02-12-01 Health & Public Safety - Laserfiche WebLink

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Qtommttt ' 10rt: a1th an4 Uzi ftty tontutitat The February X„,2001 meeting of the Health and Public Safety Committee was called to order by its Chairperson, Council Member Andrew Ujdak at 3:10 p.m. in the Council Informal Meeting Room. Persons in attendance included Council Members: Kelly, Varner, Ujdak, and Kirsits; Mikki Dobski Shidler, Officer Ron Glon, Lois Clark, Thomas Bodnar, Len Grummell, Bob Kruzmatich, Myer Blast, Becky Goldsmith, Kevin Winters, Nancy Sulok and Terry Bland of the '4U1j n GrtbUU ,and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Council Attorney. Council Member Ujdak noted that this Committee meeting was called to continue discussion of the Administration initiated Bill No. 133-00 addressing firearms. He noted that at the Committee meeting of February 12th the substitute version was further amended at the Committee level. Council Member Ujdak then asked the Council Attorney to highlight the areas of concern. Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand stated that at the last Committee meeting the following areas were highlighted as warranting further input by the Administration and discussion by the Council: 1. Is notice to the public required if the Council would pass such legislation? Would signage assist in the enforcement? 2. Who would enforce this ordinance if passed? In light of the areas shared by the City and the County in the County-City Building and the shared space areas by the City and the South Bend School Corporation, who would enforce the local ordinance? 3. Has there been discussion with officials of St. Joseph County with regard to the logistics of enforcement as well as overall plans for the security rules governing common areas shared by both the County and the City? Dr. Varner added that an additional area of concern was: Is the City able to confiscate firearms as proposed by the City Administration? Thomas Bodnar, Deputy City Attorney, made the presentation on behalf of the City Administration. He stated that seven (7) years ago today, the South Bend Common Council passed an ordinance which created detailed regulations governing firearms. Approximately two(2) months after the passage of that ordinance in 1994, the Indiana State Legislature passed a state law which effectively negated two-thirds of that ordinance. Mr. Bodnar stated that the proposed ordinance pending before the Council is intended to address "all weapons and not just handguns" and would make those regulations on "city-owned or city-managed properties". He stated that if the Council would like the signage language back in, that it could do so. He stated that the two(2) primary purposes of the ordinance are to delete those portions of the ordinance which are unenforceable and to provide protections to those who work and visit city-owned or city-managed property. Council Member Ujdak inquired about enforcement and whether Mr. Bodnar had met with any representatives of St. Joseph County. Council Member Ujdak noted several examples of practical concerns affecting enforcement such as how would the average citizen know if they are on city-