02-27-06 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 27, 2006 Matt Wormington, Off Campus Council President, stated that the notice to abate warning SS0506-18 passed by the University of Notre Dame Student Senate, December 1, 2005 recognizes the concerns of the residents of the City of South Bend with regard to unacceptable and disrespectful behavior of students of the University of Notre Dame. They are legitimate; and these concerns warrant the attention of not only the Common Council of the City of South Bend, but the Notre Dame Student Body. Resolution SS0506-18 was a collaborative effort of Student Body President David Baron and the Student Senate of the University of Notre Dame to respond to the challenge to continue the shared goal of improving community-university relations. David Baron, University of Notre Dame Student Body President, 203 LaFortune, Notre Dame, Indiana. Mr. Baron stated that on Monday, July 25, 2005, the South Bend Common Council amended the City’s Disorderly House Conduct Ordinance. After the passage of the amendment, Councilmember Dr. David Varner, offered a challenge to Matt Wormington, Off Campus Council President, and himself, to continue toward the shared goal of improving community-university relations. We are responding today to that challenge. Many students have been convinced of the importance and relevance of strong interaction between Notre Dame students and South Bend residents. Most notably, there is a new drive within the student body to be more than neighbors, but participants in South Bend community life. Councilmember Puzzello commended David Baron on his work on Community Relations between the community and students. Getting along and fitting in with neighbors and the community is a positive step in the right direction. Councilmember Varner thanked the students for taking up the challenge. It shows responsibility in a respectable manner. He stated that he is impressed with the response to solve some of the challenges that the community and university face. Councilmember Kelly stated that he was impressed with the maturity of the students body representative here tonight. He stated that prior student body representatives were plainly “wet behind the ears.” He stated that everyone must abide by the rules and regulations and continues to support student and community efforts to do just that. Councilmember Kirsits commended the students who spoke tonight. However, he th indicated that there is still much work that needs to be done. The 5 year architecture students need to comply with the ordinance. He believes that this is a good beginning but there is still a lot of challenges that need to be addressed. Council President Rouse stated that he would like to see the Synergy be kept up between the University of Notre Dame and the Community of the City of South Bend. He assigned this topic to the Community Relations Committee. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Council, President Rouse adjourned the meeting at 9:50 p.m. ATTEST: ATTEST: __________________________ __________________________ John Voorde, City Clerk Timothy A. Rouse, President 21