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®CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK <br /> a continuing one (1) or if it is unusual. We are asking for the Interlocal Agreement, which <br /> otherwise ends May 1 St, 2018, to be extended to December 31St, 2018 so that we can continue to <br /> take the cases and see what is happening. It has increased the Commissions load positively. <br /> Vice Committee Chair Voorde opened the floor to questions from the Committee and Council <br /> Members. <br /> Committeemember Karen White stated, I recall during the budget process we were talking about <br /> the agreement in which our Human Right's Commission would start investigating cases for the <br /> County. At that time, I highly encouraged our Commission not to eliminate a position they wanted <br /> to eliminate. I noticed under item two (2), compensation, which says at this time the St. Joseph <br /> County Human Right's Ordinance has no compensation. I would think that as we continue to see <br /> an uptick in cases, this is an indication that we may need to rethink the need for additional staff. <br /> That conversation needs to start early on as the County looks at their budget and as we need to do <br /> the same. <br /> Ms. DeRose replied, I think that is very wise and that was contemplated in the crafting of this bill. <br /> Councilmember Sharon L. McBride arrived at the meeting at 3:34 p.m. <br /> Ms. DeRose stated, The entire budgeting of this is contemplated and right now we don't have <br /> enough cases to justify any specific funding. She then provided a handout (available in the City <br /> Clerk's Office) that highlighted the breakdown of case numbers. She continued, We had 2,600 <br /> inquires between October 2017 and April 2018. And those are phone calls from people that think <br /> they may have claims. Of those, 2,515 were from South Bend, eighty-eight (88) were from <br /> Mishawaka and thirty-one (3 1)were from St. Joseph County. Of those inquiries, one hundred and <br /> twenty-eight(128)resulted in charges taken by the Commission.Of those one hundred and twenty- <br /> eight(128), fifty-seven(57)were kept in the commission. Of that,forty-six(46)were employment <br /> related, seven (7) were housing related, two (2) were public accommodation and two (2) were <br /> education related. That is typical of the South Bend break down. We have fewer cases in housing. <br /> We frankly think housing is the most covert area of discrimination and that is the area we are trying <br /> to increase services and education in. <br /> Committeemember White stated, It is good we have this data as we begin to prepare for the <br /> upcoming budget. I think it puts the efforts in a different light. <br /> Committeemember Oliver Davis asked, What more do we, as a Council,need to add as housing is <br /> becoming a key issue? Is there anything major we need to consider? <br /> Ms. DeRose replied, No, we are just asking to extend the Interlocal Agreement until the end of <br /> December 2018 and that is what the bill entails. <br /> Committeemember Davis stated, Ok, I'm at peace. <br /> Councilmember Tim Scott stated,As these numbers come out, we need to look at Mishawaka and <br /> the County being a part of the budget process. I'm glad we've led the way and we continue to do <br /> so but it is time for everyone to pay their fair share. <br /> EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT <br /> 455 County-City Building',227W Jefferson Bvld I South Bend,Indiana 466011 p 574.235.9221 If 574.235.9173 I TM 574.235.5567)www.southbendin.gov <br /> I <br /> 2 <br />