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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-10-20 Health and Public Safety 0UTH 8 U 7 =; l7 ; W a 1865 OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK DAWN M.JONES, CITY CLERK HEALTH & PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE FEBRUARY 10, 2020 4:50 P.M. Committee Members Present: Troy Warner, Sharon L. McBride Rachel Tomas Morgan, Sheila Niezgodski Committee Members Absent: None Other Council Present: Tim Scott, Karen L. White, Jake Teshka Lori Hamann, Henry Davis Jr. Other Council Absent: None Others Present: Dawn Jones, Bob Palmer, Lisa Horton Agenda: Bill No. 04-20-Amending Code Regarding Releasing Lighter Than Air Balloons in the City Presenter: Councilmember Jake Teshka Councilmember Jake Teshka stated, Bill No. 04-20 will ban the intentional release of lighter than air balloons within the City limits. What is does not do is ban the use, sale or possession of lighter than air balloons. What it does is help protect our environment, our economy and our power plant. I think it's important to note that from an environmental standpoint, we've got some pretty clear evidence of this having devastating impacts on wildlife. You'll see different pictures in my presentation(which can be obtained in the City Clerk's Office)of different animals that have been affected by this. Essentially, what this is, is littering. It's a form of littering. What goes up, must come down. We won't accept someone throwing food on the ground in front of us, and yet what goes up, must come down. The lighter than air balloons are used to commemorate or memorialize something such as graduation ceremonies, Indianapolis five hundred (500) has a massive balloon release every year with hundreds of balloons. You'll see these types of legislation pop up all over the Country and municipalities like ours. Other states that already have laws for this on the books are Tennessee, Texas, Connecticut, New York and Florida. It's a commonsense thing. 1INTEGRIP(I SERVICE1 ACCESSIBILITY BIANCA L.TIRADO —__—- GRAHAM D.SPARKS GAIBRIEL N.MuRRI -- CHIEF DEPUTY/DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS DEPUTY/DIRECTOR OF POLICY ORDINANCE V1oI.AI ION CLERK EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 1227 W.Jefferson Blvd.I South Bend,Indiana 46601 I p 574.235.9221 1 f 574.235.9173 I www.southbendin.gov ®CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK Councilmember Jake Teshka went on to speak about the effects that this issue has on the power companies in other areas such as Cal-Edison in California. In January of 2020, lighter than air balloons landed on some power lines in Cleveland, Ohio, which created a huge power outage. He stated that thirty thousand (30,000) deflated balloons are picked up as litter from United States beaches each year. Councilmember Jake Teshka opened the meeting to the Committee and Council for any questions or comments. Councilmember Karen L. White asked how would the enforcement piece of this work? Committeemember Rachel Tomas Morgan asked questions regarding the language that is used in the proposed Bill No. 04-20 as well as she also asked about the education and programming components of Bill No. 04-20. Councilmember Tim Scott also asked about the enforcement of Bill No. 04-20 and what that would look like. He asked about the education that would be needed for the citizens of South Bend for this as well, and how soon that education would be coming forth. Councilmember Lori Hamann asked about the overall optics of Bill No. 04-20 and for citizens wishing to register for events that require balloons, will this affect that right now with the registration form for that? Councilmember Henry Davis spoke about his concerns with Bill No. 04-20 and the enforcement of the bill. Committee Chair Troy Warner turned the meeting over to the public for anyone wishing to speak either in favor or in opposition to Bill No. 04-20. Mr. Joseph Shabazz, 208 Rue Flambeau, South Bend, IN expressed his concern with Bill No. 04- 20 as it relates to businesses that produce lighter than air balloon for sale to the public and how the ban of releasing these balloons will affect their businesses. Councilmember Sharon L. McBride made a motion to continue Bill No. 04-20 at the March 23, 2020 meeting of the full Common Council. The motion was seconded by Committeemember Rachel Tomas Morgan and carried with a voice vote of four(4) ayes. Respectfully Submitted . Troy Warner, Committee Chair EXCELLENCE 1 ACCOUNTABILITY 1 INNOVATION 1 INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 227 W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f 574.235.9173 TTD 574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov 2