08-24-15 Common Council Meeting Minutes

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 24,2015 REQUEST BILL 19-15 CALLING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL ID CARD PROGRAM BE SET FOR PUBLIC HEARING Council Attorney Kathy Cekanski-Farrand requested a motion for second& third reading, public hearing be set for October 12th and sent back to the Health &Public Safety Committee and the Community Relations Committee. So moved by Councilmember Oliver Davis. Councilmember Derek Dieter seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight(8) ayes. Councilmember Derek Dieter inquired about the Mayor's next presence at the Council meetings, as there are a lot of questions that need to be asked publicly along with follow-up questions. At the meeting today with the Police Chief, he indicated there was no follow-up plan to deal with the panhandlers. The Mayor was going to have a plan, so I want to hear that publicly. I would like to publically thank Henry Davis, Jr. for helping with an issue at a bar on the west-side that was lost in the city shuffle. Now everything is working as a result of the council and Henry Davis, assisting with getting everyone in order to comply with the noise ordinance and holding the appropriate people accountable. That way the community doesn't have to be up late at night listening to loud music and bands after 11 pm. Council President Tim Scott in response to Councilmember Derek Dieter I will reach out to the Mayor to request him to be present next meeting to see if he can make it. Councilmember Davis,Jr. inquired if they were on-live and if that issue was cleared up. Councilmember Dieter responded that we are contracted with WNIT at about$45,000 a year to show council meetings. The last two meetings were not televised. Kareemah Fowler reached out to WNIT,they apologized but did not show them. Therefore I am pro-rating the $1,800 meetings that they didn't show. I'm asking you and the council if they are in favor of asking them to reimburse the $3,600 of council meetings that they didn't show. (All agreed) Councilmember Derek Dieter stated I will write a letter. I'm not sure what is written in the contract. Even in the cost of that is absorbent in itself It was confirmed that they were live tonight. The city website was confirmed to always be up. NEW BUSINESS Councilmember Derek Dieter reported there was an issue at a High School Football game in Michigan City on Friday night. I think unfavorably Washington High School has taken the brunt of what they deemed a brawl. I can tell you from coaching the referees and the officials are supposed to control what is supposed to happen on the field. If you look in the tape that I saw, I've seen better fights in the bathroom at Burger King. This report has damaged our reputation and our football teams' image as it wasn't a brawl when most of team were on the line and walking off the field. This is bad for our city's reputation. I think we need to find out what we can do for the kids of Washington. Councilmember Oliver Davis announced we will be having a meeting over at the Mayflower to discuss the Martins that will be moving. A group of them came to Area Plan on this past Tuesday, so we will be meeting with the neighbors to discuss that to clear up any issues before that meeting. Please put on your calendars, September 19th the Rum Village is having their picnic from 1-3pm. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR Scott Ford—Offices on 14th floor, Executive Director of Community Investment—It is a privilege to come before you. There are some issues that I thought I would address for the public record. Last week, we celebrated the ground breaking of Lincoln Park the building of 24 new homes, as part of a co-op. It is an example of development that is inclusive and innovative and that all neighborhoods have a future. Through a very inclusive process that involved several meetings to develop the framework. We understand the concerns of lack of retail. We have hired staffed a business development associate to focus on these two main districts. The issues about trash and lack of maintenance with code -we have hired an ambassador program,issues about transportation -we are adding bus stops, issues about lighting -we started light up South Bend,issues for resources -we expanded tiffs,and unclear traffic patterns -we have addressed 6