05-27-03 Health & Public Safety - Laserfiche WebLink

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tonunittge Zimort bra 1t) an Vub1it *catty Qommittee The May 27, 2003 meeting of the Health and Public Safety Committee was called to order by its Chairperson, Council Member Roland Kelly at 4:25 p.m. in the Council Informal Meeting Room. Persons in attendance included Council Members Kelly, White, Pfeifer Kuspa, Varner, Kirsits and King; Citizen Member Isabel G. Gonzalez, Fire Chief Luther Taylor, Assistant Fire Chief Howard Buchanon, II, City Controller Rick 011ett, Asst. City Attorney Ann-Carol Nash, Public Works Director Gary Gilot; Lt. Dick Powers, Michael Shlakman, Juanita Dempsey & Phylis Fields who members of the Community Oriented Policing Leadership Council of South Bend; Terry Bland of the 00110 NW( trihlttfi* and Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand. Council Member Kelly noted that Bill No. 31-03 which would amend Chapters 4 and 12 of the South Bend Municipal Code to include new regulations addressing "alarm systems" was continued from the May 12th Committee meeting to today. Assistant City Attorney Ann-Carol Nash made the presentation. She noted that the Bill was continued in order to address the concerns raised by Council Member Kirsits with regard to leaving a location after 15 minutes when the key holder has failed to arrive. She stated that she spoke with the Council Attorney who sent her proposed recommendations which have been included in the 3rd Substitute version of Bill No. 31-03 with those changes being set forth on page 4 of the Bill. The amendments include a definition for"officer" and include a new last sentence to § 12-2 (b) (copy attached). Fire Chief Luther Taylor noted that he received the Council Attorney's recommendations and agrees with them. Chief Taylor commended the hard work of the Community Oriented Policing Leadership Council and stated that he believes that this is the first ordinance in the state which addresses the concerns of both the fire department and the police department. The Council Attorney stated that the proposed changes attempt to provide as much flexibility for the officers in light of public safety concerns while being legally specific. Juanita Dempsey, Co-Chairperson of the Public Safety Committee of the COP Leadership Council stated that the ordinance should help address the issue liability in light of the red lights and sirens which are used by our public safety officers when responding to a call, as well as having the alarm companies would with their consumers who have their service to check for defective equipment. Michael Shlakman, Co-Chairperson of the COP Leadership Council stressed that when officers from the South Bend Police and Fire Departments respond they are doing so thinking that it is an actual alarm or an actual incident taking place. The Bill is needed in light of the safety of all of our officers and in light of the fact that the number of false alarms is at an unacceptable level which is jeopardizing our officers' safety when responding. C.O.P. Coordinator, Lt. Dick Powers of the South Bend Police Department then provided updated information to the Committee noting that in 2002 there were 10,107 reported false alarms for residential and commercial burglary alarms. As a result in calendar year 2002 there were 2,526.35 hours of down time for the City's public safety personnel (one-page handout attached). Dr. Varner voiced concern with regard to the language set forth on page 6, § 12-3 as to the time period involved as well as whether the Police and Fire Departments would continued to Hein