08/27/07 Council Meeting Minutes

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 27, 2007 Councilmember Varner made a motion to refer Bill Nos. 38-07; 40-07 and 48-07 to the Zoning and Annexation Committee and set them for Public Hearing and Third Reading on September 10, 2007. Councilmember Dieter seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. NEW BUSINESS Councilmember Pfeifer advised that she is working on a bill to have all vacant properties registered in the City of South Bend. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR COMMENTS FROM MR. GARY KING CONCERNING PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE OF THE SOUTH BEND COMMON COUNCIL Mr. Gary King, 730 N. Hill Street, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he had a question about parliamentary procedure. Last meeting during the Committee of the Whole, Mrs. Puzzello asked if members of the public would be permitted to speak so that input could be heard far improving Bill 44-07, it was decided that the Council did not do that. It seems to him that the Chair could have entertained a motion to suspend the rules for the purpose of hearing members of the Public speak about the bill. Then everybody that was here could have said something and the Council would have had the benefit of that input. He stated that he was prepared to do that. He stated that he has about twelve (12) hours in research and has developed a fifteen (15) minute presentation to deliver to the Council whenever the Council is ready to hear it. He stated that his concern is that the bill could be continued again, because the Council does not want this to interrupt the Notre Dame Football Season. He stated that he plans on pointed out many errors when it is his time to talk and hopes that the correct version that the Council is working on now doesn't have as many errors in it. Council President Rouse called for a point of order. He stated that Mr. King is now discussing Bill 44-07 and that bill was listed on the agenda. Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand stated that Mr. King has now strayed over that line and is now discussing a matter that is on the agenda. Mr. King stated that he only wanted to point out that when it is time far that kind of presentation to be heard that it will be heard and tailor it for that bill. Ms. Cekanski-Farrand stated that Mr. King called twice to the City Clerk's Office and spoke with her. She stated that she would be discussing this matter with Council President Rouse and that conversation was just this morning. Again, for the record, so that the entire Council knows what the issue is, Mr. King asked for an explanation with regard to a formal presentation. This Council and past Council's have been very consistent with regard to either an attorney of record or a neighborhood group or someone that represents a mass of people that they are making a formal remonstrance. The reason far that has been that the formal remonstrance would not be subject to a time limitation. Mr. King then stated that he would be representing certain Republican candidates in the fall election as his remonstrance group. At that point, again, that was new information to her and she stated that she appreciated the clarification and that she would work with the Council President because in her opinion would have to go to the Council Rules Committee for a final disposition before September 17, 2007. Mr. King thanked the Council for this infarmation. He noted that it is not only the Republican candidates; there are a number of other people involved. Ms. Cekanski-Farrand stated that she is quoting what Mr. King said in the telephone conversation. 26