04-08-02 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING APRIL 8, 2002 APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET. PART SITUATED IN HARTMAN AND MILLER'S PLAT IN THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA .,..,.... . Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski - Farrand advised that this is an old bill that is being reactivated and should be sent to the Public Works and Property Vacation Committee and set for Public Hearing and Third Reading on April 22, 2002. Therefore, Councilmember Pfeifer made, a motion to send this bill to the Public Works and Property Vacation Committee and set it for Public Hearing and Third Reading on April 22, 2002. Councilmember Coleman seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. NEW BUSINESS ANNOUNCEMENT OF MEETINGS CONCERNING WESTSIDE Councilmember Pfeifer indicated that she, along with Councilmembers Ujdak, Aranowski and White are meeting with Mr. Jon Hunt and addressing community concerns about economic development and retail on the west side and they will keep the public updated. REQUEST FOR REVIEW OF LITTER LAWS Councilmember Varner advised that he has received concerns from constituents who have noticed a lot of trash and litter since the winter thaw. He requested that Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski provide an update on the status of the local litter law and its enforcement mechanism. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR REQUEST OF FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL #362 FOR SALARY INCREASE Mr. Kenneth Marks, President, South Bend Firefighters Local #362, 1121 South Main Street, South Bend, Indiana, reminded Council members that at the last meeting the Mayor requested and the Council agreed that Bill No. 17 -02 be passed which would free up $1.4 million to be used for street improvements and raises for other personnel. Mr. Marks noted that he, as well as other firefighters, are present this evening to ask the Council for an additional two per cent (2 %) raise across the board for the men and women of the South Bend Fire Department. They are asking that this raise be initiated by June 1, 2002 with additional one per cent (1 %) raises for the years 2003 and 2004. Mr. Marks reminded members of the Council that they are currently under a four (4) year contract but in dealing with a four (4) year contract the big picture must be looked at and that includes cost of living. He noted that the Mayor was able to come before the Council because of House Bill No. 1138 which was designed so that municipalities could free up funds to pay the public emergency personnel better wages and he asked that the Council not violate the spirit of this particular bill as it was intended. Mr. Marks advised that the Mayor indicated that these funds would be used for the street department and inquired what would happen to those funds that were previously allocated for the street department road improvements. Mr. Marks asked that the Council act expeditiously on this request and give it serious consideration. He suggested that they can simply say no, they can work out a Letter of Agreement or they can open the contract. -20- 1 1 n