02-28-00 Personnel & Finance - Laserfiche WebLink

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Personnel and Finance Committee February 28, 2000 Page 2 The Council Attorney suggested that without a"triggering mechanism"in the ordinance that the annual review may not take place. She noted that most licenses must be renewed by February 1st. She suggested a formal amendment requiring a written cost/benefit analysis be included into Bill No. 20-00 and agreed to propose language to § 4-18 of the South Bend Municipal Code for this evening's Council meeting for consideration. Council President Pfeifer inquired into taxicab license fees and tattoo licensing fees. Mr. Barclay noted that those fees have not been suggested for modification. He further noted that the tattoo ordinance is being enforced on a limited basis by the Department of Code Enforcement. Council Member White in q uired as to the process used for notification on to the public on licensing fees. Mr. Barclay noted that he sends a letter to current license holders each November. Council Member Aranowski suggested that a meeting be scheduled to discuss in further detail the overall licensing process and in particular the concerns raised by Council Member King on a cost/benefit analysis review and the concerns raised by Council President Pfeifer involving massage parlors and tattoo parlors. Following discussion, Council Member King made a motion, seconded by Council Member Varner,that Bill No. 20-00 be recommended favorably with the Bill to include a cost/benefit analysis provision to § 4-18 of the South Bend Municipal Code, as to be drafted by the Council Attorney. The motion passed. The Committee then reviewed Bill No. 19-00 which would create new Article 18 in Chapter 2 of the South Bend Municipal Code addressing fees for public records. Mr. Jeffrey M. Jankowski, Deputy City Attorney, made the presentation. He noted that state law requires municipalities to establish uniform fees for the production of copies of records, documents, computer tape, discs, maps and similar tangible and electronic information. The City is permitted to recover its actual costs of providing public access to information. He noted that the City did a review of other cities fees and that the fees being proposed are competitive. He further noted that the City has been in contact with the Office of the Public Access Counselor. Dr. Varner inquired as to what cities had been studied. Mr. Jankowski noted that Fort Wayne and Mishawaka were contacted. Council Member Kirsits inquired into what was included in the proposed arson report with a proposed fee of$ 25.00. He noted that often the individuals who have suffered such a fire loss could not afford such a fee for a fire report. Mr. Jankowski noted that he was uncertain as to what detail would be included for the$25.00 fee. Council Member Kirsits suggested an additional line item entitled "Fire/EMS Report" which would be similar to a traffic accident report for which the City charges a fee of$3.00. In this way he suggested that the routine report could be procured and would be separate from an arson report. •