06-23-03 Health & Public Safety - Laserfiche WebLink

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'Gominittte Ztport Ipza 1th attf VOW at£ttt (ommitf iz The June 23, 2003 meeting of the Health and Public Safety Committee was called to order by its Chairperson, Council Member Roland Kelly at 3:37 p.m. in the Council Informal Meeting Room. Persons in attendance included Council Members Aranowski, Pfeifer, White, Coleman, Kelly, Kuspa, Kirsits and King; St. Joseph County Prosecutor Michael Dvorak, Michael Gotch, Frank Shaffer, Ken Cotter,Terry Bland of the South 3 ttb ZribUtte and Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand. Council Member Kelly noted that the only item on the agenda was to continue discussion of Bill No. 23-03 which would establish public safety requirements for large eating/drinking establishments in the downtown area. He called upon its sponsor, Council Member James Aranowski to make a presentation. Council Member Aranowski noted that this Bill was discussed in detail at the April 2nd Committee meeting. Each of the four(4) downtown establishments were present, and each have been invited to attend today's meeting. He noted that early this year, County Prosecutor Dvorak contacted him and shared his concern of the number of police squad cars which were responding to calls in the downtown area, especially during the closing times of the bars. Between 25-27 squad cars have responded at one time which leaves the rest of the city unprotected. He noted that the Council Attorney presented several documents at the last Committee meeting which detailed the legal background information on this topic. Captain Wanda Shock from the South Bend Police Department was also present and presented information on the need to start monthly meetings with the establishment owners. Captain Shock has met twice with the owners since the last Committee meeting. He further noted that the Indiana State Excise Officers were also present at the meeting with the owners,and offer monthly educational meetings in South Bend at no charge. Council Member Aranowski noted that the Council Attorney prepared a substitute bill (copy attached). This bill focuses on establishing needed public safety requirements for establishments in the downtown area which have an occupancy limit of 200 people or more. There would be required verification of server intervention training and education programs with quarterly updates being required; would require harm reduction strategies to be developed; would require trained security personnel with a minimum of three (3) such personnel working from 10 pm until 30 minuets after closing with additional personnel required based on the size of the crowd, as well as quarterly filings with the Board of Public Safety. The Board of Public Safety would review all of the filings and then report tot eh Chiefs of Police and Fire, the Director of Code Enforcement, the City Clerk and the Chairperson of the Council's Health and Public Safety Committee, with the Committee meeting no later than November 15th of each year to discuss calls for service and the development of broad-based community partnerships to address public safety concerns. Public safety announcements, at the request of Council Member Kirsits have been included with options for the owners. Council Members Kelly and Kuspa both voiced concern over the problems occurring at closing time. St. Joseph County Prosecutor Michael Dvorak noted that he brought three (3) of his staff members with him in support of the proposed substitute bill. He notect that many of his staff have ridden with members of the South Bend Police Department and they have seen first hand the need for Health and Public Safety Committee