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Home My WebLink About07-23-2025 Residential Neighborhoods Committee Minutes SignedOFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK BI ANCA L. T IR A D O, C ITY C LE RK RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS JULY 23, 2025 4:00 P.M. Committee Members Present: Committee Members Absent: Other Council Present: Others Present: Presenters: Agenda: Karen L. White , Sheila Niezgodski , Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers , Sharon McBride , Gabriel Murei (A rrived Late) None Sherry Bolden-Simpson, Dr. Oliver Davis , Canneth Lee (Arrived Late) Bianca L. Tirado , Margaret Gotsch , Bob Palmer Darryl Scott , Jarveair Bourn Discussion Members marked with an asterisk (*) are in virtual attendance . Please note the attached link for the meeting recording: https :// docs.south bendin.gov /W ebL ink/browse.as px? dbid=0&mediaid=397 l 22 Committee Chair Karen L. White called to order the Residential Neighborhoods Committee meeting at 4:00 P.M. Committee Chair White stated that the purpose of this meeting is to address concerns voiced by residents as well as di strict representatives. These concerns center on issues that directly affect the quality of life in our neighborhoods. Committee Member Sharon McBride thanked everybody for coming out and encouraged residents to continue to come out during these discussions. Committee Member McBride also stated that we need to tackle these problems together and she is looking forward to positive solutions. Committee Member Ohelia Gooden-Rodgers expressed that her main concern is dumping trash , vehicles parking in yards , and dirty streets and this creates problems in the neighborhoods. J asmine J ac kso n 0-UEF D EPUfY 0TY QERK / 0-UEF OF STAFF INTEGRITY I SERV ICE I ACCESS IBILIT Y Mallhell' Ne a l D EPUfY QTY QERK / D IRECTOR OF POLICY Marg,u·et C o lsc h D IRECTOR OF SP EOAL P ROJECTS EXC ELLE NC E I ACCOUN TAB ILITY I INNO VA TI ON I INC LU SION I EMPOW ER MENT 455 County-City Building 1227 W. Jefferson Blvd . I South Bend, Indiana 46601 I p. 574.235.9221 I f. 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK Committee Member Gooden -Rod gers encouraged residents to stand in a united front to make a difference. Committee Vice Chair Sheila Niezgodski stated that residents need to be held accountable for their properties and expressed concern regarding the dumping of tires in alleys and asked how can we prevent this from happening. Citizen Member Gabrie l Murei stated that everybody is accountable for maintaining their own properties and that should be the philosophy for everybody in South Bend. Committee Chair White welcomed Darryl Scott to the podium. Darryl Scott , Chief of Staff, with offices on the fourteenth (14th) floor of the County-City Building, South Bend, IN 46601 , stated that the administration cares tremendously about these issues and is working feverishly to address them. Darryl Scott stated the administration will do everything they can but requests help from residents and neighbors. Committee Member Gooden-Rodgers asked who should be responsible for maintaining vacant properties and sidewalk s. Darryl Scott said he would follow up. Councilmember Dr. Oliver Davis asked if the City had thought about utilizing billboards to market three one-one (311) as a way of notifying residents about beautifying their properties. Darryl Scott stated that he was not aware of any billboards being used for this purpose. Darryl Scott also mentioned that Committee Member Gooden-Rodgers notified residents regarding a neighborhood cleanup in District Two (2) by creating flyers and handing them out. Councilmember Dr. Davis thanked Darryl Scott. Committee Vice Chair Niezgodski thanked Darryl Scott. Committee Member Gooden-Rodgers stated that we need to ensure landlords are maintaining their properties. Committee Member McBride thanked Darryl Scott for helping in the Third (Yd) District. Committee Chair White welcomed Jarveair Bourn to the podium. Jarveair Bourn, Sergeant , South Bend Police Department, with offices at 70 I West Sample Street, South Bend , IN 46601 , stated that during 2023 , the South Bend Police Department (SBPD) established Community Resource Officers (CRO) and in addition to Sergeant (Sgt.) Bourn , there are two (2) additional CRO . Sgt Bourn said that the CRO focuses on nuissance complaints under the Chronic-Problem Property Ordinance (CPPO), which states that if there are three verified complaints to a specific residence within a sixty (60) day period , the SBPD is authorized to send a letter to the occupant and the property owner. Nuissances include loud music , disorderly conduct, and criminal behavior. EXC ELLE NC E I ACCOUN TABILIT Y I INNOVA TI ON I INC LU SION I EMPOW ERM ENT 455 County-City Building 1227 W . Jefferson Blvd . I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235 .9221 If. 574.235.91731 www .southbendin .gov @ CITY OF SOUTH BE D I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK Committee Member McBride asked how can we streamline cleaning up properties that have been burned down but not demolished. Committee Member McBride also asked Jarveair Bourn to explain the process for reporting nuissance properties. Jarveair Bourn stated that he would not be able to speak regarding the burned down houses because that is not handled by the SBPD. However, what can be said regarding nuissance properties is that the SBPD is constantly updating residents that have made reports and encourages Council Members and Committee Members