09-25-06 Council Meeting Minutes

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 25, 2006 BILL NO. 46-06 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA AMENDING CHAPTER 21 OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE ARTICLE 2, RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS AND ARTICLE 7, GENERAL REGULATIONS TO CLARIFY PARKING IN RESIDENTIAL ZONING Councilmember Kuspa, Chairperson, Zoning & Annexation Committee, reported that this committee held a Public Hearing on this bill this afternoon and voted to continue this bill until the November 27, 2006 meeting of the Council. Councilmember Puzzello advised that there have been several meetings that were held to discuss this bill. A consensus cannot be reached at this time. She noted that the Council agrees that parking in yards should be banned in the City of South Bend, but when it came time for a special exception, a decision on how that should be handled could not be reached. There is a lot of information that needs to be discussed, if the Council chooses to separate these two issues and that is the reason for the continuance. The Council has ninety (90) days from the date of the letter from the Area Plan Commission, to act upon this bill, so there is time to discuss and make changes. Councilmember Kirsits stated that it was his understanding that a companion ordinance would be drawn up so that it would allow for the permitting, through the Board of Public Works, to issues those permits and for stricter enforcement for the all out ban of parking in yards. Councilmember Kirsits stated that the Ordinance would allow the Police to have a better tool to enforce this law and be able to ticket vehicles in violation along with the Department of Code Enforcement. Councilmember Rouse stated that there is a lot of work that needs to be done, but he thinks that the Council needs a document like the one that Attorney James Masters presented to the Council to use as a base to establish criteria for allowing for a special exception and give it due diligence. Councilmember Pfeifer stated for the record that the Council needs to let neighbors know that the Council sees parking on yards as a negative quality of life issue. She noted that all Councilmember’s on board are responsible for doing something about that. Cathy Toppel, Director of Code Enforcement, stated that she would like for the Council to have documentation, so that her office can enforce the issue. Councilmember Pfeifer reiterated that the Council does not support parking in yards and that the Council needs to address this issue, because it continues to be a major negative issue in many of the neighborhoods and something has to be done about it. Councilmember Kelly made a motion to continue this bill until the November 27, 2006 meeting of the Council, and send this bill back to the Zoning and Annexation Committee for a meeting on October 14, 2006. Councilmember Dieter seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine ayes. BILL NO. 62-06 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL FIXING MAXIMUM WAGES OF TEAMSTER EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2007 Councilmember Pfeifer made a motion to accept the substitute version of this bill. Councilmember Kelly seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. 10