2011 Annual Report - Health & Public Safety Committee

Home Browse Search

2011 Health and Public Safety Committee Annual Report December 2, 2011 Page 2 • Discussion of the Committee's priorities — at our February 11, 2011 Committee meeting, we agreed that action on the following topics should be top priorities: improving the taxicab regulations; develop a tracking mechanism which would be regularly and systematically implemented by the Office of the City Clerk; draft a cost recovery fee ordinance for the South Bend Fire Department; and reviewing the massage parlor licensing ordinance and potential regulations addressing mini -marts • Following a multitude of discussion of the City Administration's recommendations and many Committee meetings the Committee recommended to amend the City's current taxicab regulations, which were then approved by the South bend Common Council • Multiple meetings and discussion of the City Administration's recommendations to address a graffiti removal and awareness program • Meetings to discuss neighborhood quality of life issues • Meeting to discuss illegal dumping issues and requesting the City Administration to come up with a sustainable plan to address • Receiving a presentation on the proposed South Bend Animal Care and Control Shelter which was held at Kennedy Academy which is located at 609 North Olive Street Challenges for Calendar Year 2012 If I remain the Chairperson of the Council's Health and Public Safety Committee, I would plan to meet early in the year with the Committee to proposed committee goals and objectives which should be priorities in 2012. As Chairperson of the Health and Public Safety Committee, I have had the opportunity to serve on the City's Advisory Negotiating Team. 2012 will be a negotiating year with union representatives for the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge # 36, who represent the sworn members of the South Bend Police Department. It will also be a negotiating year with union representatives for the South Bend Firefighter's Association Local No. 362 of the International Association of Firefighters AFL -CIO, who represent the sworn members of the South Bend Fire Department. In light of a new Mayor and potentially new department heads taking office on January 1, 2012, I believe it is important to have persons who have proven experience to be part of the City's Negotiating Teams. Positive negotiations addressing the many details involved with public safety sector wages and monetary fringe benefits will be critical to working to reach a tentative agreement and a total package which is fair and affordable to the city taxpayers. These labor negotiations should also generate goodwill by providing a unique opportunity to educate both sides of the table and the individuals which both teams represent.