20-03 Resolution to remind and inform residents of littering ordinances and the dangers of releasing balloons

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BILL NO.20-03 RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION ON BEHALF OF THE SOUTH BEND COMMON COUNCIL REMINDING RESIDENTS OF CURRENT LITTERING ORDINANCES AND INFORMING RESIDENTS OF DANGERS OF RELEASING BALLOONS AND SKY LANTERNS INTO THE ATMOSPHERE AND ENCOURAGING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AND AN ALTERNATIVE TO BALLOON AND SKY LANTERN RELEASES WHEREAS, The South Bend Common Council determines that balloons and sky lanterns released into the atmosphere return to the earth as litter; and WHEREAS,The South Bend Common Council further determines that the release of balloons and sky lanterns into the atmosphere poses a danger and a nuisance to the environment and wildlife that may ingest this debris; and WHEREAS,The St. Joseph River is recognized as a beautiful asset of the City of South Bend and is home to many species of fish and other wildlife; and WHEREAS, animals, especially water wildlife, mistake the remains of balloons as food that may potentially damage digestive systems; and WHEREAS,animals, birds and water wildlife also become entangled in the remnants of balloons and the ribbons or strings connected to them; and WHEREAS,even biodegradable balloons do not degrade quickly enough to avoid ingestion by wildlife; and WHEREAS, some power companies estimate that 16-20% of annual power outages are caused by balloons,primarily due to metallic or foil balloons interacting with power lines, including 1,128 balloon related explosions or power outages in 2018 in the area served by Southern California Edison. Just one outage in Palo Alto, California, caused by a mylar balloon, affected about 2,500 customers; and WHEREAS,sky lanterns are similarly dangerous having caused: structure fires; wildfires; burns to humans; and injuries and death to animals that eat the fallen litter or become entangled in the fallen debris. WHEREAS,released balloons can travel great distances in a short amount of time. For example, in 1998, a balloon released at the Olympics in Nagano, Japan, landed in Los Angeles 49 hours later, a distance of approximately 5,300 miles; and WHEREAS,Chapter 16, Article 3, Sections 16-13 to and including 16-26 currently regulates the existence of litter in the City; and WHEREAS, additional education and information is necessary to instruct residents of the current ordinances related to litter and, in particular, the dangers of releasing balloons and sky lanterns into the atmosphere. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA,AS FOLLOWS: Section I. The South Bend Common Council reminds City residents of the current ordinances regulating litter in the City. Section II. The Common Council strongly discourages the release of balloons and sky lanterns in the atmosphere surrounding the City. Section III. The Common Council encourages the City's Office of Sustainability and other similarly environmentally concerned partners to provide, free of charge, educational programs and literature informing residents of the dangers of released balloons and sky lanterns. Section IV. The Common Council also encourages the City to donate tree saplings from its tree farm to families holding memorial services as an alternative to releases of balloons and sky lanterns.