04-08-74 Council Meeting Minutes

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+++++++++++++++ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +..4p .++++++++++ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +frtrtttl REGULAR MEETING APRIL 8, 1974 Be it remembered that the Common Council of the City of South Bend met in the Council Chambers of the County -City Building on Monday, April 8, 1974, at 7:06 p.m., Council President Peter J. Nemeth presiding. The meeting was called to order and the Pledge to the Flag was given. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Councilmen Serge, Szymkowiak, Miller, Parent, Taylor, Kopczynski, Horvath, Newburn and Nemeth. ABSENT: None. City Clerk Irene K. Gammon swore in the Council's appointments to the South Bend Crime Commission which included Mr. Howard Goodhew, Miss Virginia Guthrie, Mr. William Henke and Mr. Dean Johnson. Mr. Philip J. Faccenda, jointly appointed by the Mayor and President of the Council, was sworn in as Chairman of the South Bend Crime Commission. Councilman Parent made a motion to resolve into the Committee of the Whole, seconded by Councilman Taylor. The motion carried. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING Be it remembered that the Common Council of the City of South Bend met in the Committee of the Whole on Monday, April 8, 1974, at 7:09 p.m., with nine members present. Chairman Odell Newburn presided. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 20, VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC, OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA. This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. Patrick Gallagher, Director of the Departmen of Public Safety, made the presentation for the ordinance. He stated that one out of every eight major offenses in 1972 and one of every seven major offenses in 1973 were bike thefts. He stated that the value of bikes stolen in 1973 rose to $107,000 from $64,000 in 1972. He indicated that the increase in bike thefts accounted for close to 300 of all crimes in South Bend. For the first three months of 1974 the crime rate has dropped because of the many programs initiated during the last few months; however, the bike thefts are on the rise. Projecting the increase for the year could mean that bike thefts would be one out of every six major offenses committed. Mr. Gallagher indicated that the bike ordinance now in effect provided for the return of bikes if stolen; howeve the license tags authorized by the ordinance were very easily removed. He stated that the propose ordinance provides basically: (1) non - transferrable stickers good.for three years, (2) comprehen- sive possibilities for the return of stolen bikes, (3) easy identification of unlicensed and /or stolen bikes, (4) readily available stolen bike lists, (5) engarving of the numbers on the bikes, (6) giving the owner some type of proof of ownership, (7) adequate impoundment procedures, and (8) computer printouts to identify bikes. Mr. Gallagher indicated that the procedures would be that the bike owner would present a filled -out registration form. Particular attention would be paid to the serial number. The serial number would be checked against the stolen bike lists. A registered number would be assigned if the bike was not listed as stolen and the license would the be affixed and the registration number would be engraved. All the material would then be fed into the police computer. Mr. Gallagher felt the program would decrease the number of bike thefts and would give the department some type of control over the use of bikes in the city. He expressed hope that the Council would act in favor of the proposed ordinance. Mr. Gene Evans, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association, wondered if any changes had been made to the proposed ordinance since.the March 25th Council meeting. He wanted assurance tha certain amendments would be made. Councilman Parent made a motion to amend the ordinance as follo Section I to read: Sections 31 through and including Section 43 of Article 4, Chapter 20 of the Municipal Code of the City of South Bend, Indiana, are amended to read as follows, to -wit: Sec. 20 -31 (1) to read: A bicycle is defined as a vehicle whose weight rests on wheels, none of which are less than sixteen (16) inches in diameter, and which utilizes direct physical human power as its major source of propulsion. A vehicle utilizing a gasoline engine or some other such device as its major source of propulsion is excluded from this definition.