01-13-92 Committee of the Whole - Laserfiche WebLink

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1Iammtttrr 3 rpurt COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE too tic Ulnntnwn Mount-II of tip Qing of*anti; lirnh: The January 13, 1992 meeting of the Committee of the Whole was called to order by Council Member Ann Puzzello at 4:30 p.m. in the Council informal meeting room. Persons in attendance included Council Members: Zakrzewski, Duda, Luecke, Coleman, Washington, Kelly, Puzzello, Slavinskas, and Ladewski; Don Fozo, Patricia DeClercq, Mary Hall Mueller,Don Porter,and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand. The first item of the agenda was to review Bill No. 81-91 which would amend Chapter 1, Section 2-10, addressing standing committees in the Common Council. Council member Slavinskas, the sponsor of the Bill, made the presentation. He noted that in his four years on the Council that there has been sporadic attendance at best with regard • to the citizen members who sit on the various standing committees. He noted that currently they have no right to vote and do not receive any of the information coming before the committees. His proposed Bill is an attempt to broaden the base on recommendations to the full Council. He noted that the Committee recommendations are advisory in nature. He is requesting that there be two citizen members on each committee except the Council Rules Committee, that they be entitled to vote, and that they receive copies of the bills and resolutions prior to the Committee meetings. Council President Luecke shared his concern with regard to receiving Substitute Bills at the last minute, and recommended that the policy and practice of the Council continue that such Bills be continued if there was not sufficient time for proper review. Council Member Coleman voiced concern with regard to quorum and voting procedures; and Council Member Ladewski suggested that all citizen members be at least 18 years of age and be registered voters. Council Member Washington recommended that the Bill be continued since he had not received a copy of the Bill and he wished to study it in greater detail. Council Member Slavinskas stated that he encouraged dialogue between the Council on all proposed amendments. It was recommended that the Council Attorney prepare a letter addressing the proposed amendments discussed, and that it be included in the next packet of information for the next regular Council Meeting. Following further discussion, Council Member Coleman made a motion, seconded by Council Member Zakrzewski, that Bill No. 81-90 be continued to the January 27, 1992 meeting of the Common Council, that the Bill be sent to the Council Rules Committee for further review, and that a new cover letter addressing proposed amendments be included in the next Council Packet. The motion passed. The next item on the agenda was to review Bill No. 83-91 which would amend various Sections of Chapter 6 of the Municipal Code entitled "Buildings". Don Fozo, the Building Commissioner then reviewed the proposed Bill. He noted that it was a necessary step in light of the merger of the County and City Building Departments. He noted that the County would be acting on similar legislation in February. The Council Attorney noted that currently the building department has not been formally established through ordinance. Therefore an amendment to Section 2-13 of the South Bend Municipal Code would be necessary. Council Members Puzzello, Slavinskas, and Coleman voiced concern with regard to proposed language on page five of the Bill addressing permit fee amount for construction under$500.00 and the use of the term "pool installation." Council Member Ladewski suggested that perhaps the permit fees should be in relationship to the Consumer Price Index. Mary Hall Mueller of the City Attorney's