07-28-03 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JULY 28.2003 Councilmember King noted that this is the portion of the meeting in which members of the Council meet as the Committee of the Whole in order to hear presentations and public comment both for and against each bill that has been submitted for ordinance consideration. After the hearing on each bill the Committee will vote on the disposition of the bill which typically is to send it to the full Council with either a favorable or an unfavorable recommendation. He noted that the South Bend Municipal Code in Article 1, Section 2 -11 requires that prior to the commencement of any hearings, the Chairperson of the Committee of the Whole explain the procedure that will be followed for all Public Hearings on bills filed for ordinance consideration. The Committee operates in accordance 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: 1. 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. 3. A formal presentation in favor of the bill which is not subj ect 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 also 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. 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 Councilmember Aranowski is the timekeeper for the Council and will inform each speaker when they are about to reach the end of their allotted five (5) minutes. He further noted that there are seven (7) items on the agenda for Public Hearing and all will be heard this evening. PUBLIC HEARINGS