Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-23-2026 Personnel & Finance Budget Meeting Minutes (approved)OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK BIANCA L. TIRADO, CITY CLERK PERSONNEL & FINANCE Committee Members Present: Committee Members Absent: Councilmembers Present: Others Present: Presenters: Agenda: SEPTEMBER 23, 2026, 5:30 P.M. Sheila Niezgodski, Karen L. White, Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers, Rachel Tomas Morgan, Caz Margenau None Dr. Heidi Beidinger, Sherry Bolden- Simpson, Sharon McBride* Bianca Tirado, Jasmine Jackson, Veronica Pitt-Payne, Bob Palmer Sandra Kennedy, Katrina Lee, Kyle Willis, Chris Kubaszak 2027 Legal Department Budget Overview 2027 Human Rights Commission (HRC) Budget Overview 2027 Administration & Finance Budget Overview 2027 Transpo Budget Overview Members marked with an asterisk(*) are in virtual attendance via Microsoft Teams. Please note the attached link for the meeting recording: https:/ /docs.south bendin.gov/Web Link/Browse.aspx ?d bid=O& repo=sbend&mediaid=41413 7 Please note the attached link for the meeting presentations: https://docs.southbendin.gov/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=412347&dbid=O&repo=sbend Committee Chair Sheila Niezgodski called to order the Personnel and Finance Committee meeting at 5 :30 P.M. Jasmine Jackson CHIEF DEPCTY CITY CLERK ; CHIEF OF Sn.FF INTEGRITY I SERVICE I ACCESSIBILITY Matthew Neal DEPLTY Cln-CLERK / DIRECTOR OF POLICY Veronica Pitt-Payne DIRECTOR OF SPECl:\L PROJECTS EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall 1215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.91731 www.southbendin.gov ,($) CITY OF SOITTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK 2027 Legal Department Budget Overview Sandra Kennedy, Corporation Counsel, with offices on the sixth (6th) floor of City Hall, South Bend, IN 46601, presented the 2027 Legal Department budget. She began with an overview of the department's organizational chart. She stated that the department has nine (9) attorneys, including the Corporation Counsel, one (I) City Attorney, one (1) Senior Assistant City Attorney, and six (6) Assistant City Attorneys. She noted that the department is currently short one (I) position, and they have been short three (3) attorneys for most of the summer, which has caused capacity constraints. She highlighted the tenure of current staff members, noting that one ( l) attorney has been with the City for over ten (I 0) years and five (5) have been with the City for more than five (5) years. The department also includes one (I) paralegal who serves as claims manager, two (2) administrative assistants with one ( l) dedicated solely to APRA requests, one (I) Director of Legal Administration, and one (1) Ordinance Violations Bureau (OVB) clerk. Attorney Kennedy then presented the proposed budget figures. She noted a three-point-three percent (3.3%) increase in salaries, which includes the three percent (3%) standard increase plus zero-point-three percent (0.3%) for residency bonuses. She stated that fringe benefits are decreasing in line with the City-wide trend. She explained that the twenty-six-point-three percent (26.3%) increase in Other Services and Charges, which amounts to two-thousand-nine-hundred- sixty dollars ($2,960), reflects the department's decision to pay bar dues and continuing legal education costs for the Mayor's Chief of Staff. She noted that all other line items are remaining flat. Strategic initiatives for 2027 include continuing to revise municipal ordinances in collaboration with City departments, completing fire department collective bargaining negotiations, and continuing efforts to reduce outside legal spending. Committee Member Rachel Tomas Morgan asked about the significant decline in Professional Services spending from 2024 to 2025. Attorney Kennedy explained that in 2024, one (I) of the attorneys who left the department was retained as a consultant while their replacement was sought. She added that Professional Services spending has fluctuated in years when outside legal experts are hired for specific cases for confidentiality purposes. Committee Member Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers asked if the vacant attorney position is the position that oversees APRA requests. Attorney Kennedy replied that there is no specific attorney dedicated to APRA requests, and all attorneys in the department review these. She noted that out of the three (3) roles that have been vacant this year, one ( 1) was assigned to litigation, one ( 1) was assigned to the fire department, and one ( 1) was assigned to the South Bend Police Department (SBPD) and Human Rights Commission (HRC). She stated that the latter attorney handled more APRA requests than others