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=MM. t &port <br /> oh, the Ulnnmtntt Qlonnrd of to mug of$9mdl fiPUd: RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE <br /> The August 4, 1981 meeting of the Residential Neighborhoods Committee <br /> was called to order at 1:15 p.m, by its Chairman, Councilman Beverlie J. Beck, <br /> in the council meeting room. <br /> Persons in attendance included: Captain Ed Friend, Eugenia Schwartz, <br /> 'Councilman Beck, members of the news media, and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand. <br /> Councilman Beck announced that the purpose .of the meeting was `to discuss <br /> changes in the bicycle. ordinance. <br /> Captain Ed Friend of the Police Department then reviewed the following <br /> information. From May through August of this year, the department has <br /> received 612 bicycle reports with only 45 owners having purchased the <br /> bicycle licenses. Of the remaining unlicensed bicycles, 209 owners knew <br /> .their serial numbers. He noted that the vast majority of reports filed with <br /> the department are for insurance purposes. <br /> Captain Friend suggested that the City should give- a free license decal <br /> to owners in exchange for bicycle registration information which could be <br /> then fed into the computer. He noted that less than 5000 bicycle licenses <br /> :have, been issued whereas he speculated .that .there were probably 30, 000 in <br /> the -South Bend area. <br /> Presently licenses are only being sold at the fire stations and one <br /> dealership. It was hoped that the free decals could be.igiven out by police <br /> officers, civil defense officers, bicycle dealers, code enforcement- personnel, <br /> and the fire departments. The decal would be lifetime rather than the <br /> present three year term. <br /> Captain Friend said that the new program was designed to challenge the <br /> average bike thief. One quarter of a million dollars is lost annually to <br /> bike thieves. He noted that it- takes an officer approximately one hour on <br /> each bicycle report from the initial telephone call to entering it into the <br /> computer data bank. He estimated that each report would cost approximately <br /> $100 for the City to process. He suggested that persons who do not have their <br /> bicycles licensed would have to file their own reports. He emphasized that <br /> this is a "big crime" and the departments needs the public cooperation. <br /> Eugenia Swartz then reviewed the proposed ordinance section by section. <br /> Councilman Beck emphasized the need for such an ordinance. She said the <br /> present system "rewards kids for stealing a bike" . She said. the overall <br /> purpose of the ordinance was to get needed information into the computer, and <br /> to help curb theft in this area. She emphasized the need for alot of "PR" <br /> to promote such a bill. <br /> ►ecc •acrs ►ususNINO co. - <br />