04-14-03 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING APRIL 14, 2003 Councilmember King noted that this is the part of the meeting in which the Council meets as the Committee ofthe Whole in order to consider bills that are presented for ordinance consideration and to hear presentations and public comments on those bills both in favor and against. After the hearing on each bill the Committee will vote on the disposition of the bills which typically is to send it to the full Council with either a favorable or an unfavorable recommendation. Councilmember King noted that Article 1, Section 2 -11 of the South Bend Municipal Code requires that before the Council begins these hearings the Chairperson of the Committee of the Whole briefly explain the procedure that will be followed for all public hearings on bills filed for ordinance consideration. The Committee operates in accord with the Council Rules and Procedures and Roberts Rules of Order and Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski- Farrand serves as the Parliamentarian. The procedure for the Public Hearing for each bill is conducted as follows: The title of the bill is read by the City Clerk. 2. Reports are presented from the pertinent Common Council Committee and /or the Area Plan Commission. A formal presentation in favor of the bill which is not subject to a time limit is heard. 4. Comments are heard from members of the public who wish to speak in favor of the bill. Each such member is limited to five (5) minutes for his /her presentation and must begin by stating his/her name and residential address. 5. Any formal presentation against the bill or Resolution which is not subject to a time limitation is heard. 6. Comments are heard from any members of the public wishing to speak against the bill. Each member of the public speaking against the bill is limited to five (5) minutes for his /her presentation and must begin by stating his/her name and residential address. The total time for comments by members of the public speaking against the bill is limited to the amount of time that was used by those speaking in favor of the bill or thirty (30) minutes whichever is greater. 7. A five (5) minute rebuttal period is allowed for the persons who gave the formal presentation in favor of the bill after which the public portion of the hearing is closed. 8. Finally, the Council portion of the hearing takes place in which members will discuss the bill and vote on its disposition. Councilmember King noted that there is one bill on the agenda this evening on which the hearing will be postponed and a motion will be made to that effect. He advised that the Public Hearing on Bill No. 23 -03 regulating large eating/drinking establishments will be postponed until the May 27, 2003 meeting of the Council and will not be heard tonight. PUBLIC HEARINGS M