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Community Relations Committee 2012 Annual Report
Date: December 10, 2012
To: South Bend City Council
The Office of the City Clerk
From: Councilmember Valerie Schey, Chairperson Community Relations Committee
Note: I am pleased to submit the following Annual Report of the activities of the Council's
Community Relations Committee which is a requirement of§2-10 (i) of the South Bend
Municipal Code.
Background information
Duties: The Community Relations Committee oversees the various activities of the Office of
Community Affairs and is charged with facilitating partnerships ongoing communications
with other public and private entities operating within the City.
Members:Valerie Schey- Chairperson, Henry Davis Jr. -Vice Chairperson, Dr David
Varner- Member Oliver Davis- Member and One Citizen Member, Mr.James Burns
Meetings and Topics Discussed
Meetings: The Community Relations Committee held two meetings this year.
Topics Discussed: On June 12, 2012, the Community Relations Committee hosted a
meeting with Dr. Carole Schmidt as our guest speaker. Dr. Schmidt is the Superintendant of
the South Bend School Corporation. As part of the Community Relations charge to develop
and maintain partnerships both public and private entities operating within the City, Dr.
Schmidt updated our Committee on the efforts of the South Bend School Corporation to
provide our City's children the best education possible. Currently, Dr. Schmidt is working
on a collaborative initiative with the Ministerial Alliance, the NAACP and T.A.P.
(Transforming Action through Power) to establish support networks for at risk children in
our community.
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On September 10, 2012 the Community Relations Committee invited Chief Jeff Walters of
the South Bend Police Department to address traffic problems in residential
neighborhoods. Quite often Council Members receive complaints about vehicles speeding
through residential areas creating both safety and quality of life concerns. SBPD Division
Chief Jeff Walters presented the situation and their efforts to address these concerns He
said in 2011 police officers made 5800 stops and issued over 7400 citations. Chief Walters
pointed to the limited resources available to impact the violators on a consistent ongoing
basis. He spoke of statistical efforts to target certain areas at times of peak offenses. He
stated use of cameras traffic counters and other electronic deterrents which could be used
if resources allowed. He also suggested the adoption of local traffic rules and restrictions
which would keep fines imposed here as opposed to being sent down state as is presently.
Closing
I would like to thank all the Council Members, and especially Citizen Member James Burns
who volunteered his time to serve with me on the Community Relations Committee this
year.
Respectfull Xhie ubmi ed,
-signature
C ouncil Member,Valerie Schey,Chairperson
Community Relations Committee
Filed Office
DEC 10
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