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• • Health and Public Safety Committee June 5, 2000 Page 23 expansion. Their building is seven years old and the staff is predominately women. He is concerned about the well-being of his employees and the patrons who come to his establishment. Mr. Joseph Sergio of Citizens for Community Values, Inc. stated that he is a business owner on South Michigan with over seventy (70) employees. He stated that for many years his business has been trying to co-exist with the effects of adult business. He is overwhelming in favor of the proposed bill. He finds the process frustrating. Businesses are being hurt because of crime. He stated that the operators of the adult businesses are not their friends. He stated that they attack the Center for the Homeless at the last Committee meeting which he believes is unwarranted. He further noted that timing is everything. The recent killing in the parking lot of the Kitty Kat lounge would not have happened if it had been required to close at 10 p.m. He urged the Committee not to wait for Judge Sharpe's opinion since it will probably be continued. Felipe Meriono, a representative of the Calvary Temple located at 3717 South Michigan stated that he is the Director of the South Bend Dream Center. He works directly with youth. He sees the prostitution and the strip bars and their negative effects and their negative influence on the youth. Mr. Mangan stated that the process started approximately five (5)years ago when the Adult Emporium came here which had national backing and is now the largest adult book store in the nation. They organized within thirty(30) days. The city has been studying this bill for fifteen(15) months, and there has been far more evidence here than any where else. He noted that the Business Districts, Inc. study showed that public safety issues dominate in this area. The Troyer Group study of 1998 highlighted the negative ID for this area. Mr. Mangan thanked the Committee for the thoroughness of the process, but requested a prompt vote and a hearing no later than June 26th. Council Member Kirsits thanked everyone for their input. He noted that the written information has been helpful. Council Member Ujdak stated that the Common Council got the proposed bill just two (2) months ago. He stated that his Committee and the Council must "perform due diligence". He stated that"it would be foolhardy to run with the bill unless it is strong". He noted that if the 10 p.m. closing had been in effect the shooting at the Kitty Kat would have probably just taken place some where else. He stated that he would like to address all corridors and that there is a lot of work ahead in this area. He noted that crack houses are the highest priority now and he agrees with the Police Chief on that priority. Council Member Ujdak then highlighted three(3)items: 1. Mishawaka Ordinance He recommended that if the Mishawaka ordinance mirrors the South Bend ordinance in several areas that he would like to wait until Judge Sharpe hands down his ruling so that we can learn from that decision and make adjustments within the ordinance. 2. Constitutional Scholar He recommended that the city hire a constitutional scholar to review the city's proposed bill before final action is taken. 3. Continuance Until July 10th He suggested that the bill be continued until the first meeting in July to permit the city to review the District Court opinion on the Mishawaka ordinance and to permit a professor from the Notre Dame Law School to review the city's bill.