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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-20-40 Council Special Meeting MinutesBe it remembered that the Common Council of the City of South Bend met in special session on November 20, 1940, at the City Hall Council Chambers, at 7:55 P.M. with all members present. President McCarthy presided. CALL FOR A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA We, the undersigned members of the Common Council of the City of South Bend, hereby call a special meeting of the Council to convene at 7:55 P.M. on the 20th day of Nov. 1940, for the purpose of considering the following business: An ordinance reducing certain appropriations for the Health Department for the year 1941 and transferring the amount so reduced to the General Fund. An ordinance appropriating the sum of $500.00 from the General Fund of the City of South Bend, Indiana, to the Health Department account for motor equipment and declaring an emergency. An ordinance licensing and regulating Parking Stations in the City of South Bend, Indiana, and licensing and regulating parking station operators and employees. An ordinance amending Ordinance 2331, adopted by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, June 25th, 19239, and commonly known as the Zoning Ordinance. An ordinance amendatory of Ordinance 2331, commonly known as the Zoning Ordinance. Resolution allocating the sum of $25,000,00 from the amount appropriated for WPA and PWA in the 1940 Budget under account H -27 Department of Public Works to Special WPA account. Considering all communications, remonstrances, petitions and receiving committee reports. Signed this 20th day of November, 1940. J. M. McCARTHY LEO M. JORDAN GEO. F. HULL MELTON 0. BRA NAN WILLIAM F. PULASKI COMMUNICATION THE SAFE 11ALKER' S CLUB Sponsored by Safety Division ASSOCIATION OF C%4MERCE City Council City Hall South Bend, Indiana Dear Sirs: You have doubtless observed an increase in safe behavior by pedestrians in South Bend during the last few days. This greater safety has resulted from a thorough program of cooperation by the police department, by the city traffi engineer, by the city traffic commission, and the Safety Division of the Association of Commerce through its Pedestrian Protection Committee. •The five local Ausciliaries of the American Legion are doing their part by promot- ing the Safe Walker's Club, with headquarters in the Oliver Hotel and the Pulaski Post on South Chapin Street. We feel sure your organization will want to join in this movement to save lives and prevent injuries. Hazards to pedestrians have been called "South Bend's No. 1 Traffic Problem`. Two- thirds of the persons killed by automobiles last year were pedestrians. If we can influence motorists to respect the rights of pedestrians, and pedestrians to respect the rights of motorists, we can easily reduce the traffic toll by more than one - half. Your organization can be of tremendous help by having all There is no obligation except for'the pledger to keep his furnishes free membership buttons, cards, and literature. your members sign the 10 -point pledge to walk safely. or her promise. The club charges no membership dues, and The Safety Division of the Association of Commerce will be glad to send a 5- minute speaker to your next meeting to explain the purpose of the Safe Walker's Club and to provide membership supplies. Will you please sign the enclose( card telling us when and where you would like to have a speaker? Yours very truly, MRS. CHARLES F. DAY General Chairman, Safe Walker's Club ,Councilman Hull made a motion that pledge cards be signed by the Councilmen and the communication placed on file. Councilman Pulaski seconded the motion. Motion carried. RESOLUTION WHEREAS: for the last three years, representatives of organized labor in cooperation with representatives of other groups and interest, have kept before the public of South Bend that fact that we have a serious housing problem, and has continually demanded of the CITY COUNCIL and the Mayor that a housing Authority be appointed which can officially study this problem and take steps to remedy it, and WHEREAS: the situation is becoming increasingly more acute and is causing its greatest hardships on the indigents and those on the relief rolls, and because it is once more officially before the City Council and is the subject of study by a special committee of the Council, which committee is to make its recommendation at the next meeting, and WHEREAS: the next regularly scheduled council meeting falls on the 11th day of November, which is Armistice Day and celebrated as a national holiday, which fact might be reason for postponing the meeting until the 25th day of Novemher, now be it RESOLVED: That the South Bend Industrial Union Council, C.I.O. repeat its demands on the City Council that it reco� nize the housing problem in South Bend, and that it do so by proper resolution, and that the Mayor of the City act on that resolution and appoint a Housing Authority immediately so it may officially investigate this problem and take steps to remedy the situation, and further, That the Council should meet on Armistice Day to consider this problem and that it should not be delayed any londer� That it is fit and proper that the Council should, on Armistice Day, initiate a move designed to care for its peopl economic problems. The Council will prove by its action that it is responsive to the demands of the people that atteiti.on be given to the social needs of our own people, and that less attention be given to those who call for a sacrifice of social gains as part of their program to make us repeat