05-20-91 Public Safety - Laserfiche WebLink

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Qlnmmtttrr apart PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE Q!n the Cunt a Qiounrit of the Mug of South #irud: The May 20, 1991 Meeting of the Public Safety Committee was called to order by its Chairperson, Council Member William Soderberg, at 4:30 p.m. in the Council Informal Meeting Room. Persons in attendance included Council Members Zakrzewski, Coleman, Slavinskas, Duda, Puzzello, Luecke, Ladewski, Niezgodski, and Soderberg; Don Porter, Sergeant Jim Moon and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand. Council Member Soderberg noted that the purpose of the meeting was to review Bill No. 28-91 which would amend Chapter 20 of the Municipal Code entitled "Vehicles and Traffic". Sergeant Jim Moon of the South Bend Police Department gave the presentation. He noted that he is the Liaison Officer for the Civil Defense Unit. Sergeant Moon stated that in 1986 the Civil Defense Unit had authority and power to issue parking tickets. However under the Parent Administration that authority was removed, and that this Bill would enable the Board of Public Works to authorize Special Police Commissions to permit members of the Civil Defense Unit to issue parking violations. Sergeant Moon then read a letter from Chief of Police, Ronald A. Marciniak, in support of the Bill sponsored by Council President Niezgodski. Sergeant Moon noted that currently there are 13 Special Police Commissions held, with the majority of the Unit having three years or longer of service. They receive 32 hours of certified training from the South Bend Police Department, and must meet monthly for training purposes. Under State law they are prohibited from going onto private property. In response to questions raised by the Committee, Sergeant Moon noted that State tickets for handicapped parking on private property could be issued by regular members of the South Bend Police Department, but that of the Civil Defense Officers could not issue such tickets. He also noted that under State law if an emergency was declared that tickets could then be issued. Council Member Ladewski suggested that this would be important for Civil Defense Officers who were commissioned to issue parking tickets during snow emergencies. Sergeant Moon noted that none of the Civil Defense Officers receive any pay.