03/12/07 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING MARCH 12, 2007 This bill had first reading. Councilmember Kelly made a motion to refer this bill to the Area Plan Commission. Councilmember Varner seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. UNFINISHED BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR Mr. James A. Master, 211 W. Washington, Suite 1800, South Bend, Indiana, commending the Council for being able to sit through a long session, by keeping your sense of humor and keep your focus on the best interests for the City. Where are we with the Parking Ordinance, it is going on two (2) years. Mr. Master's stated to Councilmember Varner when he goes home tonight, he will pass three, four cars on a two block stretch, parked up on the front yards. Our neighborhoods don't have to turn into junk heap and that's where it is. It is squarely in the Council's hands to pass that ordinance, so that there is an effective tool, to combat this problem. It's not just where he lives, it's all around this City, and no district is exempt. Mr. Master's asked if he could help, he stated that he already sent one draft of an ordinance. He asked if the Council could get the ordinance prepared and get on with it. Council President Rouse stated that the issue of parking is going to be referred to the Health and Public Safety Committee and Councilmember White is the Chairperson of that Committee. Councilmember White stated that the parking ordinance is scheduled for 1 gc Reading at the March 26, 2007 meeting. She stated that she has met with other Councilmember's as well as the City Attorney, to work out a revised Ordinance addressing some of the issues that have been heard thus far. Information will be forthcoming and lgt Reading is scheduled for March 26, 2007. She stated that the Health and Public Safety Committee will have at least one meeting separate from the afternoon Committee Meetings that are held on Council Meeting Mondays. This will give individuals ample time to come and to respond to the Ordinance. The Health and Public Safety Committee's plan is to move forward and as quickly as possible. Councilmember Puzzello advised that two issues will be discussed general yard parking all over the city and Special Exceptions have been separated from each other and there are two bills. The only bill that will receive 1 gc reading on March 26, 2007, will be general yard parking. Special Exceptions will not be addressed at that time. Additionally, Mr. Master's asked where is the Council with the Building at Western Avenue and Walnut Street. Councilmember Pfeifer responded that she has e-mailed David Fecteau, Community & Economic Development, after Mr. Master's brought up this property. She noted that the Department of Code Enforcement has done a lot of work on that building. She noted that there is a business or corporation or partnership that owns it and they have disappeared. The individual who owns it has hidden behind the business, corporation, partnership, kind of thing. She noted that the building is structurally sound, and she asked Code as they are deliberating, to board up the windows, and get rid of the graffiti. Councilmember Pfeifer stated that she has talked to Catherine Toppel, Director of Code Enforcement, today, and she is going to do that. Evidently, the business that the City works with to board up properties doesn't do second story structures. They have done everything they can do to try to find the owner of it. Mr. Masters replied to Councilmember Pfeifer that he doesn't mean this to be critical, and he directs his comments to the entire Council. He stated that it is his observation that some of the members of the Council to get along with the administration and go along with the administration are simply advocated. Your role as an effected advocate for the 24