a mistake, a mistake whose ending we celebrate on November 11th. 28 That a copy of this be sent to each Councilman, to the Mayor to City Clerk Marie Nelson, to the Trivune and to the Labor News. Passed unanimously at the Regular meeting, Wednesday, November 6, 1940. SEAL - Councilman Bishop made a motion to place the communication on file. Councilman Bishop seconded the motion. Motion carried. REPORT OF THE COTA-1ITTEEOF THE WHOLE To the Common Council of the City of South Bend: 11/20/40 Your Committee of the Whole to whom was referred "An ordinance appropriating the sum of $812.00 from the General of the City of South Bend, Indiana, to the Health Department Account for personal services and nurse hire and de ing an emergency. Respectfully report that they have examined the matter and that in their opinion this ordinance shall be referred to the Council favorably. LEO M. JORDAN, Chairman Councilman Hull made a motion to accept the report. Councilman Bishop seconded the motion. Motion carried. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE 17HOLE To the Common Council of the City of South Bend: 11/20/40 Your Committee-.of the Whole to whom was referred "An ordinance reducing certain appropriations for the Health Depart ment for the year 1940, and transferring the amount so reduced to the General Fund." Respectfully report "that they have examined the matter and that in their opinion this ordinance shall be referred to the Council favorably. LEO M. JORDAN, Chairman Councilman Pulaski made a motion to accept the report. Councilman Hull seconded the motion. Motion carried. REPORT OF THE COI &AITTEE OF THE WHOLE To the Common Council of the City of South Bend: 11/20/40 Your Committee of thr Whole to whom was referred "An ordinance licensing and regulating parking stations in the city of South Bend, Indiana, and licensing and regulating parking station operators and employees." Respectfully report that they have examined the matter and that in their opinion it should be tabled and rejected. LEO I.T. JORDAN, Chairman Councilman H � �a-- notion to accept the report. Councilman Niezgodski seconded the motion. Motion carried. OFC OF COAAMITTEE INVESTIGATING HOUSING. November 20, 1940 Your Committee has made an investigation of the housing conditions in the City of South Bend and recognize the fact that the housing conditions in South Bend should be improved. Your Committee also considers it vital to the national government and to our city that housing be provided to take care of the incoming workmen who are now moving into South Bend to take employment in South Bend industries on aefene work and therefore recommends that the City Attorney be instructed to present at the next regular meeting of the City Council a resolution authorizing the Mayor to appoint a committee of five to make a complete investigation of the housing needs of the city of South Bend and said committee to report to the Mayor and the City Council as soon as possible, but not later than February 1st. The Committee further recommends that the necessary funds be appropriated by the Council in this resolution to reasonable expenses of this committee to be appointed by the Mayor. (Signed) WM. J. RICEARDSON (Signed) GEO. F. HULL. (Signed) LEO Ill. JORDAN . COILMITTEE Councilman Niezgodski made a motion to accept the report. Councilman Bishop seconded the motion. Motion carried. Councilman Niezgodski made a further motion that the City Attorney be instructed to present at the next regular meeting of the Council a Resolution authorizing the Mayor to appoint a committee of five as set out in the above report. Councilman Pulaski seconded the motion. Motion carried by a motion of 9 ayes - 0 nays. OF PUBLIC WORKS & SAFETY o the Common Council, outh Bend, Ind. lemen: October 22, 1940 t your last meeting, you referred to the Board of Public Works and Safety, a proposed ordinance to change the name f Palmer Blvd., between Sunnyside Ave., and Ironwood Dr., to Rockne Drive. It is our opinion that this Board has .o jurisdiction over this matter, and it should be referred to the City Plan Commission for their approval or.dis- voroval. e are, therefore, referring this matter to the City Plan Commission for their action, and we are asking that they eport to the Council. Very truly yours, BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS & SAFETY James P. Conboy, Clerk (attached) REPORT OF CITY PLAN COTI!IISSION Nov. 8, 1940- To the Common Council City of South Bend, Ind. Gentlemen: The ordinance for changing the name of Plamer Blvd. between Sunnyside Ave. to Ironwood Drive to Rockne Drive has be brought to the attention of the City Plan Commission. The name Rockne Drive does not conflict with any name of street, boulevard, avenue or road within the city and such a change is considered very appropriate. Yours t ruly, D. MOOMAW, Sect. Councilman Brannon made a motion that the reports be accepted. Councilman Bishop seconded the motion. Motion carri� Councilman Pulaski made a motion that the ordinance be given a public hearing on December 9th. seconded the motion. Motion carried. