HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-12-2026 Council Meeting MinutesBe it remembered that the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, met in person on
Monday, January 12th, 2026, at 7:00 P.M. Council President Canneth Lee called the meeting to
order. The invocation was given by President Lee, and the Pledge to the Flag was given.
Please note the attached link for the meeting recording:
https://docs.southbendin.gov/WebLink/browse.aspx?dbid=0&mediaid=403205
Council meetings are also available at Michiana Access Channel on both their website and
their Facebook page.
ROLL CALL
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT
Canneth Lee
Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers
Sharon L. McBride
Troy Warner
Sherry Bolden-Simpson
Sheila Niezgodski
Karen L. White
Dr. Oliver Davis
Rachel Tomas Morgan
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT
None
OTHERS PRESENT
Bianca Tirado
Jasmine Jackson
Matthew Neal
Veronica Pitt-Payne
Bob Palmer
1st District, President
2nd District
3rd District
4th District, Committee of the Whole
5th District
6th District, Vice President
At-Large
At-Large
At-Large
City Clerk
Chief Deputy City Clerk
Deputy Director of Policy
Director of Special Projects
Council Attorney
Members marked with an asterisk (*) are in virtual attendance.
SUB-COMMITTEE ON MINUTES:
December 8, 2025; January 5, 2026
Council President Lee requested reports from the Sub-Committee on Minutes.
City Clerk Bianca Tirado stated that the Sub-Committee on Minutes inspected the December
8, 2025 and January 5, 2026 Common Council meeting minutes and recommend they be
approved.
Councilmember Troy Warner moved to approve the December 8, 2025 and January 5, 2026
Common Council meeting minutes, which was seconded by Councilmember Ophelia Gooden
Rodgers and carried via a vote by voice.
SPECIAL BUSINESS
Council President Lee announced the induction of the 2026 Youth Advisory Council cohort.
Councilmember Karen L. White gave opening remarks.
Clerk Tirado administered the oath to new Youth Advisory Council members.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICES
None.
RESOLVE INTO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Councilmember Warner moved to resolve into the Committee of the Whole, which was seconded
by Councilmember Sherry Bolden-Simpson and carried via a vote by voice.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
BILL NO.
78-25 PUBLIC HEARING ON AN ORDINANCE OF
THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AMENDING
CHAPTER 14, ARTICLE 15, SECTION 14-175 TO
INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF SOUTH BEND
POLICE OFFICER TIME INCLUDED AS AN
ABSORBED EXPENSE FOR A SPECIAL EVENT
Clerk Tirado read the bill to the Council for its second (2nd) reading.
After the second (2nd) reading, Councilmember Rachel Tomas Morgan stated that Bill No. 78-25
went before the Health and Public Safety Committee and comes with a favorable
recommendation.
Michael Schmidt, Assistant City Attorney, with offices on the sixth (6th) floor of City Hall, South
Bend, IN 46601, presented the bill. He said the bill provides eight (8) additional hours of police
staffing at special events.
Councilmember Warner held the public hearing, and nobody spoke.
Councilmember Warner addressed comments that were made about the bill during the Health and
Public Safety Committee meeting. He clarified that the bill does not pertain to protests and
demonstrations, and it does not impede free speech.
Michael Schmidt said the special event process is content neutral and non-discriminatory. He
stated that no revenue is generated from special event fees.
Councilmember Dr. Oliver Davis asked about an email the Council received regarding the bill.
Bob Palmer, Council Attorney, with offices on the third (3rd) floor of City Hall, South Bend, IN
46601, said he reviewed the email. He said he is not concerned about the bill's constitutionality.
Michael Schmidt said he provided a letter to Council supporting his legal opinion on the bill.
Council President Lee moved to send Bill No. 78-25 to the Full Council with a favorable
recommendation, which was seconded by Councilmember White and carried by a vote of nine (9)
ayes.
