10-02-08 Health and Public Safety & Personnel and Finance

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HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY & PERSONNEL AND FINANCE OCTOBER 2, 2008 Committee Members Present: Karen L. White, Chairperson, Health and Public Safety; Ann Puzzello, Vice-Chairperson Health and Public Safety; Henry Davis; Don Brubaker, Citizen Member, Health and Public Safety; Tom LaFountain, Chairperson, Personnel & Finance; Oliver Davis, Member Personnel & Finance; Roger Hamburg, Citizen Member Personnel & Finance; Jim Kapsa, SBCSC, Interim-Superintendent; Jamie Loo, Mayor Luecke, Catherine Fanello, Chief Boykins, Tom Bodnar, 20 Crossing Guards Agenda: School Crossing Guards Karen White opened the meeting by explaining this was a joint committee meeting intended to bring all relevant parties together to discuss an issue affecting the entire community. Most importantly, assuring the safety of school children walking to school. Currently this service is provided by 30 school crossing guards at a cost of roughly half a million dollars a year. These dollars are a part of the SBPD budget and were feared cut due to revenue shortfalls due to the anticipated fallout from HEA 1001. Karen's comments echoed by Tom LaFountain focused on efforts initiated by the Council to bring everyone together to find a solution that assures the safety of the kids and one the city can afford. Both Karen and Tom emphasized the need to partner with the SBCSC to find a solution. To that end Karen introduced Jim Kapsa, Superintendent of the South Bend Community School Corporation (SBCSC) who expressed a willingness to help find an answer. Karen then introduced Kathy Cekanski-Farrand who spoke to the Council's limited role beyond budget approval. She then recounted a brief history of the city's relationship with the crossing guards. In addition.she cited funds that may be available through INDOT to help cover the cost of training and equipment for crossing guards. These funds have been applied for; but cannot be used for payroll. Mayor Luecke described the '09 Budget proposal as a base-line budget reflecting '08 revenues & expenses even though that information has yet been confirmed by the State. Should alternative dollars not e found he suggested the guards could not be funded in 2010. SBPD Chief Darryl Boykins assured kids would be safe going to and from school even though cuts might be necessary. SBCSC Interim-Superintendent Jim Kapsa said he was sensitive to the City's dollars woes. He said children's safety was the number one goal. To that end he initiated "what if' meetings with all principals. He said each school situation was different possibly requiring different solutions. Councilmember Puzzello urged all parties to work together. She said the ideal solution was to keep the crossing guards.