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Home My WebLink About11-20-08 Community/Campus Advisory Coalition (CCAC) Committee.o a.}'~~ `.. ~``: t,S "~ ~ = ;r i ~ Community/Campus Advisory Coalition (CCAC) udtYt iS T A/' 1S i~~ r = r ~, I ~. ~ ~o~«x+`' 1~ ~ ~ 1 O O c c The meeting of the Community/Campus Advisory Coalition was held in the Council informal meeting room, 4th Floor County-City Building in downtown South Bend, Indiana, on November 20, 2008. The meeting was called to order at approximately 3:04 p.m. by South Bend Council at Large Member AI "Buddy" Kirsits. Council Member Kirsits welcomed everyone in attendance. Those attending included: Mayor Stephen Luecke, City Attorney Charles Leone, South Bend Code Enforcement Director Catherine Toppel, South Bend Police Uniform Division Chief Jeffrey Walters, South Bend Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, South Bend Common Council Member Ann Puzzello, Robinson Center Adult Program Coordinator Marguerite Taylor, Neighborhood Resident Matthew Costello, Mark Kramer representing Landlords of Off-Campus Housing, Michael Rans representing Greater South Bend/Mishawaka Board of Realtors, University of Notre Dame Representatives Bob Reish, M. Brian Coughlin, and William W. Kirk, Saint Mary's College Representatives Alison Spurlock, and Patrick Daniel, Holy Cross Representatives Daniel Cochran and Joe Garvey, Attorney Richard Nussbaum, Bill Stenz, Northeast Neighborhood Council, and Jamie Loo, South Bend Tribune. Council Member Kirsits asked that the members introduce themselves and the area they represent. Council Member Ann Puzzello distributed a draft of an ordinance amending Chapter 21 of the South Bend Municipal Code to provide for certification of legal nonconforming lots, uses, buildings, structures and signs. The amendment would allow owners to request a Certificate of Nonconforming Use before a property could be "grandfathered" to allow more than three unrelated occupants to reside there. The ordinance is in the early stages of review and will also have to go through the Board of Zoning and the Area Plan Commission. Attached to the ordinance were the applications for nonconforming use from Bloomington, Indiana and Marion County, Indiana. City Attorney Charles Leone noted that the applications only require information from the owners of the property. He suggested the City may want to give others the option to weigh in before a Certificate is issued. Neighbors should be allowed to express their support or opposition to grandfathering a particular property. Community/Campus Advisory Coalition (CCAC) November 20, 2008 Meeting Minutes Page 2 Matt Costello thanked the Council for addressing this important issue. Council Member Kirsits asked for updates previously discussed issues: • Zoning maps for schools -Cathy Toppel met with Erin Steiner and discussed where the schools can obtain zoning maps. She will let them know about the GIS system available on the Internet. • E-mail notification system -Notre Dame is working with Lee Ross and is in the process of creating a crime alert system for students living on and off-campus. It was mentioned that the Harter Heights list serve is very informative and helpful. Currently about 40 students are on the Harter Heights list serve. • Mark Kramer addressed several issues. He is working on parking problems at properties he manages. By next year 60% of the students living in his properties will have off street parking. After several break-ins recently, Mr. Kramer has hired off-duty police officers. Working through the Robinson Center, tenants will be able to mark possessions and register them. Parrying seems to be under control. If Mr. Kramer receives complaints, he e-mails the tenants and other students living in the area. The biggest concern now is the crime rate and how to help the students be safe. The poor economy is creating more crime. Council Member Kirsits then asked for other issues. • Matt Costello said he is frustrated that students are not shoveling the sidewalks and it is hard for children that walk to school. Ann Puzzello noted the same problem in the triangle area, particularly Eddy Street where sidewalks are not being shoveled and children are walking in the street to get to school. She said many of those properties are owned by Notre Dame. Bill Kirk didn't know the policy about snow removal, but will check with the University and a-mail Mary Beth. Community/Campus Advisory Coalition (CCAC) November 20, 2008 Meeting Minutes Page 3 Mark Kramer noted that for properties he manages, it is in the lease that students are responsible for sidewalk snow removal.. (He provides plowing for driveways and takes care of lawn maintenance.) it was suggested that he provide snow shovels to his tenants and he agreed that was a good idea. • While the neighborhood residents agree that neighborhoods have been much quieter this year, there is still a problem along Notre Dame Avenue with students who have been drinking causing disturbances as they return to their homes after activities. Council Member Kirsits noted paramedics told him ambulance runs for intoxicated students have decreased. He will try and have actual numbers for the next meeting. Cathy Toppel's department is still dealing with zoning violations for too many unrelated persons in single family dwellings. Code Enforcement has sent letters, issued citations and will sue unresponsive owners. While violation of zoning laws is a concern, the bigger concern is that some of the houses may be unsafe for students. For example, no egress windows for students living in basements. There is currently no organization for landlords to share information about zoning issues and too many students living in single family dwellings. Chief Walters addressed some of the safety and security issues for students. Daylight hours are shorter and typically there is an increase in crime around the holidays. Burglaries are on the rise and several arrests have been made. Students should make sure their doors and windows are locked, and take valuables home with them whenever possible. Students who are going home could ask neighbors or other students to keep an eye on their homes while they are away. Officers will be reminded to patrol student housing frequently while students are gone. Mr. Kramer noted that deadbolt locks are installed on bedroom doors at the properties he manages and he suggests to students that they lock valuables in one room. When students leave on break, his maintenance people check the houses to make sure doors and windows are locked and alarms have been set. Students are emailed when anything is left unlocked. Community/Campus Advisory Coalition (CCAC) November 20, 2008 Meeting Minutes Page 4 Council Member Kirsits then asked what the universities are doing to promote student safety and security. All universities are continuing the programs discussed last month. Notre Dame's Campus Crime Prevention Officer continues to communicate with students about safety and is working closely with the South Bend Police Department . Saint Mary's continues to provide programs about safety and emails student prior to home football games about responsibility and safety issues. • Holy Cross is interested in participating in the a-mail crime watch. Notre Dame Student Government is working on an information website. Information will not only include safety and security issues, but will provide students with information about the area including restaurants, bill paying, recycling, etc. It was noted that for the first time information is being passed on from one student government to another. Before adjourning, Ms. Taylor briefly spoke about the weekend housing issue. She wanted to know if it is legal for more than three unrelated people to rent a house for a Notre Dame home game weekend. This practice does not foster good neighborhoods because the houses are only occupied on home game weekends. Ms. Cekanski- Farrand said the Area Plan Commission is investigating to see if this practice is legal. Advertising the property may make the difference on whether or not the practice is legal. Mr. Kramer believes this practice will die off as more hotels are built. Community/Campus Advisory Coalition (CCAC) November 20, 2008 Meeting Minutes Page 5 The next meeting will be Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. in the informal Common Council meeting room. Topics to be discussed will include: Crime Report -Burglaries Availability of the GIS system Proposed ordinance update Snow removal progress The meeting was adjourned at 4:17 p.m. Respectfully subm~itjted, ~ ~~ Charles S. Leone, Recording Secretary Community/Campus Advisory Coalition (CCAC) T ~, Coun it a ber AI "Buddy Kirsits, Chairperson CommunitylCampus Advisory Coalition (CCAC)