in the department, and they have had less capacity to handle requests since his departure. Committee Member Gooden-Rodgers asked whether the department is catching up on a backlog of requests or whether the long wait times are due to the nature of the process. EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMEN T 300 City Hall I215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 i W\NW.southbendin.gov ~ {~ CHY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK Attorney Kennedy confirmed that both factors play a role. She explained that they are working with the Department of Innovation & Technology (I&T) to implement a self-serve public records access software that would streamline the process. She said this is budgeted into the department's 2027 I&T allocation. She also said they are working with SBPD to have their personnel review and redact police videos, which would free up capacity in the Legal Department and allow for faster responses. Committee Member Gooden-Rodgers acknowledged resident concerns regarding the turnaround time for APRA requests. Councilmember Dr. Heidi Beidinger asked how much the APRA software would cost. Attorney Kennedy said they were quoted fifteen-thousand dollars ($15,000) for the software they liked, but I&T is beta testing a program they developed in-house. She said they expect the software to be deployed early next year. Councilmember Dr. Beidinger noted that the community will be happy to see this implemented. Attorney Kennedy explained that the department has received over two-thousand (2,000) APRA requests this year, outpacing last year's requests, which totaled two-thousand-four-hundred (2,400) by the end of the year. She explained that police video requests take more time to fulfill since they involve reviewing the body-worn camera footage of several officers in addition to dash camera footage. She said the department is starting to review video requests from late 2025 now. Committee Chair Niezgodski asked how the department produces records for requests that are exceptionally long, date back several years, or involve multiple departments. Attorney Kennedy stated that all APRA requests, including those involving archived paper records, must be reviewed and fulfilled. She noted that when departments are unable to locate records or produce incorrect records, the Legal Department has to follow up or send additional requests. She said her team will include related records when they know what the requester is seeking, but the process can be extended when the requester's needs are unclear or the records do not exist. City Clerk Bianca Tirado asked if the APRA software was quoted at fifteen-thousand dollars ($15,000) per year. Attorney Kennedy confirmed that is correct. Committee Chair Niezgodski opened the public hearing. Sue Kesim, 4022 Kennedy Drive, South Bend, IN 46614, expressed concern regarding her unanswered APRA requests. She said records that require redaction and those that do not should be treated differently, and the financial records she requested should be available on the public drive. She expressed support for implementing a software to improve transparency for residents. Committee Chair Niezgodski asked Attorney Kennedy to address the current turnaround time for APRA requests. EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall j 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov (~ CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK Attorney Kennedy noted that there are approximately two-hundred (200) APRA requests pending in the police department folder alone. She said she does not currently have any requests from Ms. Kesim in her own queue, but she will look into the status of these requests. She noted that it is possible they were not reassigned following the departure of a staff member this summer. Committee Chair Niezgodski asked if requests are queued and answered in the order they are received. Attorney Kennedy confirmed that requests are queued and fulfilled in the order received, with the exception that document requests are sometimes processed ahead of video requests. Committee Member Gooden-Rodgers acknowledged that Ms. Kesim has previously followed up regarding the status of her APRA requests. She asked what the department can do to locate these requests. Attorney Kennedy said she will look in the "Waiting for Records" folder and follow up. She noted that when an APRA is submitted through the portal, the requester receives immediate acknowledgment with their APRA number, which can be used to check the status of any request. Committee Member Gooden-Rodgers thanked Attorney Kennedy for explaining the APRA process. Committee Chair Niezgodski closed the public hearing. 