Bill No. 68-22 Establishing Ordinance Violation Bureau with Administration

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CITY OF SOUTH BEND, IN JAMES MUELLER, MAYOR October 19, 2022 Ms. Sharon McBride President, South Bend Common Council 4th Floor, County-City Building 227 W. Jefferson Blvd. South Bend, IN 46601 Re: Ordinance Violations Bureau Dear President McBride: Indiana Code 33-36-2-1 permits the establishment by municipalities of an Ordinance Violations Bureau and the appointment of a Violations Clerk, with the duties of accepting written appearances, waivers of trial, admissions of violations, and payments of civil penalties up to the maximum amount permitted by Indiana law (currently $250), and according to the schedule set forth in Chapter 2 Article 19 of the City of South Bend Municipal Code in ordinance violation cases. Since its establishment in the City in 1988, the Ordinance Violations Bureau has been a part of the responsibility of the City Clerk's Office. The administration now believes that it is in the best interest of the City and its residents to move this responsibility from the City Clerk's Office into the administration. This proposed change in responsibility will assist with standardizing processes, realizing efficiencies and economies of scale, and collaborating with other areas of the City that receive payments from City residents to improve service to the residents. I will present this bill to the Common Council at the appropriate committee and council meetings. It is requested that this bill be filed for 1st reading on October 24, 2022, with 2nd reading, public hearing and 3rd reading scheduled for November 14, 2022. If you have any further questions or need additional information, please let me know. I will be available to discuss this bill at the appropriate sessions of the Personnel and Finance Committee and other meetings of the South Bend Common Council. Respectfully submitted, Daniel T. Parker City Controller