HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003 Annual Report - Council Rules Council Rules Annual Committee Report for 2003
Date: December 4, 2003
To: The South Bend Common Council
Office of the City Clerk
From: Council President Karen L. White, Chairperson CK.
Council Rules Committee
Pursuant to Section 2-10 (i) of the South Bend Municipal Code, I am pleased to file this Council
Rules Annual Committee Report for 2003 which will highlight activities during the calendar year
and set forth recommendations for discussion to improve the overall operations of this Committee.
The 2003 Council Rules Committee is composed of Council Members David Varner who is the
Vice-Chairperson,Council Member James Aranowski,and myself as Chairperson. This Committee
is one of eleven standing committees of the South Bend Common Council which is charged with:
"Overseeing rules and regulations governing the operation of the South Bend Common
Council, as well as all matters of public trust as more specifically set forth in section 2-10.1
of the Municipal Code and applicable State and Federal laws".
There were no meetings of the Council Rules Committee this year since there were no proposed
ordinances addressing Council procedures filed this year,nor were there any violations of Council
Rules filed against any Council Member. It should be noted that the regulations addressing the
Council Rules Committee were initially enacted in 1977, and were last amended in 1988.
You may recall that on October 29, 2003, a summary was prepared with regard to the number of
boards, commissions and other entities which comply with South Bend Municipal Code section 2-
58. This section call for the filing of various information with the Mayor's Office and the City
Clerk's Office on their operations. That provision of the Code was included to increase
communications of all of these entities. Unfortunately, there has been a lack luster compliance
effort on the part of many of these entities.
I am also attaching a copy of a Memorandum dated November 26, 2003, which addresses various
deadlines set forth in the South Bend Municipal Code. It should be noted that again there are
compliance issues with some of these provisions. In light of these concerns, I would recommend
that perhaps the Council review whether incorporating a"compliance"portion to the duties of the
Committee. In this way the new Council can work with the new City Clerk and his staff in
developing workable and consistent procedures which are fair to all who are required to submit
information pursuant to the Code. $
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I welcome your input. Thank you. �»
J. LIMA
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