2027 Human Rights Commission (HRC) Budget Overview Katrina Lee, Executive Director of the Human Rights Commission (HRC), with offices at 202 South Michigan Street, South Bend, IN 4660 L presented the 2027 HRC budget. She highlighted 2026 accomplishments: as a certified mediator, she successfully mediated five (5) cases this year, saving approximately four thousand dollars ($4,000) in attorney fees. The team is fully staffed and HUD certified, and the 2025 annual report was published. The office received one-thousand- ninety-four (1,094) calls year-to-date, an increase of two-hundred-forty-seven (24 7) calls over the same period last year, and referred one-hundred-seventy-nine ( 179) callers to other resources. Investigation times decreased by approximately thirty-five (35) days. The office hosted two (2) college interns this summer, and attendance at the annual fundraising luncheon increased by eighty (80) seats. She noted that they held thirty-five (35) outreach events this year, increased advertising efforts, and hosted their annual open house at Howard Park for more than one- hundred-fifty (150) attendees. A disability awareness workshop is planned for October 6th . She spoke about 2026 partnerships including the South Bend Community School Corporation, La Casa de Amistad, Boys and Girls Club, Cressy and Everett, and the Elkhart Realtors Association. Katrina Lee gave an overview of her eight (8)-person team 's organizational chart. She then presented 2027 budget highlights: Salaries and Wages increased due to one (1) promotion and a standard three percent (3%) increase for other staff members; Professional Services increased to support legal assistance with probable cause cases, outside workshop facilitators, and luncheon speakers; Printing and Advertising decreased based on a historical review of actual spending. Revenue from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) increased from fifty- EXCELLENCE / ACCOUNTABILITY / INNOVATION INCLUSION / EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov ~ CITY OF SOlITH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK ~ eight-thousand-one-hundred-twenty dollars ($58,120) for one-hundred-twenty-one ( 121) cases in 2025 to a projected sixty-eight thousand-four-hundred dollars ($68AOO) for one-hundred-twenty- five (125) cases in 2026. Revenue from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) increased significantly from forty-five-thousand-four-hundred dollars ($45AOO) for twenty-four (24) cases last year to a projected one-hundred-sixteen-thousand-one-hundred dollars ($116,100) for twenty-six (26) cases this year. She gave an overview of other grants awarded in 2026, including fifteen-thousand dollars ($15,000) from the City of South Bend Community Investment Grant, thirty-thousand dollars ($30,000) from St. Joseph County for housing case investigations, and twenty-three-thousand-nine-hundred-forty-three dollars ($23,943) from the City of Mishawaka. Katrina Lee outlined 2027 goals, including increasing the City of South Bend grant request to twenty-five-thousand dollars ($25,000), renegotiating the St. Joseph County grant to sixty- thousand dollars ($60,000), increasing community outreach to forty-five ( 45) events with a focus on student engagement, expanding advertisement to billboards and campus bulletins, and applying for the First Source Bank Foundation Grant. Committee Chair Niezgodski noted that a video clip in Katrina Lee's presentation could not be played with audio due to technology limitations in the Council Chambers. Clerk Tirado confirmed that the clip would be posted to the budget folder and sent to Councilmembers following the meeting. Committee Member Tomas Morgan asked what the subject of the majority of HRC calls is. Katrina Lee replied that employment is the most common subject, with disability discrimination in employment as the number one (1) issue and race discrimination in employment as the number two (2) issue. She said the third (3rd) most common subject is housing. She noted that her team receives several housing calls from Mishawaka residents, and these are referred directly to HUD. Committee Member Tomas Morgan asked about the significant increase in HUD funding. Katrina Lee noted that their 2026 HUD revenue includes a distribution from the Special Enforcement Efforts (SEE) Fund, which they did not receive in 2025. Committee Member Tomas Morgan asked for confirmation that HUD revenues are received the year after they are awarded. Katrina Lee confirmed that is correct. Committee Member Gooden-Rodgers noted that the same venues were repeated for outreach events in different months. She asked if they have held any outreach at the Charles Black Center. Katrina Lee said they did not hold any events at the Charles Black Center in 2026, but she will add it to her list for 2027. Committee Member