10-19-94 Council Rules Committee

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atommitttt Zt.tport: Council Rules Committee g0 Ott Common 1t0uutil of Olt Co of south garb: The October 19, 1994 meeting of the Council Rules Committee was called to order by its Chairperson, Council President, Ann Puzzello at 5:00 P.M. in the Council informal room. Persons in attendance included Council Members Washington,Puzzello,Ladewski, Zakrzewski, Slavinskas, and Luecke; City Clerk Irene Gammon,JoAnn Harper of the City Clerks office, Assistant City Attorney John Broden, City Attorney Dick Nussbaum, Don Porter,and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand Council Attorney. Council President Puzzello noted that the members of the Council Rules Committee include Council Members Slavinskas,Washington and herself. She noted that today is the first of several meetings of the Council Rules Committee to begin formally the feasibility study on whether a City Court should be established for the City of South Bend. She noted that Bill No. 54-94 had first reading at the last Common Council meeting and has been sent to this Committee for review and recommendation. She then turned over the meeting to the Council Attorney to make a presentation. The Council Attorney noted that to date she has spent over one hundred hours in preparation for the upcoming Council Rules Committee hearings. Like the FOP negotiations held earlier this year, she sees today as the first brainstorming session to review the "Vision for the Year 2000" for the City of South Bend. As indicated in the handout (copy attached) some of the various items that will be reviewed include the enhancement of the quality of life, the enhancement of the quality of services, internal and external accountability,cost containment,increase efficiency and community identification. She noted that this"Holistic Review"of the administrative,judicial and legislative branches is needed in order to properly address the question of whether a City Court is needed. She noted that she has had preliminary meeting with Circuit Court Judge Crone, Superior Chief Judge William Albright, Superior Court Judge Jourdon, and Superior Judge Brook and has presented copies of the proposed Ordinance to each of these individuals. She also noted that she has meet with Probate Court Judge Peter Nemeth who was the last Deputy Prosecutor under the City Court system and has provided him with a copy of the proposed Bill. The last two City Court Judges namely Phil Potts and George Herendeen were also contacted in the preliminary discussions. She indicated that the Superior Judges will meet to discuss the City Court concept at its meeting on October 20, 1994. She has been in contact with Linda Scopelitis,Clerk of the Courts and has received substantial information from that office. She and Dick Nussbaum met with County Prosecutor Michael Barnes to also have preliminary discussion on the proposed Bill. Additionally, the Indiana Supreme Court Division of State Administration has also sent much information which was used in the preparation of the handouts. She then provided to the Committee notebooks containing information which were reviewed.