Revising the Governing Rules Regulations of the Legislative Branch of the City of South Bend

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ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE REVISING THE GOVERNING RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AND ESTABLISHING CERTAIN STANDARDS OF CONDUCT ON THE PART OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL, AND CREATING A RULES COM- MITTEE FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE STANDARDS CREATED. STATEMENT OF PURPOSES AND INTENT The Common Council of the City of South Bend recognizes that its citizens are entitled to the most efficient, responsible, and responsive legislative branch of government. The Council further recognizes that the best interests of the public will be better served by a legislative branch which effectively and econom- ically meets its increasing responsibilities. For these reasons, the Council undertakes to set forth governing rules and regulations which more adequately meet the needs of the Council and the citizens and community which it serves. The Common Council further acknowledges that its members hold their office as a trust and conferred by the citizens of the South Bend Community. This public trust requires Council members to observe the highest standards of conduct. The public, in seeing that principles and standards of official conduct are properly defined and enforced, is thereby encouraged to have a greater measure of respect for, and confidence in the public of- fices held by the members of Council. Since the enhancement and furtherance of the public in- terest is paramount in the performance of public service, and since the establishment of adequate procedures and sanctions is the best means of promoting such interests, the necessary amend- ments to effectuate these results are provided in this Ordinance. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, as follows: SECTION 1. Chapter 2 of the Municipal Code of the City of South Bend, Indiana, commonly referred to as Article 1. The Common Council,is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows: SEC. 2-1. COMMON COUNCIL: COMPOSITION; COUNCILMEN; ELIGIBILITY; TERM; COMPENSATION; VACANCY. C6H�C�BHEN-EBEC�EB; (a). The legislative power and authority of the City shall be vested in the Common Council. wh}ek Unless otherwise provided by law, all powers and duties of the City which are legislative in nature shall be exercised and performed by the Common Council.l (b). The Council shall consist of nine (9) members as -are ae��aated;-e�eete�-aa�-�aa�}�}e�-��-aeee�daaee-w�t�-tie-State-haws a1941 -Seet}ens-3- - --et.-seq. aael-I8-5-1-8-et--Sep---and-as-amended; -Burns -Iaeliana-Statutes Aaaetated,--Seet}ea-48-��9. termed eeune4:lmen Councilmen;six (6) district councilmen elected from districts more particularly described in Section 1-4 of this Code, and three (3) councilmen at -large elected at large from the entire city.2 * words added underlined words deleted---------------