11-10-08 Common Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 10, 2008 to create incentive development and suggest that they can push development into an area that is not the way to do it successively. They tried to push the Hall of Fame into downtown South Bend and it has been a problem. He stated that the Council needs to find ways to give incentive to and successively give incentive to people that will make the city be successful. Councilmember White on behalf of the Public Safety Committee and Personnel & Finance Committee stated that they were charged with the task of looking for funding for the Crossing Guards for 2009. She stated that they have continued to look for additional revenue streams to continue to keep the Crossing Guards. She encourages the Crossing Guards to continue to attend the Council meetings and to continue to keep the Council informed on any concerns that they may have. She noted that Chief Boykin’s has opened his door for any concerns that the Crossing Guards may have and she encourage them to make him the first point of contact with any concerns along with the Council. Councilmember Kirsits acknowledge the Chamber of Commerce Leadership Group, Class #35. NEW BUSINESS PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR Henry L. Davis, Sr., - stated that he is distressed, seriously. He stated that if you look back at the history of the City of Benton Harbor and the City of Gary, those two cities signify doughnut. There is a hole and with everything being built around the inner city that hole never fills. He stated that Councilmember White had stated that things need to come back in. The inner city is the nucleus of any county. He stated that the inner city is being neglected, it’s not a doughnut, and it’s where people live. They are in distress. They took West Washington Street which was not the best street but, yet, it was a street, nd and they built a compound there. There is no retail there or anywhere in the 2 District nd in that part of the 2 District, there is no retail on Lincolnway, West Washington and very little on Western Avenue. The Council talks about TIF Districts and when TIF money was being provided for the LaSalle Square Shopping Area , the neighbors got together and discussed the issue of a senior citizen facility being built and decided that would not be a good location, the City went ahead and is building it anyway. He stated nd that the citizens of the 2 District are not heard. The bottom line is this, poor people make up the largest percentage of people in St. Joseph County. They pay the most taxes and receive the least for their tax dollars. He stated that they have been on the short end for long and too long. He stated that the Council as elected officials took on this task to make lives better. He stated that he is not against tax abatements; he stated that he is nd against the 2 District not getting their fair share. He stated that is why he is in distress, because lives are being so arbitrarily spoke as if they could be changed in a twinkling of an eye. It doesn’t happen that way, this thing needs to be dealt with now, it should not be put on the back burn, this should be in the forefront, just like Notre Dame, Eddy Street Commons and those other areas, that they are talking about putting all that money into. ndnd The citizens of the 2 District support all those areas and it is time for the 2 District to be supported. Sandy Dreibelbeis, 203 E. Eckman, South Bend, Indiana, thanked the Council for all their support and help in listening and working to keep the Crossing Guards. She stated that they will keep the lines of communication open and look forward to working together to keep the children of South Bend safe to and from school. Melissa Machowiak – 56830 Elmer Avenue, South Bend, Indiana, thanked the Council for hearing the concerns of the Crossing Guards. She appreciates all the hard work, meetings, and discussions that took place to help keep the Crossing Guards. She stated that if they have to come back next year during budget time, that the Council will listen again. Carol Davis, 2209 Kendall, South Bend, Indiana, encouraged the Crossing Guards to continue attending Council’s meetings. She stated that there are issues that come before the Council every meeting that affect everyone. Ms. Davis advised the Council that if 32