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CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK
<br /> Councilmember Tim Scott stated, Just to follow up on Councilmember Davis' comment, I think a
<br /> full training for Human Rights, too. They handle so much of this and I refer so many people to
<br /> Human Rights on it. The other thing, Committee Chair Broden, you are allotted time to 5:15 p.m.
<br /> If we don't hear from everybody now, it will all be heard tonight.
<br /> Councilmember Jake Teshka stated, I would like to make a point of clarification because some of
<br /> the arguments I've received that have been in opposition have to do with the potential future abuser
<br /> and what it looks like.Just to be clear,any changes to the framework of this must come back before
<br /> this body.
<br /> Ms. Fritzberg confirmed, I defer to legal experts but that is certainly my understanding. It's in the
<br /> ordinance. I would note, too, that there is a provision made in the proposal for a regular working
<br /> group to review the implementation of this program and that will certainly include Council
<br /> representation. We hope that will be a representative forum of renters, industry partners,
<br /> Administration, Council Members and community members that creates a framework for having
<br /> discussions around those, before any type of ordinance change is even offered.
<br /> Council President Scott informally discussed the legislation's state of substantive nature with
<br /> Committee Chair Broden, eventually confirming the proper substitute version was being
<br /> deliberated.
<br /> Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston stated, First, I want to thank you because you guys are
<br /> awesome, and you've done a lot of work with a lot of different groups,myself included and other
<br /> Council Members,in really getting at this issue. So, I appreciate the change in focus to really focus
<br /> on those most hazardous conditions and the things we already know of. When you were in front
<br /> of us before the Committee Meeting, I had asked a question about how this legislation helps us get
<br /> at those large complexes. I know that most of those complexes have government funding and they
<br /> have inspections that go a long with that. Those probably aren't in the 7,500, but just for
<br /> clarification, if there were referrals from the Health Department, that would then cue you guys to
<br /> check those out, right?
<br /> Ms. Fritzberg replied, That's correct. And, a tenant can call and make a complaint about an issue
<br /> at any time. With the way the practice is now, if we get a report of an issue in a unit, we are not
<br /> precluded to following up on that.
<br /> Councilmember Williams-Preston stated, Right. Then, in those big complexes, I think last time
<br /> you said if you get a complaint, you can only go to that one (1), currently, even if you know or
<br /> suspect that there are others? But, this legislation will allow you to, if you see a problem,
<br /> investigate the others and see if there are more?
<br /> Ms. Fritzberg confirmed, Yeah.
<br /> Councilmember Williams-Preston followed up, Excellent. Thank you. Then, you talk about the
<br /> group that is going to look at the progress. I'm just going to throw out there, The Racial Wealth
<br /> Divide Report has those ten (10) questions, there are some really good things in there that might
<br /> help us also focus on not just how this policy negatively impacts, but I think it would be a great
<br /> way to use those questions to report on how it will positively impact communities that are often
<br /> negatively impacted from various policies. So, I would love to see a part of this report out very
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