HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 Annual Report - Health and Public Safety2014 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HEALTH & PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Date: December 30, 2014
To: The South Bend Common Council
The Office of the City Clerk
From: Council Member Derek D. Dieter
Health and Public Safety Committee Chairperson
I am pleased to file the following 2014 Health and Public Safety Committee Annual Report. It is a
summary of some of the key activities of the Common Council's Health and Public Safety Committee
which fulfills the requirement of § 2 -10 (i) of the South Bend Municipal Code.
Duties: The Health and Public Safety Committee is charged with "overseeing the many activities
performed by the Department of Code Enforcement, EMS, Fire Department, Police Department,
ordinance violations and related health and public safety issues ".
Members: There were four (4) Council Members on this Committee, namely:
Council Member Derek D. Dieter, Chairperson
Council Member Dr. Fred Ferlic, Vice - Chairperson
Council Member Henry Davis, Jr., Member
Council Member Tim Scott, Member
Citizen Member Robert Emery
Meetings: The Health and Public Safety Committee was one of the more active Council Standing
Committees, having met twenty -seven (27) times this year.
Summary of 2014 Committee Activities: The first Health and Public Safety Committee was held on
January 23, 2014 which was an organizational meeting to discuss potential committee priorities for the
year. Suggested topics included receiving updates and discussing police beat strength, technology
updates in both the Fire and Police Departments, chronic nuisance, 911 center consolidation, the Anti -
Violence Task Force, whistle - blower implementation, and fire training complex; and Dr. Ferlic's idea to
promote a program to combat the youth obesity in partnership with the private sector.
Perhaps the most effective meetings were those held jointly with the Residential Neighborhoods
Committee chaired by Council Member Karen L. White. Six (6) "Hitting the Pavement" Walking
Tours were held where Council Members were able to hear the concerns of residents first -hand. These
tours focused on areas in the I` District when we walked on April 30 " & May 19`h; in the River Park
Neighborhood when we walked on June 6`h and October Is; in the Coquillard Park Neighborhood when
we took to the pavement on June 17'h; and the LaSalle Park Neighborhood on July 25" . This type of
2014 Annual Report of the Health and Public Safety Committee
December 30, 2014
Page 2
forum was positively received by the neighborhoods and if selected to chair this Committee in 2015, I
would schedule more walking tours so that this input may be used when establishing budget priorities.
Some of the other topics addressed in committee included:
• Reviewing and amending the scrap metal dealers ordinance to require electronic reporting by
license holders
• Receiving an update from Police Chief Ron Teachman on "Shot Spotter"
• Updates on gunfire at a downtown establishment where close to 1,000 persons were in
attendance
• A "Special Animal Care and Control Committee" was authorized to work under the jurisdiction
of the Health and Public Safety Committee to review the City's animal regulations which would
focus on "best practices" for responsible animal and pet ownership care and control regulations
• Reviewing the proposed "smoke -free air regulations"
• Amending the mutual aid regulations to provide a limited exemption for local units of public
safety
• Discussion of the PSAP consolidation which was ultimately approved with follow -up meetings
• Updating the ambulance service fee ordinance
• Participation on successful labor negotiations for a 3 -year agreement for sworn members of the
South Bend Fire Department and a 2 -year agreement for sworn members of the South Bend
Police Department
In light of the fact that South Bend City residents have always viewed health and public safety issues as
top priorities, if asked to continue to serve as Chairperson of the Health and Public Safety Committee, I
would continue to make health and public safety top topic priorities in 2015. 1 would also recommend
that many of the priorities identified at our organizational meeting last January such as police beat
strength, technology updates in both the Fire and Police Departments, chronic nuisance implementation,
911 center consolidation, the Anti - Violence Task Force, and whistle - blower implementation continue to
be potential topics warranting ongoing updates and discussion as to whether there is any Council action
needed to foster improvement or greater success in each of these areas. Thank you.
Respectfully
Council Member Derek D. Dieter, Chairperson
Health and Public Safety Committee
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