02-23-09 Common Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 23, 2009 Mr. Dennis Andres, Executive Director, The Morris Performing Arts Center, 211 N. Michigan Street, South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill. Mr. Andres advised that this bill would allow for the appropriation of $25,000 within the Morris Performing Arts Center Improvement Fund (Fund 416). Mr. Andres noted that revenues from this fund are generated by the ticket surcharge and the fund is used exclusively for capital improvements such as renovation, remodeling, and specifically. Mr. Andres stated that this appropriation would allow for the service, repair, and replacement of the hot water heater and 120 gallon storage tank in the mechanical room of the Morris Performing Arts Center. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. There was no one present wishing to speak to the Council in favor of this bill. The following individual spoke in opposition to this bill. Kelly Havens, 12032 Timberline Trace, Granger, Indiana, spoke in opposition to this bill. Ms. Havens questioned how important is a Performing Arts Center when the City of South Bend’s budget is millions of dollars short for 2009 and 2010. She stated that this is one area that the City needs to look at to see if funding should be cut. In Rebuttal, Mr. Andres reiterated that the funds are generated by the ticket surcharge that is paid at the time tickets are purchased. He stated that no tax dollars are used in this fund, it is strictly revenue from the surcharge on the tickets sold. Councilmember Dieter made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council concerning this bill. Councilmember Kirsits seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. BILL NO. 10-09 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, APPROPRIATING $59,850.00 PLUS ADDITIONAL NOMINAL INTEREST FROM GENERAL GRANT FUND (#250) FOR ART IN PUBLIC PLACES, AND CLOSING FUND #250 Councilmember Puzzello, Chairperson, PARC Committee reported that this Committee held a public hearing on this bill this afternoon and sends it to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. Beth Leonard, Director, Financial & Program Management, Community & Economic th Development, 12 Floor County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill. Ms. Leonard advised that this bill would allow for the appropriation of $59,850.00 from the General Grant Fund (#250) to carry out the purpose of the original grant from the Goheen Trust, namely to create and support Art in Public Places in the City. These funds were originally granted for various public art uses, but $59,850 remains. The intended uses include approximately $9,850 in additional art work in Jon Hunt Plaza in from the Morris Performing Arts Theatre and $50,000 to the Community Foundation in support of the year-long exhibit of the South bend native George Rickey’s sculpture on the sidewalks of downtown. Rickey is an internationally known kinetic sculptor whose work combines the technical expertise of an engineer with an artist’s vision to celebrate fluidity and movement. The exhibit is an extremely exciting event for the community and was conceived through the collaboration of the South Bend Museum of Art, the Snite Museum of Art, the Community Foundation, and the City of South Bend. 6