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS & SAFETY November 19, 1940 To the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Ind. Gentlemen: Councilman Brannan After receiving the petition for a street light at the alley on Cleveland Ave., between Vassar and California Ave., we referred the matter to Mr. Qualls, Electrical Superintendent for investigation, and we now have a report from Mr. Qualls, which is,as follows: "Under existing circumstances it is difficult to determine the proper course of procedure in reporting on petitions for lights in this section of the City. Every street intersection has a light, andnow they want them at the alleys. Of course, it is a long block between Van Buren Street and California Ave., and tree inter - ference is very heavy. Even with the foliage off,the trees still interfere with the illumina- tion on the street from the lights at the intersections. Naturally the middle of the block is dark, but the same holds true on Blaine, Allen, Sherman and all the other streets in this section. If we put a light on Cleveland at the alley, these other streets will also want a light in similar location. I appreciate the fact that it is dark, but until we can put a light at street intersections thruout the City, where it is also dark, I cannot find myself favoring the location of lights at alleys in favored sections that have lights at every street intersection, especially when the street could be better illuminated with existing facilities by trimming the trees. I am sure the balance of the street light appropriation can be used to better advantage by placing lights at street intersections that have no lights at this time. Most of the streets have lights every two blocks." We think Mr. Qualls' explanation of this matter is very clear, and for that reason the Board has concurred in the recommendation of Mr. Qualls with respect to this street light. Very truly yours, BOAR OF PUBLIC 'Y ORKS & SAFETY Clyde E. Williams, Chairman Councilman Hull made a motion that the report be accepted and a copy of -the report be sent to the petitioners. Councilman Bishop seconded the motion. Motion carried. • REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS & SAFETY T TO THE COMMON COUNCIL November 13, 1940 City of South Bend, Indiana Gentlemen: Cou recently referred to this Board, a petition from residents of E. Ewing Ave., requesting the elimination of all, transport truck traffic from that street. This Board referred the matter to Mr. Ernest Miller, Traffic Engineer, who has made a study of the situation, and ha. given us his report, a copy of which we are enclosing herewith. We know of no better solution to this problem than the one suggested by Mr. Miller. Very truly yours, BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS & SAFETY (Attached) James P. Conboy, Clerk Board of Public Safety Nov. 9'- 1940 South Bend, Indiana lemen:- e: Petition from residents on East Ewing Avenue to Common Council, requesting the elimination of all transport ruck traffic. the past we have had similar petitions requesting the elimination of transport truck traffic from various streets the City, for example: Wayne Street from Greenlawn to St. Louis Boulevard, Diamond Avenue from Portage to Lincol West, and others. rohibiting transport truck traffic from certain residential streets in the City merely shifts the difficulty from ne street to another, thereby bringing similar complaints and petitions from residents of these streets. fter investigation of this problem, I am of the opinion that much of our difficulty is due to transport truck raffic taking short cuts across the City. For example, it is believed that the traffic on Wayne Street is due to rucks leaving U.S. 20 at Greenlawn, going south on Greenlawn to Wayne, west on Wayne to Eddy, south and west on Eddy'i and Sample to Michigan and then south on Michigan U.S. 31. Possibly the reason trucks use Wayne Street in making t short cut's is due to the fact that East Jefferson, west of Greenlawn is designated as a Boulevard. To prohibit trucks from using Wayne Street would merely shift the difficulty to streets south possibly Sunnymede. .Similarly, the transport truck traffic on East Ewing is partly due to truck traffic making a short cut from U.S. 31 to U.S. 20.and vice versa. To prohibit trucks from Ewing Avenue would merely shift the difficulty possibly to Calv Street. The residents of Calvert Street would not be any more favorable to this traffic than are the residents of Ewing Avenue. In addition the street width of Calvert Street is thirty feet as compared to a forty foot width on Ewing Avenue, therefore from a traffic safety standpoint, the situation would be much worse. It is my opinion while it may not be a one hundred per cent solution to the problem, that much good could be derive from the erection of signs at the entrance to State and Federal Highways, and other main highways at the City limit prohibiting through transport trucks from using streets other than State and U.S. Highways through the City of Sout Bend. An ordinance probably would have to be enacted covering same. Another important point to consider, in connection with this type of regulation, is the matter of enforcement, It will be difficult for enforcement officers to determine in apprehending a suspected violator whether or not the truck is a through truck. Very truly yours, ERNEST H. MILLER. City Traffic Engineer Councilman Heideman made a motion that the matter be referred to the Traffic Engineer to work out truck routes, said routes to be posted at the city limits. Councilman Bishop seconded the motion. Motion carried. REPORT OF CITY PLAN COMMISSION Nov. 8, 1940 To the Common Council City of South Bend, Ind. Gentlemen: The petition for change of zoning classification of lots #1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 Augustine Addition and a portion of the lot belonging to the Holy Cross Church from Light Industrial district to residence district was considered by the City Plan Commission at their regular meeting Nov. 7th. The City Plan Commission recommends that this property be changed from D`use district and E height and area distri to A residence and A height and area districts to conform to