HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-04-81 Residential Neighborhoods =MM. t &port
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The August 4, 1981 meeting of the Residential Neighborhoods Committee
was called to order at 1:15 p.m, by its Chairman, Councilman Beverlie J. Beck,
in the council meeting room.
Persons in attendance included: Captain Ed Friend, Eugenia Schwartz,
'Councilman Beck, members of the news media, and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand.
Councilman Beck announced that the purpose .of the meeting was `to discuss
changes in the bicycle. ordinance.
Captain Ed Friend of the Police Department then reviewed the following
information. From May through August of this year, the department has
received 612 bicycle reports with only 45 owners having purchased the
bicycle licenses. Of the remaining unlicensed bicycles, 209 owners knew
.their serial numbers. He noted that the vast majority of reports filed with
the department are for insurance purposes.
Captain Friend suggested that the City should give- a free license decal
to owners in exchange for bicycle registration information which could be
then fed into the computer. He noted that less than 5000 bicycle licenses
:have, been issued whereas he speculated .that .there were probably 30, 000 in
the -South Bend area.
Presently licenses are only being sold at the fire stations and one
dealership. It was hoped that the free decals could be.igiven out by police
officers, civil defense officers, bicycle dealers, code enforcement- personnel,
and the fire departments. The decal would be lifetime rather than the
present three year term.
Captain Friend said that the new program was designed to challenge the
average bike thief. One quarter of a million dollars is lost annually to
bike thieves. He noted that it- takes an officer approximately one hour on
each bicycle report from the initial telephone call to entering it into the
computer data bank. He estimated that each report would cost approximately
$100 for the City to process. He suggested that persons who do not have their
bicycles licensed would have to file their own reports. He emphasized that
this is a "big crime" and the departments needs the public cooperation.
Eugenia Swartz then reviewed the proposed ordinance section by section.
Councilman Beck emphasized the need for such an ordinance. She said the
present system "rewards kids for stealing a bike" . She said. the overall
purpose of the ordinance was to get needed information into the computer, and
to help curb theft in this area. She emphasized the need for alot of "PR"
to promote such a bill.
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Page 2.
Residential Neighborhoods Committee
The Council Attorney then raised the following questions: Have
other cities tried such a program,and what was their success rate? Why
should bicycle owners be exempt from a license fee when all other
areas where permits and licenses are issued by the City are being
reviewed to make them more self-sufficient? What would be the costs
involved in sponsoring such a program, i.e. for printing of decals,
administration, computer time, etc.
Mrs. Schwartz noted that from her research she had not located
a Similar program in other cities. Councilman Beck suggested that Mr.
Kernan be contacted regarding the financial information involved in
the new program.
Councilman Beck said that she hoped that the rest of the Council
would be supportive of such a new bicycle program. She noted that since
she did not have a quorum today that she would schedule another meeting
of her committee to study the Bill. She announced that she would file
the Bill today with the City Clerk.
There._being no further business to come before the committee, the
meeting was adjourned at 2 : 30 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Beverlie J. Beck
Chairman