Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-09-08 CCAC/ Community/Campus Advisory Coalitioni Y ~l ~f `~ ` ~~ V ~~ Y ~. 1..`~~j p.,l r YtwY~ _,l tirt ~/' . . Community/Campus Advisory Coalition (CCAC) i ?~ ~ .r `~.~N .. The meeting of the Community/Campus Advisory Coalition was held in the Council Chambers, 4th Floor County-City Building in downtown South Bend, Indiana, on April 9, 2008. The meeting was called to order at approximately 3:08 p.m. by South Bend Council at Large Member AI "Buddy" Kirsits. Prior to the meeting being called to order, City Clerk John Voorde administered the oath of office to City Attorney Charles Leone and Greater South Bend-Mishawaka Association of Realtors President Mike Rans. Each of these members then signed their respective Oath of Office documents (originals will be kept on file in the South Bend Office of the City Clerk). Council Member Kirsits welcomed everyone in attendance. Those attending included: Mayor Stephen Luecke, Robinson Center Adult Program Coordinator Marguerite Taylor, South Bend Code Enforcement Director Catherine Toppel, Mark Kramer's daughter, Stephanie, representing Landlords of Off-Campus Housing, South Bend Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, IUSB Representative Dr. Jeff Jones, University of Notre Dame Student Body President Bob Reish, University of Notre Dame Assistant Vice-President Office of VP Student Affairs M. Brian Coughlin, University of Notre Dame Associate Vice-President Resident Life, William W. Kirk, Saint Mary's College Student Body Vice-President Sarah Falvey, Saint Mary's College Director of Residence Life and Judicial Affairs Slandah Dievjuste, Alcoholic Beverage Board Member Michael Carrington, Greater South Bend-Mishawaka Association of Realtors President Mike Rans, South Bend City Clerk John Voorde, Attorney Dick Nussbaum, Mayor's Intern Matt Middleton, Bill Stenz, Northeast Neighborhood Council, Jamie Loo, South Bend Tribune, and unidentified members of the public. Members absent: South Bend Council President Timothy Rouse, South Bend Council Member Ann Puzzello, South Bend Police Chief Darryl Boykins, Holy Cross Student Body President Steven Henderson, Holy Cross Representative Daniel Cochran, IUSB Student Body President Ivan Blount Neighborhood Resident Matthew Costello, Mark Kramer (represented by his daughter). Notre Dame Student Body President Bob Reish, and Saint Mary's Student Body Vice- President Sarah Falvey were not sworn in because the paperwork is not completed. This gave rise to the question of whether a proxy or non-sworn member would be allowed to vote. This issue will be taken up with legal counsel at a later date. Community/Campus Advisory Coalition (CCAC) April 9, 2008 Meeting Minutes Page 2 Council Member Kirsits asked that the members to review the minutes of the March 13, 2008 meeting. Council Member Kirsits extended the Coalition's sympathy to Holy Cross College on the death of student Kevin Kearney. Council Member Kirsits attended a Town Hall meeting at the Charles Martin Youth Center on underage drinking. There were several presenters including the Prosecutor's Office and the SUDS Taskforce. An informative video was shown which Council Member Kirsits would like the Coalition to see. He will try and get a copy. He has several pieces of material available for copying. Several members of the Coalition attended the recent Notre Dame Community Summit. Many ideas were shared to increase interaction between students and residents, including the following: • Better networking for student intern positions in South Bend • 5-10K races beginning on campuses and ending in South Bend e.g., the College Football Hall of Fame • Students would like to be involved in subcommittees of the Coalition • Student Watch Groups to pass on information about neighborhood crime • Tours of Universities for City residents • Neighbors willing to store student belongings between school years • Outgoing students hosting incoming students to meet neighbors The recent Community Night at the Cove sponsored by Notre Dame and the Silverhawks was well received. Students and City residents were treated to an evening of free food and tickets to a baseball game. No alcohol was served. Community/Campus Advisory Coalition (CCAC) April 9, 2008 Meeting Minutes Page 3 Student leaders were asked if it would be helpful for the City to provide brochures for incoming freshmen describing what the area has to offer. The general consensus was that students tend to "walk away" from brochure displays. The suggestion was made to provide this information electronically. Another suggestion was made to have a "Move In Day" for students possibly with free food and coupons from local merchants. There is a concern about local cab companies and various issues including less than courteous drivers, fare discrepancies and inappropriate behavior towards female students. Some companies have been banned from campuses by the universities. Assistant City Attorney Ann-Carol Nash is looking into what can be done about this and will report back to the Coalition. Mission Statement The draft of the Mission Statement was reviewed and it was suggested that it be more specific by adding the phrase "between campuses and community." The phrase was added and the Mission Statement now reads: CACC will provide a viable mechanism to enhance partnerships and build positive long-term relationships between campuses and community in order to address safety for students and neighborhoods, build better neighborhoods and enhance the quality of life for all. Upon Motion duly made and seconded, .the