12-11-08 Common Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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SPECIAL MEETING DECEMBER 11, 2008 issue with HEA 1001 did not just happen overnight. She advised that the Council as a whole was fully aware of the consequences. She stated that the Council held numerous meetings, even on weekends to start the discussion in terms of education not only the Council but the public to educate both side on the issues that face the City. She stated that she did not want anyone here tonight to leave with the feeling that they were blind sighted and did not have ample opportunity to discuss this issue at hand. She stated that she believes that it is up to the Council to ask the really tough questions and to prioritize what those funding priorities should be and to advise the administration what those directives are. She stated that as the Council looks further into those budget shortfalls; she would like to go on record that she will begin to look at TIF Districts, the Redevelopment Commission’s authority on spending money without Council approval. Councilmember White encourage all present tonight to attend the budget hearings that will being very shortly and bring ideas on where and how the budget can be cut. She stated those cuts will be very difficult and may have to be made in City Services. She noted that not everyone is going to be happy, people will not be happy when their street is not plowed, or that pothole is not repair timely. She stated that people will not be happy because the city will not be able to continue to provide the level of service that everyone st here expects to receive. She stated residents expect that a 21 Century City should be st providing 21 Century services. She reiterated that transparency is a key factor when this Council comes together to discuss the budget. She encouraged the residents and taxpayers to attend those budget meetings to help make those tough decisions. Councilmember Kirsits stated that this is a very passionate issue for both sides. He stated that he appreciates all the comments, some right on target others were very off base and those kinds of comments do absolutely no good when it comes to an issue of this magnitude. He stated that he does not have his mind made up on an issue before the public hearing despite what was said tonight by some. He stated that the State Legislature has put local governments in a very tough position. He stated that he is fully aware of all the non-profit organizations that happen to be located in South Bend. They cannot control those types of issues at the local level. He stated that maybe it is time that non-profits start paying their fair share for services. He encouraged the Council to lobby the State Legislators to allow local governments Hometown Rule and let the various local governments to make decisions that affect their communities. He stated that he will be supporting the bills tonight. Councilmember LaFountain advised that he is not originally from here. He has only lived in South Bend for approximately 20 years. He stated that he and his wife chose to live in South Bend because they love South Bend and all it has to offer. He did not join the Council to get re-elected; he joined because he knew that tough decisions were going to have to be made because he stated that he knew he could make them. He stated that looking at what was presented here tonight and what the Mayor originally wanted by enacted the 1.25% tax, he stated that he could not support that amount. Because the Mayor did make a compromise and went to a lower percentage, he appreciate that gesture given these hard economic times. He stated that because he loves South Bend so much he wants to see everything preserved. He stated that he doesn’t want to cut the park budget and certainly does not want to lose any of the guys that protect him. He stated that he served on the City Negotiating Team this past summer. He stated that they made a promise to make sure that those departments would keep their staffing numbers. In order to do that, this public safety tax needs to be implemented. He stated that the City also needs more funding just to keep treading water. Down state is not helping local governments very much right now. Quite honestly he said it is quite disturbing that the State is telling the local governments to squeeze their citizens as much as they can before they will allow the local governments to try to go after outside the county. If that doesn’t upset everyone here tonight, he stated that he is not sure what will. He stated that he will be supporting the Mayor’s compromise and think that it is a good compromise, and with all due respect to waiting until all the facts are in is not very good way to do business. Because what happens is there is a shortfall and then have to scramble in hope that things can be put in place, so that the City can get money before everything falls out of place. 18