08-14-00 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 14, 2000 Mr. Leon Townsend, 525 North Hill Street, South Bend, Indiana, informed the Council that he feels the South Bend curfew ordinance is more restrictive than other cities. He noted that the county and other surrounding cities have different laws. - In rebuttal, Mr. Broden stated that he is not familiar with the County ordinance nor with the City of Mishawaka. He reiterated that the City ordinance is modeled after the state statute which allows individuals ages sixteen (16), seventeen (17) and eighteen (18), to be out until 11:00 p.m. on week days and 1:00 a.m. on weekends, and individuals fifteen (15) and under to be out no later than 11:00 p.m. on week days and weekends. He noted that he is unaware if the County and Mishawaka have followed the model but felt that the City of South Bend ordinance was reasonable. There was no one else present wishing to speak to the Council in opposition to this bill. In response to Councilmember King's inquiry regarding the background of the model legislation, Mr. Broden explained that it is part of the juvenile Indiana Code and was to be used as a model or guide. South Bend, like many other cities, followed the model and enacted legislation similar to that. Councilmember Varner noted that he will be supporting this bill and in regards to other cities having different laws as mentioned by Mr. Townsend, he would encourage them to bring their ordinances into line with the state model because it makes no sense to make the ordinance more loose. Therefore, Councilmember King made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council concerning this bill as substituted. Councilmember Coleman seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. BILL NO. 62-00 A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AMENDING CHAPTER 6 OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE ENTITLED BUILDING Councilmember Aranowski reported that the Personnel & Finance Committee met on this bill and sends it to the Council with a favorable recommendation. Mr. Donald F. Fozo, Building Commissioner, Building Department, 205 West Jefferson Boulevard, Suite 100, South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill. Mr. Fozo stated that this bill updates the fee ordinance and building permit fees in the County and City. A similar bill is before the County Council as well. He reminded members of the Council that the two (2) departments merged in 1992 and in 1994 they became an enterprise fund operating off of their revenues. The fees were monitored and they continued to have a reserve until this year. Therefore, it was determined that they had to look at increasing permit fees. Mr. Fozo noted that the bill submitted today is for an increase of building permits of which there are two (2) different types. One is new construction of buildings, additions, residential or commercial which currently is based on five cents ($.05) a square foot. The new rate will be at six cents ($.06) a square foot. The other increase is based on valuation which involves reproofs and major remodeling. That is based on valuation which starts at five dollars ($5.00) per thousand and as it goes higher it breaks down to four dollars ($4.00) per thousand and then down to three dollars ($3.00) per thousand. There will also bean increase for demolition permits and sign permits which are flat fees. The demolition fee is based on the number of stories and the square footage of the building and the sign permit is based on the square footage of the sign. A change is also proposed in the wording of the testing for licensing for electrical and mechanical contractors. The tests were given twice a year. However, since that time the City has become one of six test sites and this allows a contractor various times of the years to take tests rather than the two (2) times that was being offered by ordinance. The last change is the registration of sign contractors. Currently every contractor doing work either has to be licensed or registered. However, the sign companies were not originally included in that registration requirement. This registration will have a seventy -five