​SOUTH BEND COMMON COUNCIL NOTES

August 27, 2018, 7pm, 4th Floor County-City Building
Absent: Sharon McBride

COMMITTEE MEETING: Public Works and Property Vacation
Organizational Meeting (Required by State Law)
Councilwoman Jo Broden would like Quarterly Updates about the Public Works projects by District to keep Council members informed and she would also like reports on where things are with the bonds.
Discussion on Alleys being vacated - If you need your alley graded, please call 311 to schedule it.
Sue Kesim suggested there be a map of where all the sewer work is being done, just like they do for road work. She suggested the 4 neighborhoods most affected by the floods would be the best place to start mapping since Citizens with sewage still coming in their basements would like to be informed about progress being made.
Councilwoman Regina Williams-Preston would like to see the Council getting ROI reports on Abatements before voting on them.

* Special Business - Introduce Council Intern David Boling

CITY GRANTS UPDATE:
* Community WINS - US Conference of Mayors - $50K to the Near North Neighborhood Association for 20 Women/Minority Businesses
* Bloomberg Cities of Service - $25K for the AmeriCorp "Love Your Block"
* AmeriCorp $149,130 grant and SB has to match with $319K for 10 full time AmeriCorp Volunteers for weatherization program
* Drucker's Life Long Learning - $500K from Google & WalMart to help non-traditional learners get certifications
* Smart Growth America - $8K for Safe Streets
* Smart Growth America - no $, technical assistance for "Sew Loved"
* Bloomberg Mayor's Challenge - $100K to give rideshare credits to 500 shift workers at Beacon through Uber
Councilwoman Karen White wants the City to put together a Grant Revenue Summary
Councilman Oliver White wants to know how grants can go to other neighborhoods, not just the Near Northwest Neighborhood

Bill #18-38 Industrial Park Phase II 4 year Real Property TAX ABATEMENT for Rew, LLC, in the amount of $109,965 for promising there will be 25 new jobs paying $17K a year.
Passed Unanimously
NOTE: They are moving from Mishawaka to South Bend. That is still within St. Joseph County. Both cities get funding from COIT (County Option Income Tax) so all this tax abatement did was give away tax income from St. Joseph County. 

Bill #18-40 For a Zoning Exception at 213 and 217 S. Main Street to allow a Drive-Thru restaurant. This will be at the South end of the new office building being built in the middle of SB in the only open space left at the corner of Jefferson and Main.
Passed Unanimously

Bill #38-18 Raising property taxes for Corporation General Fund, Park and Recreation Fund, Cummulative Capital Development Fund and Redevelopment Bond for the College Football Hall of Fame. Second Reading on September 24th.
Note: College Football Hall of Fame bond ended and a new Park one was issued in its place. In the Council Packet the dollar amounts/percentages were left blank. Hopefully this will be fixed before the second reading.

Bill #39-18 Sets up the accounting fund numbers for the coming year, other than the General Fund. Says, "as set forth in the attached budget which is made a part hereof". Second Reading on September 24th. Third Reading on October 8th.

Bill #40-18 Sets up more of the accounting fund numbers for the coming year. Says, "as set forth in the attached budget which is made a part hereof". Second Reading on September 24th. Third Reading on October 8th

NOTE: On October 8th the 3rd Readings and Passing will be done with Council Only.

Bill #41-18 TRANSPO Setting the budget and raising revenues for it. They will vote on a BUDGET and TEX LEVY on September 17th so the public hearing with the SB Common Council can be on September 24th.

NEW BUSINESS:
* Budget hearing on Wednesday will be for the SB Police Department, 5 pm, County-City Building 4th floor​

* "Michiana on the Move" Survey is online at MACOG where you can make comments about transportation in the Michiana Area. Make your opinion known at Move2045.macog.com
The 2045 Transportation Plan, will determine how federal, state, and local funds will be spent on highways, public transit, freight, and transportation infrastructure. The survey ends on Sunday, September 16th.

* Northshore Triangle Neighborhood will be having a "Visioning Session" on Sept. 13th

PRIVILEDGE OF THE FLOOR:

* Richard Collins of the Ardmore Neighborhood Association would like the Grandview Railroad Crossing changed so it is safer for kids crossing it to go to school or visit friends. There are no sidewalks, it is not graded and there is a large pit in front of the crossing. Since there will soon be 70 mph frieght trains running on these tracks, he also wants lights and gates. He also noted there have been 3 suicides at this location.

* Jesse Davis wants to know why the public can't park in front of homes in the Eddy Street Commons area when those homes have both garages and driveways. He understands ND Game Day restrictions, but does not agree with the general parking restrictions. He also detailed two incidents where people had to pay the only authorized SB City towing company $1,400 for a tow and they damaged a Corvette in one of the tows. He thinks the City needs more than one towing company to keep prices competitive or regulate the amount charged.

​ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

South Bend Gang Violence Intervention Report - 
January 1, 2018   to   August 21, 2018

46 Current GVI participant's

17  GVI Participants are Employed

8 Currently in Work Experience at Goodwill

4 In Workshop/Job Readiness Classes at Goodwill

6 Juveniles currently receiving services

15 GVI Participants currently in retention

8 Clients have completed retention (180 days of Employment)

Per Isaac Hunt, SBGVI & Gary for Life Supervisor at Goodwill

HOMELESSNESS ISSUE:
* Marco Mariani, Executive Director of South Bend Heritage Foundation, has been asked for a current report on the Oliver Aparments because of concerns services are not being provided to the residents there.

* Councilman Oliver Davis indicated there would be an update from Councilwoman Sharon McBride on the SOAR meeting when she returns.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CITY BUDGETS:

Mayor's Office Budget:  http://www.michianaobserver.com/mayor-budget.html  

City Clerk's Office Budget:  http://www.michianaobserver.com/clerk-budget.html

Common Council's Budget:  http://www.michianaobserver.com/common-council-budget.html

Learn more about the CIRCUIT BREAKER coming up:  https://www.in.gov/dlgf/9644.htm
NOTE: Look for "South Bend Civil City" and further down, the Circuit Breaker on the Libraries.

Find out the real cost of "Smart Streets": http://www.michianaobserver.com/debt-service-smart-streets.html

Summary for 7 years of Tax Abatements totaling $117M: http://www.michianaobserver.com/abatement-reports.html

Questions in the NOTES Section are from the 6 Citizen Budget Committee Members. If you have additional questions, please let us know. We encourage you to come in person to be part of the process.
As the committee reviews the Budget presentations, more will be put up on the website.

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