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REGULAR MEETING May 9, 2016 <br />the chance to just discuss the bill and come back in a few weeks and vote on it. It gives us the <br />chance to have a nice discussion without the pressure of how to vote that very same day. That <br />should have been the process for all of these more controversial items including this one. It is <br />clear that we need to have some type of registry but what is not clear is some of these issues. We <br />should do all of our due diligence on day one (1) and not have to come back to and make <br />amendments. If you have attorneys coming that say these are unconstitutional penalties, can we <br />at least pause two (2) weeks to look into that? Councilmember Davis stated-he would also like to <br />see an official resolution from the Human Rights Commission. We do need to do things to attract <br />and support good landlords and not lump them in all together as bad landlords. It should not be <br />someone from Code Enforcement doing the review because that is a conflict of interest. Let's not <br />rush to judgment on this issue. Councilmember Davis asked for the tabling of this bill. <br />Councilmember John Voorde stated these are problems that have been with the City for as long <br />as he has been in government. There used to be a position in the Mayor's Office back in the <br />1970s that dealt with these nuisance problems and that person would direct the Street Dept. to fix <br />the issues but that was not an efficient solution because the taxpayers were the ones who ended <br />up with the bill for fixing everything. Then in the 1980s this problem kept coming up again about <br />contacting the property owners so this has gone on for as long as anyone remembers and we need <br />some type of registry in South Bend where it can facilitate Code Enforcement, Police and Fire to <br />get them to contact these people to ensure compliance. It is not perfect nor has it ever intended to <br />be perfect. This is a tool for the people who are charged with contacting these people to do their <br />job more efficiently and better. They are currently doing their job with one (1) hand tied behind <br />their back. Rightfully so the law protects property rights so we need this tool to aid us in <br />contacting those property owners. He complimented Councilmembers Scott and White for doing <br />the hard work on this bill to get us where we need to go. It will not solve the root causes of <br />poverty or crime but it is one positive step towards making this a better community. <br />Councilmember Tim Scott made a motion to send the amended version of Substitute Bill 12 -16 <br />to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. Councilmember Randy Kelly seconded the <br />motion which carried by a roll call vote of six (6) ayes and three (3) nays: ( Councilmembers <br />Regina Williams- Preston, Councilmember Jo M. Broden and Councilmember Oliver Davis) <br />RISE AND REPORT <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis made a motion to rise and report to full Council. Councilmember <br />John Voorde seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. <br />REGULAR MEETING RECONVENED <br />Be it remembered that the Common Council of the City of South Bend reconvened in the <br />Council Chambers on the fourth floor of the County -City building at 10:33 p.m. Council <br />President Tim Scott presided with nine (9) members present <br />At 10:34 p.m. Councilmember Oliver Davis made a motion to take a five (5) minute break. <br />Councilmember John Voorde seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) <br />ayes. <br />Be it remembered that the Common Council of the City of South Bend reconvened in the <br />Council Chambers on the fourth floor of the County -City building at 10:39 p.m. Council <br />President Tim Scott presided with nine (9) members present <br />BILLS — THIRD READING <br />09 -16 THIRD READING ON AN ORDINANCE OF THE <br />COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, <br />INDIANA, ANNEXING TO AND BRINGING WITHIN <br />THE CITY LIMITS OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AND <br />AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE FOR <br />PROPERTY LOCATED IN PORTAGE TOWNSHIP, <br />17 <br />