03-28-11 Council Agenda & Packet

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Bill No. Ordinance No. AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AMENDING SECTIONS 2 -8 AND 2 -10 OF CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE 1 OF THE SOUTHBEND MUNICIPAL CODE ADDRESSING PROCEDURES GOVERNING THE COMMON COUNCIL STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT In 2005, the Common Council passed Ordinance No. 9570 -05 which amended various provisions governing the operations of the South Bend Common Council. That ordinance built upon the improved efficiencies gained by the passage of Ordinance No. 9504 -04 on April 26, 2004, which then Council President Karen L. White sponsored. As a result of those actions, greater efficiencies were gained on such procedures addressing the filing of substitute Bills with the Office of the City Clerk; the inclusion of signatory areas for the Clerk and Mayor on proposed ordinances and resolutions; requiring all exhibits and petitions to be filed with all proposed Bills; authorizing the Council President to assign topics raised during the Privilege of the Floor; as well as many other areas. This ordinance is proposed to further advance the efficiency of the operations of the South Bend Common Council. Many legislative bodies throughout the country have passed regulations addressing the use of electronic devices during their meetings. This ordinance addresses that topic as well as related concerns in the interest of maintaining the highest level of decorum during Common Council meetings and Standing Committee meetings. With the development of ever - changing new electronic technologies; more and more rules and guidelines are being developed to carefully balance the need to embrace new communication technologies with the need to develop appropriate public policies addressing governmental operations. Research reveals that the United States Senate prohibits all electronic devises in varying degrees. As of February 2010, 205 Senators and Representatives were registered with Twitter; with such members averaging 116 tweets per day collectively. Twitter was created in 2006 as a web -based social networking service. The House and Senate has divided twitter use into eight (8) categories: position taking; policy; district or state activities; official congressional action; personal; media; campaign activities; and other. As a result, electronic technology has begun to reduce the cost for constituent communications. Additionally, many state legislatures have enacted rules restricting or prohibiting electronic devices so that the elected officials' undivided attention is focused on the issue being discussed during their deliberations. In light of technological innovations altering traditional forms of communication, this ordinance is warranted to assure that each Council Member has the ability to collect and transmit information from constituents; while maintaining proper decorum at all Council and Committee meetings. Various housekeeping measures are addressed to further improve the regulations governing the overall operations of the Common Council. All of the proposed regulations are proposed to be in the best interests of the public and the South Bend Common Council.