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REGULAR MEETING APRIL 10, 2006
<br />Councilmember White, Chairperson, Health and Public Safety Committee, reported that
<br />this committee held a public hearing on this bill this afternoon and sends it to the full
<br />Council with no recommendation, due to the lack of a quorum.
<br />Ms. Pamela C. Meyer, Director, Community Development, 1200 County-City Building,
<br />South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill.
<br />Ms. Meyer advised that this bill would allow for the appropriation of a Department of
<br />Justice Earmark grant awarded to the City of South Bend. These funds will be used for
<br />programming related to the Ceasefire program to be managed by the newly incorporated
<br />Ceasefire of South Bend, Inc. Ceasefire, a street outreach worker program, is an
<br />innovative strategy to reduce violence. The South Bend program has been designed after
<br />learning, training, and recognizing the success of the “Cease-Fire” program under the
<br />auspices of the Chicago Project for Violence Prevention. The main goals resulting from
<br />being proactive with youth, primarily between the ages of middle school and high school
<br />are to be able to intervene before a violent incident based on information learned by the
<br />outreach workers, and to respond at the time of an incident to lessen or mitigate
<br />retaliation and additional crime. This grant will cover the costs of two outreach workers,
<br />equipment, printing, and on call and incident response support for clergy. The City,
<br />Ceasefire of South Bend, Inc. and the Robinson Community Learning Center (RCLC)
<br />have been engaged in developing this broader community effort based on the initial effort
<br />begun by the RCLC.
<br />This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents
<br />and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard.
<br />Mr. Lynn Coleman, Assistant to the Mayor, 1400 County-City Building, South Bend,
<br />Indiana, spoke in favor of this bill.
<br />Mr. Coleman advised that he is in full support of this bill.
<br />Police Chief Thomas Fautz, 701 W. Sample Street, South Bend, Indiana, spoke in favor
<br />of this bill.
<br />Chief Fautz stated that Cease-fire is a tool to help the police in a pro-active manner.
<br />Ms. Nikki Lawson, President, Board of Directors “Cease-Fire” spoke in favor of this bill.
<br />She stated that in collaboration with police, clergy, and board members, individuals will
<br />be hired and trained over the first two months of the grant period to focus on different
<br />sectors of the City. The City will be subdivided into sectors with noted hot-spots within
<br />each identified with law enforcement, and with an ear to the ground among community
<br />level street organizations. The main goals resulting from being proactive with youth,
<br />primarily between the ages of middle school and high school are to intervene before a
<br />violent incident occurs.
<br />Ms. Trina Robinson, 914 Lincolnway West, South Bend, Indiana, spoke in favor of this
<br />bill. Ms. Robinson stated that “Cease-fire” is directed towards middle and high school
<br />children who are at risk and encourage them not to get involved in violence.
<br />Mr. Mark Dollinger, 2136 Berkley Place, South Bend, Indiana, stated that this
<br />appropriation would also for the insurance of the delivery of programs, projects and
<br />services through various agencies.
<br />There being no one else present wishing to speak to the Council in favor of or in
<br />opposition to this bill, Councilmember Puzzello made a motion for favorable
<br />recommendation to full Council. Councilmember Dieter seconded the motion which
<br />carried by a voice vote of seven (7) ayes.
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