Gooden-Rodgers noted that there was an event at the Linden Avenue Farmers Market and asked if HRC would participate in any of the community resource fairs at the Martin Luther King Jr. Dream Center in the future. EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I215 S Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov @ CITY OF SOlITH BEND I OFF1CE OF THE CITY CLERK Katrina Lee said she would look into getting on the invitation list for future community resource fairs. Committee Member Gooden-Rodgers emphasized the importance of advertising so that residents know where they can find help. She expressed appreciation for the team's improved responsiveness to resident phone calls. Citizen Member Caz Margenau asked about the St. Joseph County grant. Katrina Lee explained that the grant from St. Joseph County helps pay investigator salaries for housing cases. She expressed optimism that the amount will be increased to sixty-thousand dollars ($60,000) in 2027 based on prior communication with the county. Committee Chair Niezgodski asked about the increase in Professional Services. Katrina Lee confirmed that this budget line pays for attorney fees and facilitators for the ten ( 10) to twelve (12) workshops HRC hosts annually. She added that speaker fees from the annual luncheon are also paid from this account. Committee Chair Niezgodski noted that federal funding was limited last year. She asked whether those funding sources have opened back up and if HRC has applied for them. Katrina Lee confirmed that more federal funding is now available. She said she has requested additional funds and is waiting for a response. Councilmember Dr. Beidinger asked what percentage of HRC's funding comes from outside grants. Kyle Willis, City Controller, with offices on the second (2nd) floor of City Hall, South Bend, IN 46601, responded. He said external grant revenue funds fifteen-to-twenty percent (15-20%) of the HRC budget. Councilmember Bolden-Simpson congratulated Katrina Lee on the increased HUD funding and thanked staff for continuing to reach out to students regarding scholarship opportunities. Committee Chair Niezgodski opened the public hearing. Brian Harding, Commissioner and Board Chair of the Human Rights Commission, 1515 East Washington Street, South Bend, IN 46617, spoke in favor of the proposed budget. He said continued funding allows HRC to remain a trusted resource for residents who believe they have experienced discrimination and ensures everyone has access to a fair and impartial process. Rahman Johnson, Vice Chair of the Human Rights Commission, 728 Pennsylvania Avenue, South Bend, IN 46601, spoke in favor of the budget. He said the cases reviewed by the Commission continue to be a reminder that discrimination is a present-day reality, and he is honored to serve in that capacity. Sue Kesim, 4022 Kennedy Drive, South Bend, IN 46614, spoke positively about attending the annual open house at Howard Park and said the work of the Commission is important. She suggested providing a breakdown of cases by protected class to help the community understand EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY ! INNOVATION I INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I215 S Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.91731 wvvw.southbendin.gov ·~ CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK ~ where discrimination issues are most prevalent. She asked whether the department would consider producing frequently-asked-question (FAQ) videos to help residents understand the process outside of business hours. Katrina Lee agreed that a breakdown of cases by protected class would be helpful and confirmed that she would post it to their website. She said she will bring the idea about FAQ videos to her team. Committee Chair Niezgodski closed the public hearing. 2027 Administration & Finance Budget Overview Kyle Willis presented the 2027 Administration & Finance budget. He described the department's five (5) service areas: good fiscal management, efficient and effective financial processes, transparent financial reporting, sustainable asset management through Central Services, and a great workplace through Human Resources. He shared key highlights from 2025, including the move into the new City Hall building in October, the early payoff of approximately forty-point- five million dollars ($40,500,000) in debt, and the maintenance of the City's AA bond rating from rating agencies, which allows for lower borrowing costs on any future debt issuance and reflects strong fiscal management. Kyle Willis then highlighted achievements from the Human Resources and Central Services teams. Human Resources onboarded four hundred twenty-eight ( 428) new employees in 2025, closed three-hundred-twenty-five (325) of three-hundred