br />toward our advantage the interview process is taking place as we speak, hope they have a vet <br />hired in the next 2 to 4 weeks. I think that it is very, very important that this plan is put in place <br />for it. I hope that the Council recognizes that the entire bill is important to the administration <br />and hope that you support that. <br /> <br />Cecil Eastman, I’m happy that President Dieter actually has a cushion on the back of his chair in <br />which he can rest his head, the rest of you will just have to bear with me while I talk accounting <br />for a few minutes. I’m talking strictly the budget transfers. I’m aware the budget transfers have <br />9 <br /> <br /> <br />
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