Laserfiche WebLink
04��1 �i d� /g� •O <br />' %to City of South Bend. <br />Common Council <br />p R <br />1865 441 County-City Building s 227 W. Jefferson Blvd <br />South Bend, Indiana 46601 -1830 <br />Derek D. Dieter <br />President <br />Oliver J. Davis <br />Vice - President November 17, 2010 <br />Ann Puzzello Members of the Common Council <br />Chairperson, Committee 4"' Floor County -City Building <br />of the Whole South Bend, Indiana 46601 <br />Derek D. Dieter Re: Regulations Governing Council Members <br />First District <br />(574) 235 -9321 <br />Fax (574) 235 -9173 <br />TDD (574) 235 -5567 <br />http://www.southbendin.gov <br />Henry Davis, Jr. <br />Dear Council Members: <br />Second District <br />In the interest of observing the highest standards of conduct in carrying out the <br />Thomas LaFountain <br />official duties as an elected member of the South Bend Common Council, the <br />Third District <br />Council periodically reviews its governing regulations. For example, in 2004, the <br />Ann Pu o <br />Common Council passed Ordinance No. 9504 -04 which amended Section 2 -8 of the <br />Fourth District <br />Dist <br />South Bead Municipal Code by including the following provision: "Persons in the <br />Council Chambers shall turn their cell phones and pagers to their silent mode when <br />David Varner <br />the Common Council is in session ". <br />Fifth District <br />That provision needs to be updated in light of new electronic communications <br />Oliver J. Davis <br />technology and to broaden its application to meetings of the many Standing <br />Sixth District <br />Committees of the Council. <br />AI "Buddy' Mrsits <br />At Large <br />Many cities are currently in the process of updating their rules and regulations <br />governing public meetings. For example, Boston and Seattle have regulations in <br />Timothy A. Rouse <br />place addressing the "use of handheld electronic devices" and the "use of social <br />At Large <br />media by city Council Members" citing interference with council audio systems and <br />the need to upgrade their rules of decorum. Several state legislatures have enacted <br />Karen L. White <br />laws in this area and the National Conference on State Legislatures have issued <br />At Large <br />publications this year on the digital age and public gatherings. <br />Furthermore, the US Congressional Research Service issued on February 3, 2010 a <br />publication entitled "Social Networking and Constituent Communications: Member <br />Use of Twitter During a Two -Month Period in the 1111h Congress" It noted among <br />other things that: <br />"...the development of new electronic technologies has altered the traditional <br />patterns of communications between Members of Congress and constituents. <br />Many members now use a -mail, official websites, blogs, YouTube channels, and <br />