to utilize the SBPD in these scenarios. Committee Member Gooden-Rodgers asked Jarveair Bourn to define a nuissance property. Jarveair Bourn stated that under criminal code a nuissance property can be labeled if individuals are fighting on a property, loud music or yelling, and unkempt lawns. Committee Member Gooden-Rodgers asked what are the next steps if an unkempt lawn 1s reported to SBPD. Jarveair Bourn stated that SBPD refers those complaints to Neighborhood Services. Co uncilmember Sherry Bolden-Simpson thanked Jarveair Bourn and announced that District Five (5) will be hosting a neighborhood spruce-up on August 23, 2025, at 09:00 A.M. near Monroe Primary School and invited all to attend. Councilmember Bolden-Simpson expressed concern regarding loud fireworks and asked Jarveair Bourn to explain the process for reporting fireworks. Jarveair Bourn stated that there are firework times and dates set in the ordinances and what he recommends to do is to call the SBPD and report the issue. Councilmember Bolden-Simpson asked what can be done regarding squatters. Jarveair Bourn stated that when the SBPD receives those calls it is their responsibility to track down the owner and depending on the scenario it may be an issue where the Legal Department needs to be involved , and it would not be considered an issue that the SBPD would handle . Committee Chair White opened the meeting for comments from the public. COMME TS FROM THE P UBLIC Derek Dieter, 17 40 Portage Avenue , South Bend , IN 46616 , spoke regarding neighborhood safety and cleanliness. Alice Pickens , 234 North Albert Avenue , South Bend, IN 46619 , expressed concern about neighborhood cleanliness. Isaac Hunt, 138 East Broadway Street, South Bend , IN 46601 , spoke on behalf of his mother and father who reside at 247 Bergan Street, South Bend, IN 46628, regarding neighborhood safety and elderly safety in the South Bend community. EXC ELLE NCE I ACCO U NTA BILITY I INNOVA TI ON I INC LU SION I EM POWERM ENT 455 County-City Building 1227 W. Jefferson Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 I p . 574.235 .9221 I f. 574.235 .91731 www.sou th be ndin.gov ® CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK Jason Critchlow, 221 Marquette Avenue , South Bend , IN 46617 , expressed concern regarding the City charging for trash pickup and dumping. Deborah Walker, 639 Diamond Avenue , South Bend , IN 46628, spoke on behalf of her mother, Doris Caldwell , 3309 Dunham Street, South Bend , IN 46619, expressed conern regarding water quality and the food desert on the Westside. Rose Clark , 1150 Elmhurst Street , South Bend, IN 46556 , spoke regarding neighborhood safety and cleanliness. Nebraska Drotter, 13 57 Catherwood Drive , South Bend , IN 46614 , spoke regarding neighborhood safety and the homeless population in South Bend . Deborah Bury, 1353 Catherwood Drive , South Bend , IN 46614 , spoke regarding neighborhood safety and the homeless population in South Bend. Gladys Muhammad , 1802 Lincoln Way West , South Bend, IN 46628 , spoke regarding the food desert on the Westside. Jennifer Hudak, 1621 Medora Street , South Bend , IN 46628 , spoke regarding the homeless population in South Bend. Jim Bogner, 807 West Washington Street, South Bend , IN 46601 , spoke regarding neighborhood safety and cleanliness. Committee Chair White closed the comments from the public portion of the meeting. Committee Chair White thanked the residents and expressed care and concern for th eir issues and stated that she will follow up with individual residents and investi gate how to streamline certain processes. Committee Chair White also stated that s he will be reaching out to fellow Councilmembers to start walking tour and bus tours. Committee Member McBride expressed concern regarding the food desert on the Westside and the squatting concern in South Bend. Committee Member Gooden-Rodgers thanked everybody for coming and stated that she 1s hopeful that administration will help. Committte Vice Chair Niezgodski thanked everybody for coming and expressed concern regarding the food desert on the Westside and the squatting concern in South Bend. Council President Canneth Lee apologized to the residents for the issues they have been dealing with and thanked everybody for coming. Councilmember Dr. Davis expressed gratitude towards everybody who came and also expressed concern for the Westside food desert. Councilmember Bolden-Simpson thanked Committee Chair White and residents for coming. Councilmember Bolden-Simpson expressed concern for the water quality issue and concern for child safety. EXC ELLE NC E I ACCO U NTA BILIT Y [ INN OVATI ON [ INC LU SION I EM POW ER M ENT 455 County-City Building 1227 W . Jefferson Blvd . I South Bend, Indiana 46601 I p. 574.235.9221 1 f. 574.235.9173 1 www .southbendin.gov CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK Citizen Member Murei thanked everybody for coming and looks forward to working with the Committee. With no further business , Committee Chair Karen L. White adjourned the Residential Neighborhoods Committee working session at 5 :46 P.M. Respectfully Submitted , Karen L. White , Committee Chair NOTICE FOR HEARING AND SIGHT IMPAIRED PERSONS Auxiliary Aid or Other Services may be Available upon Request at No Charge. Please give Reasonable Advance Request when Possible EXC ELLE NC E I ACCO UNTABILI TY I INNOVA TI ON I INC LU SION I EMPOW ER MENT 455 County-C ity Building 1227 W. Jefferson Blvd . I South Bend, Indiana 46601 I p. 574 .235 .9221 I f. 574 .235 .91 73 1 www .southbendin .gov