2013 Annual Report - Health & Public Safety Committee

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2013 Health and Public Safety Committee Annual Report Page 2 • Bill No 74 -11 Zoning Text amendments addressing "urban chickens" • Bill No. 64 -12 Public safety text amendments addressing "urban chickens" • Bill No. 13 -13 Bicycle passing public safety text amendments • Bill No. 13 -22 A Resolution on the Violence Against Women's safety act • Bill No. 9 -13 Chronic Problem Properties text amendments • Bill No. 10 -13 Certificate of Occupancy • Update from Fire Chief Steve Cox on the Fire Department Training Facilities • Bill No. 13 -30 Lease on Fire Station # 5 and the Training Facilities • Authorized a special committee to report to the Health and Public Safety Committee on their recommendations for updating Chapter 5 of the South Bend Municipal Code addressing Animal and Fowl Regulations • Community Needs Assessment presented by Dr. Margo DeMont, Executive Director of Memorial Hospital/ Beacon Health Systems • Bill No. 22 -13 Text public safety amendments to permit the keeping of honey bees within the city limits • Update on environmental concerns regarding Beck's Lake • Discussions on Park Police • Bill No. 28 -13 Moped public safety text amendments • Bill No. 13 -43 Five -Year contract to provide EMS services outside of the city limits • Bill No. 32 -13 Disabled parking text amendments • Safety concerns in Southmore and Miami Hills In the interest of being more proactive, the Health and Public Safety Committee held a series of meetings prior to the implementation of the chronic problem property regulations with all members of the various administrative departments who have a key role in the implementation and enforcement process. In light of this major public safety legislation, and the need for a fair, reasonable and orderly process to be followed, this extra efforts by both the Committee and the affected departments has resulted in positive results to date. Receiving regular updates from these departments will be critical to properly access the effectiveness of this legislation. Challenges for 2014: Much positive inter - action has taken place this year between the committee and the public, with several of the Health and Public Safety Committee meetings being held off -site. In this way, the public may have a greater opportunity to participate and have their voices heard. I would hope that this would continue in 2014 as we continue to work together to have greater transparency and accountability. 2014 will be a negotiating year between the city and the labor unions representing the police and fire sworn members of the Fire Department and Police Department. My goal will always be to continue to have good faith negotiations which are fair to the public and further the best interests of both of our public safety departments.