08/19/86 Board of Public Works Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 19, 1986 coming to South Bend and hundreds of supporters of the March will be coming to South Bend for a major rally which is to take place on the Notre Dame campus. The March will enter the City on U.S. 20 and proceed down Lincolnway West to Main Street. At that point, they will be joined by those who have come for the rally, and the combined group would then like to use one (1) lane of the street as they march through the downtown area. The anticipated time is 2:00 p.m. The anticipated March route would take the participants south on Main Street, to Western Avenue, east on Western Avenue to Michigan Street and then north on Michigan Street to LaSalle at which point the marchers would return to the sidewalk and observe all pedestrian traffic laws as they proceed north to the Notre Dame campus. Mr. Voelker advised that it is anticipated that 1,000 individuals, including both The Great Peace March and its supporters, will participate in this event. Mr. Leszczynski advised that the Bureau of Traffic and Lighting and the Police Department Traffic Division have reviewed this matter and recommend approval of the request utilizing the route as submitted and subject to the appropriate insurance require- ments, to be determined by the City Attorney's office, being met. It was noted that the Police Department will provide a lead and follow car for the event. Therefore, upon a motion made by Ms. Barnard, seconded by Mr. Vance and carried, the recommenda- tion as submitted was accepted and the request approved. Mr. Roger Voelker was present and thanked the Board for approving his request but stated that the Peace March does not have insurance. He stated that participants have covered two-thirds (2/3) of the country with no insurance coverage and there has never been a claim of any sort. He advised that to secure insurance for an event which covers approximately 3,000 miles is simply not feasible. Members of the Board, including Board Attorney Thomas Bodnar, discussed options to the insurance requirements, which included the possibility of requiring all participants to sign Indemnification Agreements holding the City harmless from any liability as the result of this event. Mr. Voelker additionally advised the Board that a change in the proposed route is requested. He advised that the change in the route as proposed occurs when the March reaches the intersection of Western Avenue and Michigan Street. It is proposed that the march would continue east on Jefferson Boulevard to Howard Park where the participants would have lunch. The participants would then go west on Jefferson Boulevard and return to the original march route and continue north on Michigan Street to the Notre Dame campus for a rally. Mr. Voelker stated that the supporters will meet the marchers at Howard Park and join them for lunch before proceeding to the Notre Dame campus for the rally. In response to a question from the Board, Mr. Voelker confirmed that permission has been secured from the Board of Park Commissioners to utilize Howard Park for this event. He anticipated that approximately four hundred (400) individuals will march from Howard Park to the University of Notre Dame campus for the rally. Additionally, the Board was advised that the marchers will not leave the Notre Dame campus until Monday, August 25, 1986 and will utilize U.S. 20 going east to Elkhart. Mr. Voelker stated that this event was intended to be an event for the entire City and the participants would be willing to stay on the sidewalks and observe normal traffic rules. Further, Mr. Voelker stated that the anticipated time should be changed from 2:00 p.m. to 12:30-1:00 p.m. At this time, Board members instructed Board Attorney Thomas Bodnar to resolve any route change and insurance problems in regards to this event with Mr. Voelker.