Council President Canneth Lee -Aye
Councilmember Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers -Aye
Councilmember Troy Warner -Aye
Councilmember Rachel Tomas Morgan -Aye
Councilmember Karen L. White-Aye
80-25
Council Vice President Sheila Niezgodski -Aye
Councilmember Sharon McBride -Aye
Councilmember Sherry Bolden-Simpson -Aye
Councilmember Dr. Oliver Davis -Aye
PUBLIC HEARING ON AN ORDINANCE OF
THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SOUTH BEND,
CHAPTER 21 OF
INDIANA, AMENDING
THE SOUTH BEND
MUNICIPAL CODE TO MAKE
MISCELLANEOUS CHANGES FOR
CLARIFICATION AND CONSISTENCY TO
SIMPLIFY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND TO
ACHIEVE HIGHER QUALITY DEVELOPMENT
(THIRD SUBSTITUTE)
Clerk Tirado read the bill to the Council for its second (2nd) reading.
After the second (2nd) reading, Councilmember Dr. Davis stated that Substitute Bill No. 80-25
went before the Zoning and Annexation Committee and comes with a favorable recommendation.
Councilmember Warner entertained a motion to accept the substitute bill. Councilmember Dr.
Davis moved to accept Substitute Bill No. 80-25. which was seconded by Council Vice President
Sheila Niezgodski and carried via a vote by voice.
2
Michael Divita, Assistant Director of Planning, with offices on the fifth (5th) floor of City Hall,
South Bend, IN 46601, presented the bill. He gave an overview of the proposed changes to the
zoning ordinance and spoke about why the updates are necessary.
Mark Dellostritto, Zoning Specialist, with offices on the fifth (5th) floor of City Hall, South Bend,
IN 46601, continued the presentation. He highlighted key changes, including that gas stations,
smoke shops, and liquor stores will require special exceptions where previously allowed by-right.
The bill comes with favorable recommendations from the Plan Commission and the Zoning and
Annexation Committee.
Councilmember Tomas Morgan asked which version of the bill was heard by the Plan
Commission.
Michael Divita said the Plan Commission heard the second (2nd) substitute. He said the third (3rd)
substitute will return to the Plan Commission for approval if it is passed by the Council.
Councilmember Dr. Davis asked about the frequency of future updates to the zoning ordinance.
Michael Divita said the ordinance will be updated every six (6) to twelve (12) months.
Council President Lee voiced support for the bill and its changes to gas station zoning.
Councilmember Warner held the public hearing, and nobody spoke.
Council President Lee moved to send Substitute Bill No. 80-25 to the Full Council with a favorable
recommendation, which was seconded by Councilmember Sharon McBride and carried by a vote
of nine (9) ayes.
Council President Canneth Lee -Aye Council Vice President Sheila Niezgodski -Aye
Councilmember Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers -Aye Councilmember Sharon McBride -Aye
Councilmember Troy Warner -Aye Councilmember Sherry Bolden-Simpson -Aye
Councilmember Rachel Tomas Morgan -Aye Councilmember Dr. Oliver Davis -Aye
Councilmember Karen L. White -Aye
RISE AND REPORT
Councilmember Gooden-Rodgers moved to rise from the Committee of the Whole and report back
to the Full Council, which was seconded by Councilmember Dr. Davis and carried via a vote by
voice.
REGULAR MEETING RECONVENED
Council President Lee stated that the Full Council is now back in session. This portion of the
meeting is where bills are given a third (3rd) reading and action is taken regarding bills that were
heard during the Committee of the Whole.
BILLS ON THE THIRD READING
BILL NO.
PUBLIC HEARING ON AN ORDINANCE OF
THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AMENDING
CHAPTER 14, ARTICLE 15, SECTION 14-175 TO
INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF SOUTH BEND
POLICE OFFICER TIME INCLUDED AS AN
ABSORBED EXPENSE FOR A SPECIAL EVENT
Clerk Tirado read the bill to the Council for its third (3rd) reading.
After the third (3rd) reading, Council President Lee requested a committee report.
Councilmember Warner stated that Bill No. 78-25 was heard in the Committee of the Whole and
comes to the Full Council with a favorable recommendation.
3