06-26-06 Council Meeting Minutes

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING JUNE 26, 2006 A Public Hearing was held on the Resolution at this time. There being no one present wishing to speak to the Council either in favor of or in opposition to this Resolution, Councilmember Kuspa made a motion to adopt this Resolution. Councilmember Varner seconded the motion which carried and the Resolution was adopted by a roll call vote of seven (7) ayes. BILLS, FIRST READING There were no bills for First Reading at this time. UNFINISHED BUSINESS BILL NO. 36-06 A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, ANNEXING TO AND BRINGING WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, CERTAIN LAND IN GERMAN TOWNSHIP, CONTIGUOUS THEREWITH: COUNCILMANIC DISTRICT 1, MICHIANA LUTHERAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, INC. & NICAD, INC., NIMTZ PARKWAY AND OLIVE ROAD JUST 1/8 MILE WEST OF THE US 31 BY-PASS Councilmember Pfeifer made a motion to refer this bill to the Zoning and Annexation Committee and set this bill for Public Hearing on July 24, 2006 and Third Reading on August 14, 2006. Councilmember White seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of seven (7) ayes. NEW BUSINESS Councilmember Varner stated that he is the Council’s representative to the Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG) and filed a letter with the Office of the City Clerk from Sandra Seanor, Director of MACOG, regarding the South Bend Railway Application. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR COMMENTS CONCERNING BILL 29-06 AMENDMENTS TO THE HUMAN RIGHT ORDINANCE Ms. April Odynski, 536 S. Sunnyside, South Bend, Indiana, urged the Council to support the expansion of the Human Rights Ordinance. She stated that she has spoken to the Council before on behalf of the American Association for University of Women, which also supports this Ordinance. She stated that she is speaking as a private citizen, who has friends and family in the LGBT Community and who has neighbors for whom this means a great deal. It had occurred to her as she was reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, that Liberty and Justice for all, really matters in this case. It will take nothing away from those who have civil rights now, to expand the civil rights ordinance and it will mean a great deal to those who are not protected in our community right now. It also seems a really auspicious moment to make this move given the fact that the City Plan is under consideration, there is a lot exciting conversation right now. She thinks about the direction that the community is moving and how we see ourselves as a community and she thinks it would mean an enormous amount to make a real statement that South Bend is a place where all people have rights under the law. Ms. Catherine Pittman, 2628 Summit Ridge Dr. South Bend, Indiana, passed out a newspaper article to the Council. Ms. Pittman stated that she is speaking on behalf of South Bend Equality, and that there is hope that in a few weeks, they no longer will have to hear stories of discrimination spoken from this podium. Because there will be a place for individuals to go. Ms. Pittman stated that they firmly believe that the Human Rights Commission is the appropriate place to take these concerns and not to the legislators. But until the ordinance passes, the Council is the only individuals to whom they can bring these concerns. Ms. Pittman thanked the Council for their time and patience that they 18