HomeMy WebLinkAbout4-11-2022 Request to Change BoundariesPROPOSAL TO AMEND SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE-
RESIDENCY OF HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MEMBERS
The Human Rights Commission (HRC) believes this ordinance which amends
Chapter 2, Article 9, Section 2-129 (a) of the South Bend Municipal Code is in
the best interests of the HRC and the City. The HRC now investigates cases
within St. Joseph County.
Continuation of the City-only residency requirement for the 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 County-wide
community who desire to serve the cause of equal opportunity and elimination
of discrimination.
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 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.
Commissioner 1 Commissioner 2 Commissioner 3
Commissioner 4 Commissioner 5 Commissioner 6
Commissioner 7
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SOUTH BEND HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSION AS FOLLOWS
:
REQUEST TO
AMEND
Section I.The Common Council of the
City of South Bend is requested to and should
amend the South Bend Municipal Code at
Chapter 2, Article 9, Section 129 (a) 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
community St. Joseph County.”
A true Resolution passed by the South
Bend Human Rights Commission at
its regular meeting on March 16,
2022.
QUESTIONS