HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-21-08 Health & Public Safety CommitteeHealth and Public Safety Committee
2008 South Bend Common Council
The May 21, 2008 meeting of the Health and Public Safety Committee of the South Bend
Common Council was called to order by its Chairperson, Council Member Karen L. White at
6:05 p.m. at the Zion United Church of Christ, 715 East Wayne Street, South Bend, Indiana.
Persons in attendance included Council Members Karen L. White, Ann Puzzello, and Henry
Davis, Jr., Mayor Stephen J. Luecke, Assistant City Attorney Ann-Carol Nash, Code
Enforcement Director Catherine Toppel, Bernie Daleyal, Jr., Marguerite Taylor, Kathleen Hill,
Gail Marti, Cheryl Hayward, Eva Patterson, Patricia Frazier, Phyllis Syers, Jenario Morgan,
Tom Whipkey, Don Olson, Mary Porter, Chaurice Wirdle, Murray Weaver, Donna Anderson,
Maxine Harvey, David Gerth, Jay Caponigro„ and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Council
Attorney.
1St Community-Outreach Committee Meeting Held in the Ott' Councilmanic District:
Council Member White thanked the Pastor and congregation of the United Church of Christ
for opening their doors so that the Council's Health and Public Safety Committee could hold
its first community-outreach meeting this evening. She noted that there was a copy of the
May 13, 2008 meeting notice, a 1-page copy summarizing information on the Health and
Public Safety Committee members and their duties and a 1-page listing of upcoming
committee meetings on quality of life ordinances available as handouts (copies attached).
Council Member White also encouraged those in attendance to sign the attendance sheets
(copies attached).
An introduction of City Officials present then took place.
Council Member White noted that the purpose of the District meetings was to provide an
opportunity to hear from the citizens. Each person would be given 3-5 minutes to address
their concerns and issues which related to health and public safety. Reports would be given
to the District Council Member and the entire Council for their review and discussion. She
noted that she wishes the Health and Public Safety Committee to be as transparent as
possible. Council Member White stated that there is no set agenda, but rather the Committee
is here to hear about critical issues which affect health and public safety. She stated that the
meeting would go no longer than 7:30 p.m. this evening.
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Health and Public Safety Committee
May 21, 2008
Page 2
Council Member White noted that the upcoming Health and Public Safety Committee
meetings on quality of life issues have been scheduled as follows:
Wednesday, June 18, 2008, 3:30 - 5 pm
Scrap, Precious Metals & Junk Regulations
Wednesday, July 16, 2008 3:30 - 5 pm
Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 3:30 - 5 pm
Graffiti
Yard Parking
Wednesday, September 17, 2008, 3:30 - 5 pm Animal Control
She noted that these committee meetings are all scheduled on the 3rd Wednesday of the
month and would be held in the Council Informal Meeting Room, 4th Floor, County-City
Building in downtown South Bend.
Council Member White noted that District meetings would be held hopefully in each of the
Councilmanic District which is agreed upon with the District Council Member representing
each of the six (6) Districts. Each of those would be listening sessions.
Council Member Ann Puzzello, Vice-President of the Committee welcomed everyone to the
meeting which is being held in the 4th District which she represents. She noted that there are
several goals of her residents which include "taking back our neighborhoods"; student parties
which disturb neighbors; people who have sold their homes because of the student parties;
and an increase of "outsiders coming in to party on weekends". She noted that grants up to
$200 may be applied for to those interested in hosting a block party which complies with the
City regulations. She provided a handout (copy attached).
Council Member White then opened the meeting to comments from the public.
Marguerite Taylor of 714 East Corby, South Bend voiced concern about:
• Spot zoning along South Bend Avenue, LaSalle, Sunnyside
• A lot of out-of--state "ugly apartments" being constructed
• Student rentals
• Community/Campus Advisory Committee (CCAC) did not meeting this month and she
hopes that it would meet on a regular basis to discuss residential issues, trash,
drunken students & residents, burglaries and action plans to address these concerns
Phyllis Syers of 402 N. Ester, South Bend voiced concern about:
• Street not being paved near her residence while others were
• Corner of Ester and Madison area has pot holes, etc which need to be addressed
Health and Public Safety Committee
May 21, 2008
Page 3
(Mayor Luecke noted that the Street Department travels all streets and priorities are based on
street condition and usage. Wheel tax and general fund monies are used and the city looks
at using available monies as far as possible)
Cheryl Hayward of Berrien Springs, Michigan voiced concern about:
• A letter sent to Police Chief Fautz in the Spring of 2007 about possible "racial
profiling"
• "Precautionary issues" used by SBPD to pull persons over
Jenario Morgan of 717 N. St. Louis Street in South Bend voiced concern about:
• A friend who was stopped by the SBPD on Angela Boulevard for an alleged broken
taillight
• Trash at his residence not being picked up and the city not being consistent in
providing this service
Patricia Frazier of 25575 Kern Road in South Bend voiced concern about:
• A church member of Kern Road Mennonite Church who lives on St. Peter Street and
could not attend today's meeting because she was working and her concern about
being stopped by a SBPD officer for "her plates on her car not matching the records"
• A second SBPD officer responding to this stop and when all records matched was told
to move along without an apology
• Inquired where reports could be made when a citizen believes that an officer may have
acted inappropriately
Eva Patterson of 536 E. Widener Lane in South Bend voiced concern about
A resident of the 4t" District who moved to South Bend 18 years ago from Mexico at
the age of 5; graduated from Adams High School and is now attending IU South Bend
who is concerned about her "immigration status"
Believe they are "living in the shadows because there is no consistency of the federal
law on immigration and are afraid to report crime"
She then requested all TAP members to stand
Council Member White thanked everyone for attendin~ the committee meeting. She noted
that the next District meeting would be held in the 6 District on June 25t" with a similar
format as this evenings. She noted that this was the agreed upon format by the Health and
Public Safety Committee.
Health and Public Safety Committee
May 21, 2008
Page 4
Council Member White added that this will be a very busy Summer with police and fire
negotiations; the upcoming hearings on the 2009 civil, city budget; and the quality of life
scheduled committee meetings; in addition to regular Council duties and meetings.
Council Member White noted that her Committee is committed to working closely with South
Bend's citizens. She then adjourned the committee meeting at 6: 50 p.m.
Respectf~ll_y submi ted, ~'~
i~
Council Member Karen L. White, Chairperson
Health and Public Safety Committee
Attachments