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SPECIAL MEETING SEPTEMBER 17, 2007
<br />John Jenkins, C.S.C., President of the University of Notre Dame, from the September 13,
<br />2007 The Observer, "I think there's nothing that defines Notre Dame more powerfully
<br />than the sense of community... " Councilmember Kirsits read a quote from the
<br />September 13, 2007 Scholastic, University of Notre Dame's Student Magazine Since
<br />1867 (Page 10) "Are students off campus oftentimes disruptive? Yes. Are there
<br />consistent problems with underage drinking? Yes. And do these problems negatively
<br />affect the lives of South Bend residents going about their daily routines? Indubitably."
<br />Until students stop misbehaving, especially inoff-campus houses and during football
<br />weekends, their cries of persecution at the hands of the South Bend Police Department
<br />and the South Bend City Council ring decidedly false. You can't be unjustly persecuted
<br />for things you are actually doing." The Catalyst, a Publication from the Higher Education
<br />Center in Volume 8, No. 2, Winter 2007 edition on "Getting House Parties Under
<br />Control" reports: "From Gainesville, Fla., to Amherst, Mass., to Reno, Nev., college
<br />towns across the country are taking measures to get a handle on unruly house parties,
<br />which care a sore point of contention in neighborhoods near campuses." "...cities are
<br />enacting new ordinances as well as beefing up enforcement in order to hold party hosts
<br />accountable... such measures can take the form of nuisance ordinances, house party
<br />ordinances, or social host ordinances." "In California, 25 cities and 4 counties either
<br />have or are considering some type of social host... a social host ordinance is a strategy for
<br />changing social norms around the idea that it is okay for young people to binge drink at
<br />parties." Other communities have passed various types of social event legislation such as
<br />Berkley, CA; Concord, CA; Reno, NV; Ames, Iowa; San Marcos, Texas; Syracuse, NY;
<br />Orange and Ventura Counties in California, San Diego, CA. On June 7-10, 2007 the 2na
<br />Annual "Best Practices in Building Universit.~y Relations Conference" was held in
<br />Gainesville, Florida and focused on "Living and Learning Together to Unite Our
<br />Communities" to discuss: Improving Town/Gown Relations; All the Right Stuff: Event
<br />Security; Berkeley, California developed a "comprehensive approach" which addresses
<br />"expectations of students and defining acceptable standards." College & city leaders
<br />advocate "... a paradigm shift" where towns and universities both work to address quality
<br />of life, cost-sharing for public services... Councilmember Kirsits advised that Proposed
<br />Special Events Regulations 2nd Substitute Bill No. 44-07 requires the sponsor who hosts a
<br />special event to properly manage and supervise it. Would help improve and protect the
<br />quality of life in our residential neighborhoods. Would help foster ongoing and pro-
<br />active discussions between city residents, community leaders and our university and
<br />college neighbors year-round through the Community/Campus Advisory Coalition
<br />(CCAC.) Would permit the CCAC to begin discussions before the boarding house permit
<br />regulations proposed in 14-53 would be implemented, with such implementation taking
<br />place after the Council adopts a separate Resolution indicating the need for such
<br />activation. Councilmember Kirsits quoted Rev. Edward A. Malloy, C.S.C. that Henry
<br />Wechsler [in the book Dying to Drink] not only describes graphically the environmental
<br />elements of this unhealthy and dangerous reality, but he helps us to understand the price
<br />we as individuals, as families, and as educators. Even more importantly, he issues a call
<br />to action that can be confidently undertaken by schools, by parents, and by the
<br />surrounding communities." By working together with our residents and our university &
<br />college neighbors, the City of South Bend can provide positive tools to enrich the quality
<br />of life in our residential neighborhoods by pro-actively addressing community & public
<br />safety concerns. In this way, public trust will be enhanced and our residential
<br />neighborhoods will be given the opportunity to flourish. Good dialogue has taken place
<br />since July 13d`, when we first filed Bill No. 44-07 with the Office of the City Clerk. We
<br />will continue to work to see that pro-active measures and discussions continue, so that the
<br />qualities of life in all of our South Bend residential neighborhoods are enhanced.
<br />Councilmember Kirsits thanked everyone asked the Council for their favorable support.
<br />This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents
<br />and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard.
<br />Ms. Liz Brown, 1022 E. Madison, South Bend, Indiana, stated that she is the Student
<br />Body President at the University of Notre Dame. She stated that she appreciates the
<br />opportunity to speak tonight on behalf of the Student Body of the University of Notre
<br />Dame. As many people know she has been actively involved in discussions regarding
<br />tonight proposed ordinance. In the last month and half she stated that she has participated
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