07-13-09 Common Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING JULY 13, 2009 Councilmember White thanked everyone for coming. She stated that this is a tough decision not only for the Council but for the citizens of the City of South Bend. She stated that the Council has been having discussions on the property tax caps for over two years. They have had a number of meetings through budget hearing process, and this year at the Council Summit’s to talk about the reducing revenues and to determine the core services that the City wants to have for the community. She stated that she believes that it is critical that as elected official they are obligated to insure that the City of South Bend is a safe, clean, healthy community and that the quality of life would not be impacted. She stated that the only sources of additional revenue that the State would allow are the three resolutions before the Council tonight. She stated that they have been listening for quite some time, but ultimately this Council has got to make the decisions in regard to what is the best method and ways for the City to continue the quality of life for the community, the quality of life for the services that the citizens not only demand but need to have. She stated that as the Council moves forward she would encourage each and every citizen to continue to work with the Council. She stated that their door is always open, and that the meetings are open to public. She stated that some may not like what the Council is going to do or what she as a Councilmember At Large is going to do, however, she encourage everyone to attend the Council Meetings and encouraged everyone to work with the Council and encourage everyone to not walk away from this community, but walk to this community. She stated that South Bend is a great community and it will take each and everyone working collectively to ensure that they will continue to have the community not only for ourselves, but for the children. She stated that she will be supporting the resolutions tonight. Councilmember Oliver Davis stated that he has had the pleasure of representing the Council on the TRANSPO Board of Directors. He stated that he heard tonight someone say that the new garage is not necessary. He stated that money came from the Federal Stimulus Program. He stated that most of the monies for the new facility have come from the federal government. He stated that it did not come from us here. He stated that TRANSPO is basically paid out of federal dollars. He stated that a lot of those federal dollars and state dollars that have come in to help with the facility and thanked Congressman Joe Donnelly, Senator Bayh and Senator Lugar who helped to get those federal dollars. He stated that he lives near Rum Village Park and he truly loves going there to watch all the little critters and enjoys the nature center. He stated that it is a wonderful asset to the neighborhood and would be greatly disappointed if it were to be closed. He stated that he heard some people say tonight that the Council already has made up their mind on how they are going to vote even before they hold the public hearing. He replied that he believes one of the reasons for that is because Councilmember’s attend neighborhood meetings to learn the facts and hear the concerns of the residents of the neighborhood. He stated that he talks to his constituents before the meeting to find out the facts. He said that the Council does come into the meeting with some insight because of the fact that they took the time to go and talk to the residents of the neighborhood and to people on both sides of the issue. He thanked those who came out on both sides of the tax issue. He urged those opposed to work with the Council to give new insight on ways to continue cutting the budget and finding new revenue streams to allow for the continuation of quality of life that the residents of the City of South Bend want and deserve. He stated that he will be supporting the resolutions tonight. Councilmember Rouse stated that as he was sitting pondering these resolutions, he was having a major problem, and the problem was having this meeting before the County Council was to hold their public hearing on these same tax increases. He stated that it raised uneasiness with him because of what happened last December. He stated that after hearing everyone talk tonight it dawned on him that this City is carrying the whole County. The county residents use the goods and services of the parks, streets and in some cases the city provides water, ambulance, and police protection for those who are not incorporated. He stated that he is proudly going to stand up for the City of South Bend and for those County resident’s whose quality of life has been added to because of this great city. He stated that he has heard tonight that some people are leaving the city and moving into the county since 1960, well the County has been growing, this area has been growing, they may have left South Bend, but their quality of life has not diminished. He 29