08-27-01 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 27, 2001 is a lucrative piece of property because of the upcoming Notre Dame football games. He noted that he will be able to park at least sixty -five (65) cars in the front yard and get paid for it. He wanted a commitment from each of the Councilmembers that the Department of Code Enforcement will not cite him. He noted that cars for the games have been parking in that area for thirty (30) or forty (40) years and he asked if he would be grand fathered. Mr. Clark noted that he will uproot from his residence on Olive Street and move over to a neighborhood where he can break the ordinance and it will not be a problem. He informed the Council that the Department of Code Enforcement sued him for twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) last year. Mr. Clark stated that the Council is drawing up a new ordinance and he asked that they read it very carefully because it says that a person cannot park an RV on the street. However, the Hall of Fame Road Show RV has been parked on the street for forty -five (45) days straight. He noted that the ordinance indicates that a vehicle must be moved every three (3) days. His vehicle was ticketed on Olive Street after only two (2) days but the Hall of Fame vehicle, which is a bus, continues to sit without being ticketed. In conclusion, Mr. Clark asked if he can move to the Notre Dame area and break all the ordinances because everyone else is doing it. Mr. Leon Stein, President Firefighters Local #362, 1122 South Main Street, South Bend, Indiana, noted that the firefighters finished their negotiations and their contract started at the beginning of this year. Based on the actions of the Police Department he asked if there was anything that the Firefighters can give back to get more money on their base pay. He noted that they ratified their contract and ended up with less money. Mr. Stein advised that he will submit his questions in writing to the City Clerk. The firefighers did have some ideas for which they can give back monies for a bigger increase on their salaries for the years 2003, and 2004. He noted that they supply drivers for the neo -natal and critical care for the hospitals. If that program is eliminated they will have those six (6) firefighters available and would not have to hire new firefighters next year. That would be a savings of four hundred fifty thousand dollars ($450,000.00) if that is started in 2002. Also, the Fire Department supplies EMS to St. Joseph County for which eighteen (18) firefighters were hired. If that contract is not renewed, there will be a nine hundred thousand dollar ($900,000.00) savings. He noted that members are paid a fee for being on the Hazardous Materials Response Team, Tactical Rescue Team and River Rescue Team. If those teams are eliminated, forty -three thousand two hundred dollars ($43,200.00) for Tactical Rescue and Haz -Mat and thirty -one thousand dollars ($31,000.00) for the River Rescue would be saved. Mr. Stein submitted his questions to the City Clerk for distribution to the Council. Mr. James Brien, Vice - President, Local #362, South Bend Firefighters, no address given, stated that there is a very interesting comparison between Police and Fire pension bases which the Council created. One thing they have been striving for and will continue to strive for is pension base parity. In 2002 the difference is one hundred forty -eight dollars ($148.00) between Police and Fire on the pension base. The next year it is six hundred fifty -four dollars ($654.00) and then a nine hundred seventy -eight dollar ($978.00) difference. The Police Department is getting more on their pension base than the Fire Department. One of the things they are going to look at very closely when they negotiate in 2005 is parity to the tune of three thousand two hundred six dollars ($3,206.00) that will be the difference in 2005 in the pension base between the departments. Sergeant Jim Wolfe, South Bend Police Department, 701 W. Sample Street, South Bend, Indiana, stated it is obvious where the FOP stands and how united they are. The vote reflects exactly what they have been striving for for the last there (3) months. They would like the Council to amend the salary ordinance to reflect what the bargaining team had negotiated for. He noted that they do not object to what the Corporals, Lieutenants and Sergeant are making and what they will make, but they ask that the Council amend it for the Patrolman at the 8.5 %. He further noted that it is going to cost the City four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000.00) to six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000.00) over the course of the four (4) year plan and the Council is available to find that money. Sergeant Wolfe stated that money can be re- allocated and switched around in order that it can be put towards Police pay which he believes they rightly deserve. Mr. Derek Dieter, 1135 Portage, South Bend, Indiana, stated that the recent vote had the largest turnout in the history of the Police Department for any wage negotiation vote. There was a seventy - seven per cent (77 %) rejection of the City's last offer as opposed to the City ordinance which is what they are going to get. There was a unity of the membership. A poll was also taken and over eighty-