the zoning of the adjoining property. Yours truly, D. MOOMAW, Sect. Councilman Hull made a motion that the report be accepted and the City Attorney be instructed to draw up an ordin- ance accordingly. Councilman Heideman seconded the motion. Motion carried. ORDINANCE NO. 3349 AN ORDINANCE REDUCING CERTAIN APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR 1940, AND TRANSFERRING THE AMOUNT SO REDUCED TO THE GENERAL FUND. Councilman Brannon made a motion that the ordinance be passed after it was given third reading in full. Councilman Bishop seconded the motion.. Ordinance passed by a roll call vote of 9 ayes - 0 nays. ORDINANCE NO. 3350q AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING THE SUM OF x$812.00 FROM THE GENERAL FUND OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, TO THE HEALTH ]DEPARTMENT ACCOUNT FOR PERSONAL SERVICES AND NURSE HIRE AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The ordinance was 'given third reading in full and was passed by a roll call vote of 9 ayes - 0 nays. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE REDUCING CERTAIN APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR 1941 AND TRANSFERRING THE AMOUNT SO REDUCED TO THE GENERAL FUND. The ordinance was given first reading by title and second reading in full. Councilman Hull made a motion that the ordinance be referred to the Committee of'the Whole. Councilman Bishop seconded the motion. Motion carried. ORDINANCE AN ORiDINANCE APPROPRIATING THE SUM OF x$500.00 FROM THE GENERAL FUND OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ACCOUNT FOR MOTOR EQUIPMENT AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The ordinance was given first reading by title and second reading in full. Councilman Hull made a motion that the ordinance be referred to the Committee of the Whole. Councilman Bishop seconded the motion. Motion carried. OR2DINA.NCE AN ORDINANCE LICENSING AND REGULATING PARKING STATIONS IN THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND," INDIANA, AND LICENSING AND REGULATING PARKING STATION OPERATORS AND M4PLOYEES. The ordinance was given first reading by title and by agreement - second reading by title only. Councilman Hull made a motion that the ordinance be referred to the Committee of the Whole for public hearing on December 9th. Councilman Brannon seconded the motion. Mr. Miller,of the Association of Commerce addressed the Council and stated that the Merchants Division of the Association would oppose any legislation that would raise the parking rates. The motion was carried by a vote of 9 ayes - 0 nays. CITY PLAN C0NER:IISSION (attached to Ordinance) TO THE COD12JION COUNCIL City of South Bend, Ind. Nov. 8, 1940 Gentlemen: The City Plan Commission recommends the adoption of the attached ordinance amending Ordinance 2331 to correct ce provisions in sections #10, 11 and 12 relative to the set -back of building from the street line and the width of houses permitted on corner lots. 231 The wording of the proposed amendment to these sections relieves a situation that many property owners have found difficulty in complying with for many years and does this without introducing any features detrimental to the city or to other property owners. Yours truly, D. MOOL?A,nl, Sect. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2331, ADOPTED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, IIiDIANA, JUNE 25, 1923 AND COMMONLY KNOINN AS THE ZONING ORDINANCE. The ordinance was given first reading by title and second reading in full. A motion was made by the chair that the ordinance be referred to the Committee of the Whole and copies of the ordinance be furnished to members of the Council. Motion carried by vote of 9 ayes - 0 nays. ORDINANCE THIS ORDINANCE IS AMENDATORY OF ORDINANCE ITO. 2331, ADOPTED BY THE COIREION COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SCUTH BEND, INDIANA ON JUNE 250 1923; COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE ZONING ORDINANCE. Councilman Hull made a motion that the ordinance be referred to the Committee of the Whole for public hearing on December 9th. Councilman Pulaski second the motion. Motion carried. RESOLUTION RESOLUTION ALL OC.ATING THE'SUM OF TWENTY -FIVE THOUSAND ($250000.00) FROM THE AMOUNT APPROPRIATED FOR WPA AND PWA.IN THE 1940 BUDGET UNDER ACCOUNT H -27 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS TO SPECIAL APA ACCOUNT. BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council'of the City of South Bend, Indiana. That the sum of Twenty -Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) be and the same is hereby allocated from Account No. H -27, Department of Public Works in the 1940 Budget to Special VdPA Account, and that this amount so allocated by the Common Council may be used during the year 1940, for the purchase of materials, labor and other items chargeable to the various City WPA projects, subject to the approval of the Board of Works. The amount so allocated shall be deducted from the amount of One Hundred Seventy -Seven Thousand, One Hundred Ninety Dollars ($177,190.00), Department of Public Works. Councilman Hull made a motion for the adoption of the Resolution. Councilman Bishop seconded the motion. Resoluti adopted by a roll call vote of 9 ayes - 0 nays. Mr. Levy, assistant City Attorney, stated that he had received many requests from the merchants for permission to display Christmas trees on the sidewalks. The Council agreed to permit the display of Christmas trees providing such display is limited to the trees.and regulated by the Police Department. There being no further business, Council adjourned at 8:38 P.M. ATTEST: CLERK APP ED: S IDENT f