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2011 Annual Report of the Council Rules Committee
South Bend Common Council
Date: December 2, 2012
To: The South Bend Common Council
The Office of the City Clerk
From: Council President Derek D. Dieter, Chairperson
Council Rules Committee
I am pleased to file this 2011 Annual Report of the Council Rules Committee. Section 2 -10 (i) of the
South Bend Municipal Code requires an Annual Report to be filed with the Office of the City Clerk
from the Chairperson of each of the Council's Standing Committee.
Duties:
The Council Rules Committee is charged with the following duties of overseeing the rules governing
the members of the South Bend Common Council.
2011 Committee Members:
The member of the Committee this year include:
Council Member Ann Puzzello Council Member Dr. David Varner, Vice - Chairperson
Council Member Oliver Davis Council President Derek D. Dieter, Chairperson
No citizen members are permitted by ordinance to serve on this Committee.
Committee Meetings:
This year the Council Rules Committee met six (6) times, with four (4) of those committees being
jointly held with the Council Rules Committee.
The focus of the joint committee meetings held with Dr. Varner's Information and Technology
Committee were detailed discussions with the Council and City Administration on Bill No. 75 -11.
This proposed ordinance was a text amendment setting forth regulations for all City Boards and
Commissions, as well as the Common Council when using electronic devices at public meetings. By
having a series of discussions with the City Administration, city -wide policies were able to be
developed which are uniform and consistent regardless of whether it is a public meeting of an
Administrative Board or Commission or a public meeting of the Common Council and its committees.
2011 Annual Report of the Council Rules Committee
Page 2
More upgrades on a city -wide basis for both members of the City Administration and the Common
Council on all of the various social media technologies will be needed. In light of the positive
discussions held on Bill No. 75 -11, joint meetings between the new City Administration and the new
Common Council on such matters would be in the best interests of having uniform and fair regulations.
The other committee meetings focused on current regulations governing the Council. The need for
greater clarity of such regulations may foster more discussions and potential amendments to the
provisions of Chapter 2 of the South Bend Municipal Code.
A special thank you to all outgoing Council Members — Ann, Tom, Buddy and Tim for jobs well done!
Respect lly submit ,
Council President Derek D. Dieter, Chairperson
Council Rules Committee
South Bend Common Council