HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-29-87 Informal Meeting 44mmmtuvr Export
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Informal Meeting - Common Council
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The April 29 , 1987 informal meeting of the South Bend Common
Council was called to order at 4 :35 p .m. in the Council meeting
room by Council President Joseph Serge.
Persons in attendance included : Councilmen Braboy, Beck,
Serge , Puzzello , Taylor, Zakrzewski , Barcome, Paszek, and Voorde;
James Seitz, Chief Hurley, Chief Taylor, Brian Long, Eugenia
Schwartz , Irene Gammon, Chief Radecki , Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand ,
and members of the news media.
Council President Serge noted that the purpose of the
meeting was to discuss and receive an update from the various
City departments involved with the preparation for the new
activities resulting from the salmon runs on the St . Joseph
River . Councilman Serge thanked each of the departments for
their representation.
Mr . Seitz then reviewed the current situation. He noted
that the fish run is to begin in the fall of next year . Various
meetings have taken place over the past several months under the
direction of MACOG, and a MACOG meeting is being called for May 6
at 10: 30 a.m.
Mr. Seitz noted that between $120,000-$160, 000 will be
needed in the budget . Such budgetary items would includ
cleaning station proposed for Viewing Park at a cost of $25 ,000 ;
two (2) fish/boat ramps proposed for Memorial and Keller Park ;
two (2) police units at $13, 000 each; one ( 1) full-time captain ;
three (3) part-time officers for approximately four (4) months
which would have ongoing costs of approximately $47, 000; and
other miscellaneous costs . He noted that the exact installation
of the boat ramps and fish ramps were uncertain at this time
since the best fishing sites cannot be exactly predicted . He did
note, however, that there were various "fish funds" available
which could fund up to seventy-five percent (75%) of specific
capital improvements . He also indicated that new parking areas
would be a cost which must be addressed .
Items such as trespassing on private property and
compatibility of ordinances between the City of Mishawaka , the
City of South Bend, and St . Joseph County were also being looked
into by the City Legal Department . Mr . Brian Long is the
specific attorney involved .
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Informal Council Session
April 29 , 1987
Page 2
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will have three
(3) conservation officers assigned to patrol the river. They
would basically be looking at license compliance.
Mr . Seitz indicated that the river banks and private
property would be the City ' s obligation , and the City must
determine what constitutes "private property. " New restroom
facilities must also be addressed by the City.
Councilman Beck brought up the problem of flooding at
Emerson and Northside by the Heat Treat property . Councilman
Barcome suggested that the Council tour the area in question.
Councilman Puzzello stated that representatives from DNR
noted, in discussions with her , that DNR officers would be
patrolling the banks with regard to enforcement and litter
problems.
Mr. Seitz stressed the need for people in his department to
have "full arrest powers . " Eugenia Schwartz noted that "special
police commissions" issued through the Board of Public Safety
have been authorized to entitle park police to cite for City
ordinance violations . Chief Radecki noted that two (2) officers
currently have full arrest authority .
Mr. Seitz noted that City ordinances currently have
penalties running from a minimum of $25.00 to a maximum of
$1 , 000. 00. He also noted that MACOG is looking into uniformity
of signs in South Bend , Mishawaka and the County and that a
brochure explaining locations of restroom facilities , boat ramps ,
cleaning stations , etc . would be specifically addressed .
Councilman Voorde raised the issue of river rescue and ,
specifically , the items of a marine division within the police
department . Chief Hurley stated that the fire deparment
currently is the most advanced in river rescue as well as the
DNR. Chief Hurley stated that two (2) officers per boat would be
needed above the dam as well as two (2) officer per boat below
the dam working minimum shifts of 12-16 hours daily. The South
Bend Police Department currently has two (2) people trained in
river rescue and , if the Police Department is the first to
respond to a scene , they would do so . Chief Taylor noted ,
however, that the Fire Department currently has ten (10) divers
Informal Council Session
April 2
Page 3
who are trained in river rescue . The Fire Department currently
is looking at 24-hour on call duty with a minimum response time
of 4-5 minutes to be in the water and 8-10 minutes for a boat to
be in the water. He also indicated that there are no specific
firefighters assigned as divers .
Mr. Seitz stressed the need for coordination in all of the
City budgets with regard to staffing . He also indicated that no
fish boats were in the budget at the current time .
Mr. Seitz also indicated that a new DNR regulation prohibits
any fishing sites within three hundred feet (300 ' ) of a dam.
Additional fishing sites would also be specifically designated by
the Park Board.
Chief Radecki then reviewed a map indicating possible
fishing sites along the St . Joseph River . He indicated that the
City of South Bend currently owns the Isaac Walton League
property.
Eugenia Schwartz and Brian Long indicated that they will
continue to look into what constitutes "private property" and
whether property owners themselves can fish from their own
property if adjacent to the river . Mrs . Schwartz indicated that
it was her understanding that property owners owned up to the
"high water mark; " however , further research would be done in
this area.
Mr . Seitz indicated that the costs for repair of the Howard
Park wall may be as high as $250, 000.00.
Councilman Braboy voiced concern over where the money would
be to properly address each of the items .
Chiefs Hurley and Taylor indicated that they will not be
putting anything into their current budgets addressing the salmon
run for calendar year 1988. Chief Hurley also indicated there
are currently between 6-7 boxes along the river which have river
rescue equipment in them. Each officer of the police department
has a key to these items in case of an emergency.
Councilman Taylor urged the Council to have future meetings
so that the Common Council would be briefed on new information .
Informal Council Session
April 29 , 1987
Page 4
Chief Radecki noted that (in both June of 1988 and August of
1988) there should be substantial salmon runs on the river .
Mrs . Schwartz also indicated that funds from fines on a City
ordinance violation would go into the overall general fund and
that ordinances enforced by the DNR would result in sending funds
to the proper State account.
Council President Serge thanked everyone for attending the
meeting and stated that he would have another meeting in early
June for an update on this topic .
There being no further business to come before the informal
session of the Common Council , the meeting was adjourned at 5 :20
p .m.
Respectfully submitted ,
Joseph Serge , President
South Bend Common Council