HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-09-2026 Rules Committee MinutesOFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
BI ANCA L. T IRADO , CITY CLERK
COUNCIL RULES
Committee Members Present:
Committee Members Absent:
Other Council Present:
Others Present:
Presenters:
Agenda:
FEBRUARY 9, 2026, 5:30 P.M.
Sheila Niezgodski, Canneth Lee
Troy Warner
Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers, Sherry Bolden-
Simpson, Dr. Oliver Davis, Rachel Tomas
Morgan, Sharon McBride, Karen L White
Bianca L. Tirado, Matthew Neal, Jasmine
Jackson, Veronica Pitt-Payne, Bob Palmer
Canneth Lee
Bill No. 01-26 -Repealing, Superseding,
and Replacing Chapter 2, Article 1, Section
2-10.1 by Establishing the Powers and
Duties of the Common Council Rules
Committee and Eliminating the Process and
Procedures for Filing Complaints Against
Council Members
Members marked with an asterisk(*) are in virtual attendance.
Please note the attached link for the meeting recording:
https://docs.southbendin.gov/WebLink/browse.aspx?dbid=0,0,0,0,0,0&mediaid=404640
Council President Canneth Lee called to order the Council Rules Committee meeting at 5:32 P.M.
Bill No. 01-26 -Repealing, Superseding, and Replacing Chapter 2, Article 1, Section 2-10.1
by Establishing the Powers and Duties of the Common Council Rules Committee and
Eliminating the Process and Procedures for Filing Complaints Against Council Members
Council President Lee presented the bill. He said the South Bend Common Council's complaint
process conflicts with the Indiana Open Door Law and is not aligned with other municipalities in
the state. He said the current process is vulnerable to abuse, and the high volume of meritless
complaints use up public resources. He spoke about due process concerns and listed alternative
INTEGRITY I SERVICE I ACCESSIBILITY
Jasmine Jackson Matthc\\· N cal Veronica Pitt-Payne
CHllcF D EPLT Y Cns CLERK / CHIEF 0 1: ST.\FF DEPLTY Cn-Y CLERK/ DIRECTOR OF POI.ICY DI RH TOR OF SPFU.\I. PROJITT~
EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILI TY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT
300 City Hall I 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend. Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov
@ CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CffY CLERK
avenues for residents to seek redress. He invited Council Attorney Bob Palmer to share any
comments.
Bob Palmer, Council Attorney, with offices on the third (3 rd) floor of City Hall, South Bend, IN
46601 , spoke about alternative remedies for complaints against Councilmembers.
Councilmember Bolden-Simpson spoke about previous changes to privilege of the floor. She said
she believes that privilege of the floor should not be restricted any further to ensure residents have
a voice.
Council President Lee said that privilege of the floor will not change.
Councilmember Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers spoke in favor of the changes to the complaint process.
She said reviewing complaints internally can introduce bias.
Council President Lee spoke about the complaint process in other municipalities. He said the
change is necessary because the language of the current ordinance conflicts with the requirements
of the Indiana Open Door Law.
Councilmember Karen L. White asked Council President Lee to confirm whether residents would
still be able to file complaints through other means.
Council President Lee confirmed that is correct.
Attorney Palmer spoke about the various statutory remedies that are in place for residents to file
complaints.
Councilmember White asked Attorney Palmer to provide a list of those statutes to the Council.
Councilmember Rachel Tomas Morgan some about the strength of the City of South Bend's
transparency relative to other municipalities.
Councilmember Gooden-Rodgers asked Attorney Palmer to present a full list of statutory
remedies at the 7:00 P.M. Council meeting.
Council President Lee held the public hearing, and nobody spoke.
Council Vice President Niezgodski moved to send Bill No. 01-26 to the Committee of the Whole
with a favorable recommendation, which was seconded by Council President Lee and carried by
a vote of two (2) ayes with one (1) Committee member absent.
Council President Canneth Lee -Aye Council Vice President Sheila Niezgodski -Aye
Committee Member Troy Warner -Absent
With no further business, Council President Lee adjourned the Council Rules Committee meeting
at 5:55 P.M.
EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT
300 City Hall I215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.91731 www.southbendin.gov
@ cITYOFSOlITHBEND I OFFICEOFTHE CITYCLERK
Canneth Lee, Committee Chair
EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT
300 City Hall I215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.92211 f. 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov