09/17/07 Council Special Meeting Minutes

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SPECIAL MEETING SEPTEMBER 17, 2007 • Setting reasonable beginning times and ending times for the placement of temporary structures such as tens, equipment for outside music, etc. brought in for the special event (See Sec. 14-54, ¶ (a)2, p. 7for more detail) • Providing for temporary residential one-day Conditional Use Lawn Parking permits on a city -wide basis (See Sec. 14-56, pp. 7-10) • Requiring all lawn ruts to be repaired (See Sec. 14-56, ¶ (n), p. 10 for more detail) • Enabling the flow of information to the Common Council by specifically requiring that relevant data be shared so that the council's Community Relations Committee and the Council's Residential Neighborhoods Committee so that they may weigh the effectiveness of the regulations and hear recommendations from residents, city officials, and the Community/Campus Advisory coalition (CCAC) on a regular basis (See Sec. 14-60, pp. 12-13 for more detail) We believe that by addressing special events pro-actively, that each of our proposed strategies, not only compliment, but strengthen each of the proposed ordinance provisions. Detailed footnotes to relevant sources of information have also been included throughout the proposed ordinance. As noted in our prior meetings, there are many university communities across the nation who has been grappling with these multi- faceted challenges. We believe that the regulations we are proposing offer the City Administration discretion, yet are grounded in protecting the quality of life of our residents and the residential neighborhoods we call home. By collaborating with our city residents, college and university officials, as well as with student government leaders, we have the opportunity to all work together. The COPS Problem-Oriented Guide for Police, Problem-Specific Guides Series, No. 39 published by the U. S. Department of Justice in February 2006, has been carefully studied, discussed and reviewed. We believe that the proposed regulations are consistent with the "Effective Action Plan" detailed in that publication. By adding the Community/Campus Advisory Coalition (CCAC) to this ordinance, the strategic planning component has been further strengthened. As noted in the article "Putting the Lid on Unruly Parties" which appeared in the Higher Education Center: Prevention File in May 2007, and the article "Getting House Parties Under ControP' which appeared in Catalyst, a publication of Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention, funded by the U.S. Department of Education (Winter 2007, Volume 8, No. 2 ); ongoing dialogue among all interested parties is critical. By having the Community/Campus Advisory Coalition meet on a regular basis throughout the calendar year, we will gain insights, build strong partnerships and have the opportunity to work together to see that the best local legislation is in place which fits the needs of South Bend residents, South Bend neighborhoods, and embraces our university and college neighbors. Councilmember Rouse thanked all the individuals who have offered suggestions and insights into this proposed ordinance. Councilmember Kirsits stated that South Bend is a vibrant, caring city. Residents and government celebrate our diversity and vitality. He stated that the Council believes that it is their duty to protect the "quality of life" in each of these neighborhoods. He advised that 2nd Substitute Bill No. 44-07 provides another tool for such protection. Ordinance No. 9749-07 which was passed on Apri123, 2007 by the South Bend Common Council, parking of motor vehicles on lawn areas in residential areas is prohibited from a public safety perspective; and with the passage of Ordinance No. 9759-07 on June 11, 2007, by the South Bend Common Council, parking of motor vehicles on lawn areas in residential areas is prohibited from a zoning perspective. Public testimony in support of both of these ordinances, both sponsored by 4~` District Councihnember Ann Puzzello, noted that when there was residential lawn parking on a regular basis: There were increased calls