HomeMy WebLinkAbout10851-22 Ordinance to Amend South Bend Municipal Code-Residency of Human Rights Commission Members ORDINANCE No . 10851-22
Passed by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana
April 11, 22
20
Attest: City Clerk
Dawn M. Jones
c3j�CL
Attest: President of Common Council
Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana
April 11, 22
20
City Clerk
Dawn M. Jones
N
Approved and signed by me AP t' I ` 20 2 2-
b/
Mayor
BILL NO. 14-22
ORDINANCE NO. 10851-22
AN ORDINANACE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND,
INDIANA,AMENDING THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE AT CHAPTER 2,
ARTICLE 9, SECTION 2-129 TO CHANGE THE RESIDENCY RESTRICTION OF
COMMISSION MEMBERS
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT
The South Bend's Human Rights Ordinance at Chapter 2, Article 9, Section 2-129 (a) of the
South Bend Municipal Code, currently requires all members of the South Bend Human Rights
Commission (HRC) to reside within the corporate limits of the City of South Bend, Indiana.
This residency restriction should be amended in the best interests of the HRC.
Since 2017 the City has had an interlocal agreement with the County of St. Joseph ("the
County") by which the Commission investigates cases of discrimination within the County under
the County's Human Rights Ordinance which is substantially equivalent to the City's Human
Rights Ordinance. The Interlocal Agreement was approved by the South Bend Common Council
in Ordinance No.10542-17,enacted on September 25,2017,reaffirmed by Council Resolution No.
4710-18 on April 23, 2018, and by Resolution No.4794 -19 on June 10, 2019. Because the HRC
now investigates cases throughout the County, the Commission membership should reflect this
County-wide scope of HRC work.
Members of the HRC believe that continuation of the City-only residency requirement for
Commission members restricts the Commission's ability to include within its membership many
persons of talent and dedication, who are"representative of the racial, ethnic,religious, economic
and educational groups in the community" and who desire to serve the cause of equal opportunity
and elimination of discrimination. The HRC has recommended to this Council that Municipal
Code Section 2-129(a) be amended, as expressed in HRC Resolution No. 01-2022 which is
Attachment"A"hereto. Accordingly,this ordinance is in the best interest of the City and the area
now served by the HRC.
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SOUTH BEND as follows:
SECTION I. Chapter 2, Article 9, Section 129 (a) of the South Bend Municipal Code
be and hereby is amended to read as follows:
There is hereby created a South Bend Human Rights Commission composed of nine
(9) members who are residents of the City of South Bend County of St. Joseph and
are representative of the racial, ethnic, religious, economic.,and educational groups in
the eemmunity St. Joseph County.
SECTION II. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage
by the Common Council and approval of the Mayor.
1
Sharon L. McBride, Counci President
South Bend Common Council
Attest:
Z(00,("J 1'�r -
Dawn M. Jones, City Clerk
Office of the City Clerk
Presented by me, the undersigned Clerk of the City of South Bend, to the Mayor of the
City of South Bend, Indiana on the day of , 2022, at
o'clock . in.
Dawn M. Jones, City Clerk
Office of the City Clerk
Approved and signed by me on the W"' day of !T , 2022, at1 o'clock
M.
Jan-its Mueller, Mayor
City of South Bend, Indiana