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REGULAR MEETING <br />MAY 27, 2003 <br />There was no one present wishing to speak to the Council either in favor of or in opposition to this <br />bill. <br />Councilmember Varner advised that citizens of the south side will be very happy to see some <br />development take place. Therefore, Councilmember Varner made a motion for favorable <br />recommendation to full Council concerning this bill. Councilmember Coleman seconded the motion <br />which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. <br />BILL NO. 31 -03 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON <br />COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, <br />AMENDING THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE BY <br />CHANGES TO CHAPTER 4, AND CHAPTER 12 TO <br />REGULATE AND LICENSE THE USE OF ALARM <br />SYSTEMS <br />Council President White made a motion to hear the third substitute version of this bill. <br />Councilmember Pfeifer seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. <br />Councilmember Kelly, Chairperson, Health and Public Safety Committee, reported that this <br />committee held a Public Hearing on this bill this afternoon and sends it to the Council with a <br />favorable recommendation. <br />Police Lieutenant Dick Powers, South Bend Police Department, 701 West Sample Street, South <br />Bend, Indiana, and Ms. Juanita Dempsey, representing the Community Oriented Policing <br />Leadership Council, no address given, made the presentation for this bill. <br />Lieutenant Powers advised that this bill contains proposed amendments to Chapter 4, Article 3, <br />Chapter 4, Article 4 and Chapter 12, Section 12 -1 of the existing ordinance defining false alarms <br />and the usage of alarms in the City of South Bend. Lieutenant Powers informed the Council that <br />this project began in the Fall of 1998 and has been worked on continuously until about three (3) <br />months ago. He noted that they have investigated how to reduce the number of false alarms and <br />developed a structure of how alarms are used and who represents alarm users in an effort to reduce <br />the total number of false alarms that are responded to by both the South Bend Police and Fire <br />Departments. This project involved not only the Police and Fire Departments but the Community <br />Oriented Policing Leadership Council which is the citizen balancing side of community oriented <br />policing who represents organizations and associations throughout the City of South Bend. <br />Throughout the process they have had discussions and met with most of the major alarm companies <br />in South Bend representing over ninety per cent (90 %) of the alarm business. Lieutenant Powers <br />stated that it was felt that the number of false alarms will be reduced due to the efforts of the alarm <br />companies and the City of South Bend. Additionally, meetings were held with some of the larger <br />users concerning this matter including the school administration to try to make efforts to reduce <br />alarms at some of their properties. <br />Ms. Juanita Dempsey, Chairman, Community Oriented Policing Leadership Council, stated that <br />some of the issues considered in the revising of this ordinance were the safety factor and the wear <br />and tear on public vehicles. Police and Fire Department vehicles running lights and sirens to reach <br />