06-23-03 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JUNE 23, 2003 private funds in order to enable the development of the park. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. There being no one present wishing to speak to the Council either in favor of or in opposition to this bill, Councilmember Aranowski made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council. Councilmember Coleman seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. BILL NO. 23 -03 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AMENDING CHAPTER 14 OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE BY THE INCLUSION OF NEW ARTICLE 5 ENTITLED PUBLIC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR LARGE EATING/DRINKING ESTABLISHMENTS Councilmember Coleman made a motion to consider the substitute verison of this bill. Council President White seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. Councilmember Kelly, Chairperson, Health and Public Safety Committee, reported that this committee heard this bill this afternoon and sends it to the Council with a favorable recommendation. First District Councilmember Jim Aranowski, 2229 Pine Creek Court, South Bend, Indiana, sponsor of the bill, made the presentation. Councilmember Aranowski advised that this bill is the result of intergovernmental cooperation with Prosecutor Mike Dvorak who brought to his attention that there were problems with the large downtown drinking establishments after closing. At one time twenty eight (28) squad cars were needed which left portions of the City unprotected. Mr. Dvorak was concerned about crime in the neighborhoods because of the continued use of police in the downtown area. Councilmember Aranowski noted that Mr. Dvorak asked him if they could work together to put together an ordinance addressing this problem. The proposed ordinance will require large bars to develop Serving Intervention Programs as a means of preventing harm. It will require responsible management practices which are aimed at reducing violence in and around licensed premises which serve alcohol beverages. Also, the bill will require trained security at such establishments. These establishments are defined as places that have alcohol beverage permits and have occupancy over two hundred (200) people or more and are open for business past 1:00 a.m. on a regular business day in the Central Business District. Mandatory training will be required and can be accomplished through State Excise with no cost to the bar owners. Bar owners will be asked for harm reduction strategies. A minimum of three (3) trained security personnel will be required during regular business hours from 10:00 p.m. until thirty (30) minutes after closing for the first two hundred (200) people and one (1) additional trained security personnel for each one hundred (100) persons thereafter. Councilmember Aranowski noted that most of the bar owners that he has met with downtown indicated that they do meet that criteria. Also, they will be asked for a Security Strategies Package. All of these will be given to the Board of Public Safety and the Chief of Police. In response to concerns raised by Councilmember Kirsits, the last requirement is that public service announcements must be made beginning at 10:00 n.m. indicating the location of fire exits_ Tf a hand