forty-nine (349) workers' compensation claims, and identified ways to offset increases to employee health insurance costs. Central Services implemented an idle reduction tracking program for non-public safety vehicles, launched the Proactive Approach to Cost Efficiency (PACE) initiative, and established a five (5)-year fleet planning program to help departments anticipate asset replacement needs. Kyle Willis presented the budget numbers. He noted that the Finance budget reflects an overall two-point-four percent (2.4%) decrease and a reduction in most line items. Salaries and Wages include the standard three percent (3%) increase for all employees and one (1) higher-than- standard increase. Central Services reflects a two-point-five percent (2.5%) decrease overall, with salaries up six-point-nine percent (6.9%). He explained that this was driven by higher-than- standard increases for the Director of Central Services and Director of Facilities Management to reflect added responsibilities managing the new City Hall, the addition of two (2) new Teamster positions, and standard increases for the remaining staff. He noted that the Human Resources budget is relatively flat, with supplies up twenty-three-point-five percent (23.5%) due to the new requirement for employee badge procurement and supplies for cooling and warming programs. Professional Services for Human Resources increased significantly due to the new requirement for background checks on all new employees and an increase in cost. Health Insurance and Benefits reflect a five-point-eight percent (5.8%) increase due to rising medical costs, with a twenty percent (20%) increase in the Supplies line item to supply the Marathon Wellness Clinic. He noted that Worker's Compensation reflects a two-point-two percent (2.2%) increase, and Liability Insurance remains relatively flat. EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.91731 www.southbendin.gov {~ CITY OF SOITTH BEND I OFFlCE OF THE CITY CLERK Committee Vice Chair White asked about the sixty-four-point-five percent (64.5%) decrease in the Professional Services line item for Central Services. Kyle Willis explained that Central Services used to hold their annual auction in-person, and it is now held online. He said the reduction reflects the auctioneer fee that is no longer needed. Committee Vice Chair White asked if that is the best way to hold an auction. Kyle Willis asked the Director of Central Services, Adam Cole, to respond. Adam Cole, Director of Central Services, with offices at I 045 West Sample Street, South Bend, IN 4660 I, responded. He said the online auction now generates bids from across the United States and Canada, resulting in higher competitive bids and a greater return on investment. Councilmember Dr. Beidinger asked how many City employees there are. Kyle Willis said there are currently between one-thousand-one-hundred (I, I 00) and one- thousand-two-hundred (1,200) City employees. He said there were just over one-thousand-two- hundred (1,200) last year. Committee Chair Niezgodski opened the public hearing. Sue Kesim, 4022 Kennedy Drive, South Bend, IN 46614, asked Council Attorney Bob Palmer about the legality of holding budget meetings when there are missing financial reports. She asked how the City is addressing the requirements of the Federal Data Transparency Act. Council Attorney Bob Palmer stated that missing financial reports would be an administrative matter, not a question of legality. Attorney Kennedy acknowledged that certain financial reports from 2024 were previously unavailable on the City's public document portal. She confirmed that those documents are now available. Kyle Willis confirmed that all financial information is available on the website. He said they are still working with auditors to complete the 2025 audit, but this should not hold up the budget cycle. He addressed the missing information from 2024, explaining that no budget book was prepared that year, but fund summaries have since been posted. He said the City exceeds minimum reporting requirements for financial documents, and he is happy to look for any specific information that has not been posted. Attorney Kennedy addressed the requirement for machine-readable public documents, noting that there has been an effort across all departments to come into compliance well ahead of the federal deadline. Committee Chair Niezgodski noted that Clerk Tirado has worked extensively on this issue. Committee Chair Niezgodski closed the public hearing. 