HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-16-08 Health and Public SafetyHEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY JULY 16, 2008
Committee Members Present: Councilmember Karen White, Chairperson, Councilmember
Henry Davis, Councilmember Ann Puzzello, Councilmember Derek D. Dieter, Donald Brubaker,
Citizen Member
Other Councilmember Present: Councilmember's David Varner and AI "Buddy" Kirsits
Others Present: Mark Dollinger, Ann-Carol Nash, Catherine Toppel, Lynn Coleman, Sandy
Senour, Kathy Cekanski-Farrand, Jamie Loo, John Voorde
Purpose: This meeting of the Health & Public Safety Committee is one in series of discussions
intended to focus on quality of life issues. Initiated by Chairperson Karen L. White, the particular
focus of this meeting is Graffiti.
Karen began the meeting by recounting the reasons for its call. As reflected in the handout dated
6-18-08 (attached} the H& PS Committee agreed to develop a "plan of action to review quality of
life ordinances." Karen went on to explain the approach was to focus on implementation of
regulations, enforcement of regulations, and identification of measurable outcomes. Karen then
asked Council Attorney Kathy Cekanski-Farrand to explain the legal basis for graffiti regulations.
Kathy with a handout (attached) referred to Indiana statues in Title 35 which define graffiti and
describe it penalties. In addition Title 31 describes potential penalties for delinquents found guilty
of using graffiti. There are no references to graffiti in local ordinances.
Councilmember White then asked Mark Dollinger, who runs the city's Weed 8~ Seed program in
the 2"d and 6th Councilmanic Districts to outline graffiti abatement efforts currently underway.
Mark explained the Weed & Seed program was funded by the U.S. Department of Justice. The
program now in its third and final year has among other things funded the graffiti abatement
efforts. Last year over $20,000 was spent to paint-over 290 sites. This year 282 graffiti sites
have already been remedied just in the 2"d & 6th Districts. Derek Dieter conservatively estimated
over 200 additional instances of graffiti outside the 2"d & 6th Districts. Mark Dollinger estimated a
need for $70 - $90 thousand dollars to continue the graffiti abatement in '09. Kathy Cekanski-
Farrand noted Dollinger's program was cited for its effectiveness in a national publication. Henry
Davis, 2"d District, recounted a LaSalle Park meeting yesterday where a more comprehensive
approach to graffiti prevention was suggested. This approach would provide kids with options to
vandalism. Cooperative alliances with the school corporation, the city, neighborhoods, and
churches could focus on youth education. This type of comprehensive approach could be more
effective in the long run. Dollinger agreed. Chairperson Karen White then turned to
administration representatives to describe current city efforts. Cathy Toppe( said while there was
no city crew actually painting over graffiti. Her department actively pursues property owners for
clean-up. She admitted this was by legal requirement, a long cumbersome process.
Councilmember Henry Davis suggested educating kids in the schools at a young age to the costs
of graffiti both personal and societal. Derek Dieter said more money was needed for police OT as
well as early intervention. Henry Davis pointed out that the graffiti problem was a moral issue
more than a money issue. Councilmember Kirsits wondered how much of the graffiti problem
could be attributed to gangs. Dollinger said most west-side graffiti is gang related. Catherine
Toppel asked that the extensive graffiti in vacant homes be remembered.
Karen White said people live in fear feeling disconnected from what goes on in the neighborhood.
She said a safe secure citizenry was essential for a strong community.
Karen then asked Councilmember Dieter to explain problems facing the police department in
trying to address crime across the board.
Councilmember Dieter stated that the city has grown in area by 25% since 1978 and there were
numerous new businesses. He said inadequate resources, too few beats, and too few police
officers on patrol stretches the safety factor creating unsafe, unacceptable conditions for both the
police and the citizenry.
Councilmember Kirsits pointed out the fire service has minimum manning standards where the
police department does not.
Karen White observed that a changing society has made it more difficult to assure quality of life.
Nonetheless, people are demanding every effort be made. Councilmember Kirsits asked about
the effectiveness of the noise ordinance. Derek Dieter said their efforts are paying off Ann-Carol
Nash concurred, saying the police departments efforts to enforce the noise ordinance along with
the legal departments follow-up efforts have made a noticeable difference.
There being no further business to come before the committee, Chairperson White adjourned the
meeting at 6:10 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted, \
Karen L. White, Chairperson
Health 8~ Public Safety Committee