12-09-13 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 9, 2013 leadership of Dave Varner as far as communication on this $600 million dollar project, which has to be reined in. So I just wanted to compliment both negotiating teams. There being no one present wishing to speak to the Council either in favor of or in opposition to this Resolution, Councilmember Ferlic made a motion to adopt this Resolution. Councilmember Oliver Davis seconded the motion which carried and the Resolution was adopted by a roll call vote of eight (8) ayes. BILLS - FIRST READING BILL NO. 78-13 FIRST READING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, APPROPRIATING ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR CERTAIN DEPARTMENTAL AND CITY SERVICES OPERATIONS IN 2013 OF $500,000 FROM SELF- FUNDED EMPLOYEE BENEFIT FUND (#711) This bill had first reading. Councilmember Scott made a motion to refer this bill to the Personnel & Finance Committee and set it for Public Hearing and Third Reading at the December 16, 2013 Special Meeting of the Council. Councilmember White seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. BILL NO. 79-13 FIRST READING ON A BILL TO VACATE THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED PROPERTY: THE STREET TO BE VACATED IS A PORTION OF HILDRETH STREET FROM THE EAST RIGHT OF WAY OF ESTHER STREET TO THE END OF THE EXISTING CUL-DE-SAC FOR A DISTANCE OF 460 FEET, MORE OR LESS, AND A WIDTH OF 60 FEET INCLUDING THE 60 FOOT RADIUS OF THE CUL-DE-SAC This bill had first reading. Councilmember Scott made a motion to refer this bill to the Public Works and Property Vacation Committee and set it for Public Hearing and Third Reading on January 13, 2014. Councilmember Oliver Davis seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Councilmember Henry Davis, Jr. asked City Controller Mark Neal to look into putting up signs at the gateways into the City for the Girls Softball World Series. NEW BUSINESS Councilmember Scott advised that the power point presentations were used using the Apple TV software. He stated that he will schedule more refresher courses on Apple TV. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR Christopher Huff, 1831 College Street, South Bend, Indiana: For many years there seems to be a sentiment here in my home city that you “can’t do that” or “awe we shouldn’t do that” or “awe we are not good enough to do that” or “awe we are too small to do that” or “big enough to do that.” One thing that I hope you all understand this and if I’m singing to the choir I apologize but our city does not exist in a vacuum. When a project is proposed for this city or the city that I used to work for which is immediately east of here which is only about 49,000 people that those cities do not exist in a vacuum. Now the population of our city, South Bend is about where it was in about 1932 unfortunately, nonetheless, we are still the largest population based within the whole metropolitan area. Now that still means that we are only 1 out of every 7 people in this economic area, in fact the consolidated metropolitan area has 713,000 people. So the South Bend City is about 101,000 in an area of 713,000, so when a proposal is made about condominiums, restaurants, hotels or whatever, it doesn’t mean that it is going to serve the City 31