2027 Transpo Budget Overview EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 1 W\NW.southbendin.gov ~ CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK Chris Kubaszak, Chief Executive Officer of Transpo, with offices at 1401 South Lafayette Boulevard, South Bend, IN 46601 , presented the 2027 Transpo budget. He noted that Transpo has one hundred five (105) employees and receives local, state, and federal funding. The fleet includes forty-eight (48) fixed route vehicles and twenty (20) paratransit vehicles serving the City of South Bend and Mishawaka. He said the organization has done well in hiring new drivers in 2026 but has lost approximately the same number, resulting in a stagnant staff level. He highlighted the maintenance department's ticketing system, which won an award this year for reducing vehicle downtime. The 2027 budget is balanced at twelve-million-six-hundred-ninety-six-thousand-five- hundred-thirty-three dollars ($12,696,533) in both expenses and revenue. Fifty-three percent (53%) ofrevenue comes from local tax revenue and passenger fares. Salaries and Wages represent seventy-seven percent (77%) of expenses, and ninety-nine percent (99%) of all expenses are driven by service levels and staffing, leaving only one percent (1 %) controllable without service adjustments. Chris Kubaszak gave a detailed breakdown of the primary budget drivers. He explained that the 2027 budget increase is primarily driven by increases in health insurance, vehicle insurance, worker's compensation, and utility costs. He noted that labor costs for 2027 are expected to increase, since the collective bargaining agreement is being finalized for the organization's seventy-one (71) bargaining employees. He said he expects the wage increase to come in well below the four percent (4%) industry average. Chris Kubaszak explained Transpo's long-term funding challenges. He said they estimate a four- hundred-sixteen-thousand-five-hundred-seventy-eight dollar ($416,578) reduction in 2028 property tax revenue due to Senate Enrolled Act One (1 ), and a further reduction in funding as a result of local income tax changes proposed for 2030. He noted that their Public Mass Transit Fund allocation has been flat for more than five (5) years while insurance and capital costs continue to rise, citing a two-hundred-thousand dollar ($200,000) price increase for compressed natural gas (CNG) fixed route buses. Long-term federal funding covers twenty-eight percent (28%) of operating costs, but these funds are allocated based on factors such as routes and ridership, requiring Transpo to maintain a certain service level to receive them. Chris Kubaszak then spoke about Transpo's ridership. He noted that their ongoing hiring challenges have contributed to a slight decline in ridership over the past five (5) years. He said more than forty percent (40%) of Transpo rides serve ADA paratransit users and students, and over fifty percent (50%) of all rides serves underserved community members. He noted that they continue to look for ways to upgrade their scheduling software. Committee Member Gooden-Rodgers asked about student ridership. Chris Kubaszak explained that student rides are tracked and fares are billed to the South Bend and Mishawaka school districts annually. He said they also provide free summer passes to students, with thirty-four-thousand (34,000) issued this year. Citizen Member Margenau expressed concern about the organization's low revenue and asked what can be done to generate more. EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend. Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.91731 www.southbendin.gov {~ CITY OF sourH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK ' -"I, r; ~~ Chris Kubaszak explained the challenge of trying to increase revenue, noting there is often a tradeoff between increasing fares and losing riders. He noted that ADA fares are double the fixed- route fares, and fare increases would disproportionately impact the most vulnerable riders. Citizen Member Margenau asked about ways to generate revenue outside of fare increases. Chris Kubaszak said they already use federal operating assistance to fund maintenance. He explained that as more federal money is used to subsidize operating costs, less is available for necessary capital expenditures. Committee Member Tomas Morgan asked about higher education ridership partnerships. Chris Kubaszak confirmed that the agreements with Notre Dame, Saint Mary's, and Holy Cross are included under student ridership. He said these institutions are billed annually for student fares, and they fund one-hundred percent (100%) of the fleet that runs on campus. Committee Vice Chair White asked about route changes. Chris Kubaszak confirmed that route changes were made in 2025 and 2026, resulting in the loss of route fourteen ( 14) and parts of route one ( 1 ). He added that there were some changes in route timing as well. Committee Vice Chair White asked why retaining newly hired drivers has been a challenge. Chris Kubaszak explained that new hires