10-20-75 Council Meetin Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 20, 1975 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED) Councilman Miller indicated that $170,000 had been budgeted for 1975 with an additional $36,000 from the utility budgets. He stated that $206,000 would be the total. He stated that, with a 43G average price times the 530 gallons, the amount would be $230,000. He felt there might be a need for an additional $24,000 before the end of the year. Mr. Farrand indicated that Councilman Miller had not figured diesel fuel in his computation. He stated that, in 1975, the price for diesel fuel was 34� plus 8� tax. This involved a tax payment to the state. Councilman Kopczynski wondered about the administration's policy in the purchase of automobiles to reduce the consumption of gasoline. Mr. Farrand indicated that the administration had tried to purchase smaller vehicles. Councilman Kopczynski wondered about the last few vehicles purchased, and Mr. Farrand indicated that the only major purchase of vehicles had been police vehicles. Mr. Michael Vance, Chief Deputy Controller, indicated that the police vehicles were four -door sedans with V -8 automatic engines with no air - conditioning. Councilman Kopczynski wondered about the purchase of automobiles for department heads. Mr. Vance indicated that a Chevrolet Nova, six - cylinder, automatic had been purchased for the Human Rights Commission. Councilman Kopczynski wondered if any larger vehicles had been purchased recently. Mr. Vance indicated that the Substandard Department had purchased a Chevrolet Nova with a small V -8 engine. Councilman Kopczynski wondered if any Vegas or Pintos had been purchased, and Mr. Vance indicated that a couple of these vehicles were leased through the Manpower Program but had not been purchased. Councilman Kopczynski felt there was no policy on the purchase of smaller cars, and Mr. Farrand disagreed, indicating that he felt economy vehicles had been purchased and a policy was followed. Councilman Serge made a motion that the ordinance be recommended favorably to the Common Council, seconded by Councilman Szymkowiak. The motion carried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $25,000.00 FROM THE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE GRANT COMMONLY 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 being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. Michael Carrington, Director of the Department of Public Safety, made the presentation for the ordinance. He indicated that this request would continue to fund the overtime foot patrol program for 1975, for a total of $90,000. He indicated that the amount of $90,000 had been allocated in the 1976 budget so revenue sharing funds would no longer be used. Councilman Miller indicated that the Council had requested that quarterly reports be made on the statistics of the program. He asked that this information be furnished to the Council. Mr. Carrington indicated that the value of the program could not be proven in a statistical manner. He stated that the program would not show a large number of arrests because the program was being utilized to deter crime. Councilman Miller indicated that, in the past, quarterly reports had been furnished the Council for the areas in which the patrol had been utilized. He felt it was beneficial for the Council to monitor the program. He wondered if the money was totally being used for the program, and Mr. Carrington indicated that it was. Councilman Miller felt there was no question that the overtime foot patrol program had been valuable. He wondered if perhaps more of the policemen should be used in the future. Mr. Carrington talked about the value of the pro- gram to the city and its flexibility. Councilman Serge indicated that he was pleased with the program and the men were moved from one area to another area when it was warranted. He felt con- tact with the officers walking the beat and the residents in an area was important. Mr. Carringt indicated that the men were encouraged to do that. Council President Parent felt the way the pro gram was being utilized was the correct way. Council President Parent made a motion that the ordinance be recommended favorably to the Common Council, seconded by Councilman Serge. Councilman Szymkowiak indicated that he agreed with Councilman Serge that the officers should make contact with the residents. He felt officers familiar with a certain area should be put into that area on the foot patrol. Mr. Carrington indicated that, whenever possible, officers familiar with a certain area were assigned to that area. He personally knew of some officers living and working in the same area. Councilman Kopczynski referred to an incident where a burglary was in process and had been reported. Some officers familiar with the area but not called responded within three minutes, yet the beat car took twenty minutes. He did not feel the city was using its men to the fullest extent. He felt it was unfortunate that revenue sharing funds were still used because he felt there was no progres in that direction. Councilman Horvath felt the foot patrol program was a definite deterrent to crime. He talked about the problem of some officers riding in cars during inclement weather. He hoped this would not occur again and that the foot patrol program would be just that - -foot patrol. The motion carried, with Councilman Kopczynski opposing. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $5,000.00 FROM THE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE GRANT COMMONLY 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 being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. Cappy Gagnon, 2901 Miami, Director of the Youth Services Bureau, made the presentation for the ordinance. He stated that, at the beginning of 1975, $26,000 had been requested to supplement the federal money received. Additional federal money had been anticipated during 1975; however, he felt the department would;'be short approxi- mately $5,000. He indicated that, in the 1976 budget, $46,000 was allocated. He indicated that he had hoped to avoid coming back to the Council; however, the department was about $5,000 short for 1975. He felt the bureau had done a good job in maintaining its services and he felt this would be the last request for appropriations from the Council. Councilman Serge wondered if any thought had been given to make the Youth Services Bureau self - supporting. Mr. Gagnon indicated that the only way to do this would be to charge a fee, and he felt this would not be feasible in rendering services. Councilman Serge asked about the age limit involved in the program. Mr. Gagnon indicated that 90% of those involved were between the ages o: