11-26-01 Health & Public Safety and residential Neighborhoods

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• Qtommittt port: joint Qommitt*t Outing of tbz Ixa id) & 1Publit *day (tommitte tiit Usitftutial 72,00,orboo4z (tommitt The November 26, 2001 joint committee meeting of the Health &Public Safety Committee and the Residential Neighborhoods Committee was called to order by Health&Public Safety Chairperson Andrew Ujdak at 4:25 pm in the Council Informal Meeting Room. Persons in attendance included Council Members: Kelly, Varner, King, Aranowski, Coleman, Pfeifer,Ujdak, Kirsits and White; Mayor Stephen Luecke, Citizen Members Khadijah Muhammad and Isabel Gonzalez,Assistant Fire Chief Richard Switalski,Battalion Chief James Lopez, Bureau of Water Works Director John Stancati, Margaret King, Frank Linerallo, Brian Hedman, Chip Lewis, Dennis Andres, Greg Ayres, John Baxter, Robert Hunt, Ken Wise, Eunice Miller, Charlotte Huddleston, Terry Bland of the *OW) 1ta Zribunt, and Kathleen Cekanski- Farrand, Council Attorney. Council Member Ujdak noted that the first item on the agenda was to review Substitute Bill No. 108-01 which would amend Chapter 13 of the South Bend Municipal Code by the addition of new Article 2 entitled"Panhandling and Solicitation Regulations". Council Member King made the presentation. He noted that he and Council President Pfeifer have co-sponsored the Bill which is in response to the many complaints and growing concern over their sense of security when in the downtown area. He noted that both he and Council President Pfeifer are part of the South Bend Downtown Development Partnership and that much discussion has taken place about the central business area and the entertainment areas. Council Member King noted that over$436 million has been invested in the downtown as detailed in report's prepared by Jon Hunt's Department of Community and Economic Development (copy attached). Council Member King further noted that there are many programs and activities in these areas such as the Ethnic Festival, the South Bend Civic Theater, the concerts in Seitz Park and many outdoor conventions;and that plans are currently under discussion for a new entertainment center where the Avon Theater once was located. Downtown South Bend has become the regional center for St. Joseph County and therefore the need for a viable revitalize downtown is paramount. Council Member King stressed that the ordinance would be a tool in order to provide residents and visitors with an environment with real and perceived safety when engaged in business, cultural, arts and entertainment activities in the area to be known as the"Central Business and Entertainment Area Boundary". People cannot be scared to come to this area of our city because of aggressive solicitation of people at intersections, at ATM's and on public ways. The secondary negative effects of such aggressive behavior must be addressed in order to provide a safe and pleasant environment in high investment areas of the City. Council Member King noted that Professor James Wilson is perhaps best known for the "broken windows" theory which he developed in 1982. He quoted from an article which stressed that an entire community can be threatened if the broken windows go untouched. Council Member King stated that it is time to fix the broken windows so that a safe and secure downtown area is provided to residents and visitors alike to these areas. Council Member King provided several handouts which included a 4-page "South Bend Central Development Area 1980-2001 Projects" which addresses the various projects,uses,public investment, private investment, location and other data; a new enhanced version of Exhibit A-1 which has legends which will replace the Exhibit A-1 filed earlier,a new legal description for the enhanced version of the map set forth in Exhibit A-1 which