receive commercial drivers license (COL) training on site, and many have left for higher-paying jobs in the private sector upon obtaining their CDL. He noted that last year, Transpo implemented a two (2)-year commitment agreement for drivers receiving CDL training. Committee Member Gooden~Rodgers asked when the next driver training class will take place. Chris Kubaszak said that would depend on the type of driver, but the next session will most likely be for ADA paratransit drivers. He said ADA training involves two (2) or three (3) weeks of classroom learning, plus a few additional weeks on the road. Fixed route training includes the same two (2) or three (3) week classroom portion, but the timing of the CDL portion depends on when the state has availability to administer the tests. Committee Member Gooden-Rodgers asked if there is a bus route that goes to the new SNAP office on Cleveland Road. Chris Kubaszak confirmed there is a route that services the area, with two (2) trips in the morning and two (2) trips in the afternoon. Councilmember McBride asked how rising fuel costs have impacted the budget. Chris Kubaszak explained that fuel prices have not significantly impacted operational costs, since the fixed route fleet was converted to CNG vehicles in 20 l 0. He estimated that the total price of fuel, including electricity to compress the natural gas, averages one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) to one dollar and seventy-five cents ($1.75) per gallon. EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall [ 215 S. Or. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. [ South Bend, Indiana 46601 I p. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 [ www.southbendin.gov ® CITY OF SOlITH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK Councilmember McBride asked if one-hundred-five ( 105) employees is the current staffing level or total capacity. Chris Kubaszak confirmed this is the current staffing level. Councilmember McBride asked how many employees they are looking for. Chris Kubaszak said they need two (2) mechanics, one (I) service line worker, and they are continually hiring drivers to ensure routes are adequately covered. Councilmember McBride asked Chris Kubaszak if he could send the job descriptions to Councilmembers so they can assist with recruitment. Chris Kubaszak confirmed that he would. Councilmember McBride asked Chris Kubaszak if he has considered holding an annual Transpo fundraising dinner to build community support and generate additional revenue. Chris Kubaszak said they have never explored that option, but he will look into it. Councilmember Dr. Beidinger asked how customers track buses in real time. Chris Kubaszak replied that Transpo uses the Passio system, available through an app and webpage, which allows riders to track their route. He noted that certain routes cover blocks where signal interference can cause slight delays in tracking accuracy. Committee Chair Niezgodski opened the public hearing. Sue Kesim, 4022 Kennedy Drive, South Bend, IN 46614, asked about the possibility of converting the ADA paratransit fleet to propane, noting that this has been successfully done in LaPorte, Indiana. She asked how much research Transpo is doing into emerging transportation technologies such as driverless vehicles. Chris Kubaszak explained that the cost and infrastructure requirements for a propane fueling station would be prohibitive with the space and capital available. He noted that fares could not be raised to offset the investment due to federal regulations around ADA fares. He added that no major transit agencies have implemented autonomous driving technology on thirty-five (35)-foot fixed route buses yet, and Transpo would prefer to wait until a larger agency works out the glitches. He noted that autonomous vehicles would likely increase liability insurance costs. Committee Chair Niezgodski closed the public hearing. Committee Chair Niezgodski noted that Chris Kubaszak was recently hired by the Transpo Board to serve as Transpo's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), having previously served in several different roles within the organization. She asked Chris Kubaszak to introduce his replacement in the role ofTranspo's Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Chris Kubaszak introduced Lindsay Dance as the new Transpo Controller. EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov f~ ~ CHY OF SOUI"'H BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK With no further business, Committee Chair Niezgodski adjourned the Personnel and Finance Committee meeting at 7:34 P.M. Respectfully Submitted, JUJ~- Sheila Niezgodski, Committee Chair EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If 574.235.9173 J www.southbendin.gov