Mission Statement was accepted as revised. Discussions were held on the top three issues identified by the CCAC at its March meeting. They are: • Illegal use of single family housing in violation of zoning ordinance • Addressing unruly off-campus behavior • Working together to promote neighborhood, resident and student safety Illegal use of single family housing in violation of zoning ordinances Members discussed the problem of more than three unrelated people occupying a single family dwelling in violation of zoning ordinances and what. can be done. "Grandfathering" also seems to be a problem in that many properties that are claimed to be grandfathered to allow for multiple occupants when in reality they are not. Realtors Community/Campus Advisory Coalition (CCAC) April 9, 2008 Meeting Minutes Page 4 can be reminded of these zoning laws through their continuing education programs. Other avenues available to the City are fines for landlords/tenants and injunctive relief. In both cases, solid evidence is necessary that there is a violation before the City can proceed. Sending letters to realtors and landlords has been less than successful. There is a sold property database maintained by the County and updated daily that could be a resource to contact new owners and advise them of the zoning laws The Common Council is considering revisions to the zoning ordinance and is also looking into the "grandfathered" property problem. Concern was expressed that this problem may be beyond the scope of the CCAC and would be better served by zoning authorities. Universities are concerned that students will be caught up in zoning issues and will suddenly find themselves having to find new housing in the middle of a semester. The illegal housing problem is currently minimal in the River Park area near IUSB. It is much more problematic in the Notre Dame area. Weekend rentals during Notre Dame football weekends was also mentioned as another instance of zoning violations. Addressing unruly off-campus behavior Council Member Kirsits said he doesn't think this has been a problem of late. In years past, "couch burning" at the end of the year was a problem. He has seen websites showing this practice in other areas. The main concern of the Coalition is that students be safe and smart as we approach the end of the school year. Council Member Kirsits asked if an article could be run in the Notre Dame newspaper, The Observer. Notre Dame Student Body President Bob Reish will arrange for Mr. Kirsits to be interviewed by Observer staff members. Notre Dame representatives noted that with many of the students moving out at once there will be more trash and suggested extra trash pickups could be scheduled in neighborhoods with large student populations. Notre Dame and Saint Mary's have giant yard sales for household articles students no longer need, with the proceeds going to charity. Last year Notre Dame raised $40,000. It would be helpful to have a truck to pick up large off-campue items for transport to these sales on campus. Community/Campus Advisory Coalition (CCAC) April 9, 2008 Meeting Minutes Page 5 Working together to promote neighborhood, resident and student safety Several excellent suggestions were made to promote positive interaction between students and neighborhood residents. • Have students become involved in Neighborhood Watch programs. • Student Watch programs that would notify students of criminal activity in their neighborhoods and offer safety tips. This could be done electronically using off-campus student lists by neighborhoods and could be made available to neighborhood residents as well. South Bend and Notre Dame Police Departments would coordinate the information. • "Block Directories" for students and neighborhood residents could be posted electronically. This would be a voluntary program with participants posting as much or as little information as they like. Access would be limited to the residents of their particular block. Refrigerator magnets could be distributed listing handy phone numbers and websites. Phone numbers that might be included could be for trash pickups, to report problems with cab drivers, City offices, etc. Neighborhood surveillance cameras could be installed in neighborhoods with public safety issues. If people are aware of the cameras, it could be a deterrent to crime. Comments Council Member Kirsits reminded the Coalition members that the CCAC report to the South Bend Common Council is due by June 1, 2008 as required by §14-60 of the South Bend Municipal Code. Audience member, Bill Stenz, Northeast Neighborhood Council, thanked the Coalition for its efforts to correct the problem of illegal housing use. He is continuing to document violations in his neighborhood. Saint Mary's Director of Residence Life and Judicial Affairs Slandah Dieujuste requested that the Saint Mary's logo be included in the letterhead used for the minutes and that "Saint" not be abbreviated to "St." Community/Campus Advisory Coalition (CCAC) April 9, 2008 Meeting Minutes Page 6 Some of the members mentioned the incident which occurred near the Michigan State campus last weekend. Video of the riot is on You Tube. The next CCAC meeting will be Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 4th Floor County-City Building. Council Member Kirsits thanked everyone for their input and then adjourned the CCAC meeting at 4:25 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ~~ <~` Charles S. Leone, Recording Secretary Community/Campus Advisory Coalition (CCAC) Council Member AI "Buddy" Kirsits, Chairperson CommunitylCampus Advisory Coalition (CCAC)