02-24-75 Council meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 24, 1975 REGULAR MEETING - RECONVENED (CONTINUED) ORDINANCE NO. 5808 -75 (CONTINUED) REFERRED TO AS GENERAL REVENUE SHARING, FOR VARIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAMS, TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. This ordinance had second reading. A public hearing was held at this time on the ordinance. Police Chief John Walsh made the presentation for the ordinance. He explained that the appropria- tion would be used to continue the overtime foot patrol program for the remainder of 1975. He felt that the.program has contributed greatly to the general decrease in the crime rate. He urged that the Council act favorably on the request. He indicated that he had the statistics available on the crime reduction if the Council desired to see them. Mr. Gene Evans, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association, indicated that he was assuming the statistics showed a justification for the continuance of the program. He hoped this information could be given the public for that reason. Mr. James Russell, 1517 North Fremont, wondered where the program would be located this year. Chief Walsh indicated that the program was moved depending on crime in specific areas. He stated that he could not give out that informa- tion. Mr. Russell talked about the unsolved killings and robberies the city had experienced recently. He wondered if the reduction in crime pertained to serious crimes. Chief Walsh stated that the crime was reduced in the Part I Offenses which included murder, rape, larceny, etc. He indicated that these areas had been reduced. Mr. Russell wondered if the foot patrol was extra duty. Chief Walsh indicated that the program was extra duty and the officers received $5.00 an hour. Mr. Russell wondered how many blacks were involved in the program. Chief Walsh indicated that any officer who wants to sign up for the extra -duty work in the program may do so. Mrs. Irene Mutzl, 320 Parkovash, wondered if the program was only utilized after dark, and Chief Walsh indicated that the program consisted of officers working on their off -duty hours during the day and night. He stated that there was no control over the number of men working on each shift because it was a voluntary program. Mrs. Mutzl wondered if there was a foot patrol being utilized on Sundays in the downtown mall. Chief Walsh indicated that there was not. Mrs. Mutzl wondered if there should be a patrol in the mall on Sunday in view of the fact that the stores were closed. She wondered what would happen if someone needed an officer or assistance when the mall seemed to be relatively deserted. Chief Walsh indicated that there was no traffic in that area, thus the reason for not having the foot patrol in that area. He felt the department would be criticized if the program was utilized in this area. Council President Parent felt the matter should be looked into. Mrs. Mutzl talked about the mailmen who walk all over the city. She felt that, perhaps at this time, a program to cover the whole area would not be feasible. Mr. Carl Rose, doing business'in the 1300 block of South Michigan Street, stated that he and other businessmen in the area would back up the chief regarding the merits of the program. He felt that the program has helped, and he urged the Council to continue it. He submitted a letter to Chief Walsh from the businessmen in the area who supported the program. Council President Parent suggested that a copy be filed with the City Clerk. Mr. James Russell indicated that he had a few additional comments to make. He referred to incidents in the downtown area of store windows being broken and small shops being robbed. He felt this was pathetic because the thieves so often were not arrested. He felt the downtown area should be made safe for the citizens. Councilman Serge wondered about the foot patrol program in his area, being Tract 6. He talked about a recent fire in the area which had been determined to be arson. Chief Walsh indicated that between 14 and 20 officers make up the foot patrol program at one time. He indicated that these men are moved around from high crime area to high crime area. He stated that he would do his best to try and relieve the crime in all the census tracts. Councilman Szymkowiak talked about police protection in the downtown mall. He felt this was a necessity and should be provided especially in view of the fact that the weather would be getting warmer and the citizens and visitors to the city would be going out more often. He recommended that the program be utilized in the Second District because it was also needed there. He felt the motorcycles should be used in the program in addi- tion to the foot patrols. Councilman Miller thanked Mr. Rose for coming to the meeting and speaking. He felt that, from the report received by the Council, the program was most effective in high pedestrian areas. He wondered about specific guidelines for the program. Chief Walsh indicated that the program was operated timewise in the areas of high crime. He stated that any officer who was off duty could volunteer to work on his off -duty time and must sign up in advance. Councilman Taylor stated that the Public Safety Committee recommended that the program be con- tinued; however, it was hoped this could be done as an on -going type of thing. He hoped that the ordinance could be amended to read an amount of $30,000 at this time so that the chief could come back to the Council for a further request at a future date. Mr. Walter Lantz, Chief Deputy Controller, indicated that any appropriation from revenue sharing funds must be made under the normal procedure. The State Tax Board must then approve the ordinance. The board is given 15 days to set a public hearing, after which another 15 days is given before approval or denial is submitted. He indicated that the department was still waiting approval for the ordinances passed on January 13th. He stated that the Tax Board was between seven and eight weeks behind. Councilr Taylor felt that the ordinance should be submitted in enough time for the necessary approvals in the future. Mr. Lantz felt the money could possibly run out between approvals of the various ordinances. He indicated that the program was exhausted at this time. Councilman Kopczynski indicated that he had suggested some time ago that this program be incorporated into the city budget. He talked about the police department budget and the pension. He indicated that it was hard for him to conceive that $90,000 additional dollars per year was necessary to do the job. He felt there was a demand for more patrol work in the business areas. He stated that a great many cities are hiring their own private police forces to patrol the business areas. He felt it was unfair to the taxpayers.to keep putting tax dollars downtown. He questioned the amount of money spent each year for the Police and Fire Departments. He wondered how many more officers would be needed to do the job, and how many officers in the department could be replaced by citizens and assigned to actual police work. He felt the police work should be scrutinized very closely. Councilman Taylor wondered if an appropriation of $45,000 would help to alleviate the problem of ordinance approvals. He again stressed that the Council wanted the department to come back periodically for future requests. Mr. Lantz indicated that appropriating the sum of $45,000 rather than $30,000 as suggested might possibly eliminate one public hearing and evaluation. Councilman Taylor made a motion to amend the ordinance by reducing the total amount of $90,000 to $45,000, seconded by Councilman Serge. Councilman Miller felt the citizens should be given an opportunity to discuss the issue again since the Council had proposed to amend and reduce the amount. Council President Parent asked if anyone in the audience wished to speak further on the