03-22-10 Health & Public Safety - Laserfiche WebLink

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.~ ~. ~0- _ ~a HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY The March 22, 2010 meeting of the Health and Public Safety Committee of the South Bend Common Council was called to order by its Chairperson Council Member Karen L. White at 4:45 p.m. in the Informal Meeting Room, 4th Floor County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, Indiana Persons in attendance included: Committee Members: Ann Puzzello, Vice-Chairperson; Tim Rouse, Henry Davis Other Council Members Present: Derek Dieter, Tom LaFountain, David Varner, AI "Buddy" Kirsits, Oliver Davis Others Present: Catherine Toppel, Gary Gilot, Mayor Stephen Luecke, Gary Gilot, Rita Kopala, Valerie Schey Agenda: Bill No. 04-10 -Nuisance Fires Update -Graffiti BILL NO. 04-10 -NUISANCE FIRES This bill would amend the Code -Chapter 9 Article 4 adding Section 21 providing for extinguishing nuisance fires on the order of the Fire Chief. Chair of the committee, Karen White noted the City Administration had formally requested the hearing on this bill be continued until April 26, 2010. Tim Rouse so motioned. Ann Puzzello followed and all complied. GRAFFITI UPDATE - OLIVER DAVIS With warmer weather and more daylight hours soon coming, the chronic problem of graffiti moves again to the front burner. Oliver Davis, who has taken point for the Council on this quality of life issue, reported on his work addressing the problem, particularly in the 6th District. He cited a volunteer program that has proved an effective abatement approach in West La Fayette. Karen White suggested than any real solution would include a total spectrum approach involving the who, how, where, when, and why of graffiti. It is a complex problem with no single simple solution. Focusing on enforcement of prohibitions, Henry Davis asked what consequences violators risked. What are the penalties? Catherine Toppel, Director of Code enforcement, briefly described the reporting and remediation process followed once graffiti was found. Letters sent by Code Enforcement have been redrawn to recognize the fact that property owners who receive these letters are victims not violators. Valerie Schey agreed the new draft of the compliance letter was more sensitive than last year's. Oliver Davis announced a neighborhood meeting to discuss graffiti was to be held on April 9, from 9:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m. at the Rum Village Nature Center.