10-09-78 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 91 1978 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED) She made a motion to amend this bill in Section 2 -47, paragraph 1, by changing December 31, 1979, to January 1, 1979; paragraph 2 be changed from 30 cents to 22 cents, and after the word terms, add until July 1, 1979; paragraph 3 be changed from 30 cents to 17 cents, seconded by Council Member Kopczynski. Council Member Miller indicated he was concerned about the hardship that will be created for some employees. He indicated he would prefer giving the Administration until July 1, to reduce the fleet, and give a mileage allowance of 22 cents for the first year. He made a motion to amend the amendment in Section 2 -47, paragraph 1, to change the date to July 1, 1979; paragraph 2, change the rate to 33 cents; paragraph 3 change to 22 cents, seconded by Council Member Serge. Mr. Mullen indicated he would much prefer reducing the fleet by more than twenty cars and keeping the mileage rate at 30 cents. Council Member Horvath indicated he did not feel the City should subsidize any employee. Council President Parent indicated he could not vote for this bill. Council Member Kopczynski indicated that some employees abuse the City - owned vehicles, and those persons should not be assigned a car. A roll call vote on the motion ti amend the motion failed by a vote of four ayes and five nays (Council Members Taylor, Kopczynski, Adams, Horvath and Parent.) Council Member Adams made a motion to amend Section 2 -47, paragraph 1, by changing the date from December 31, 1979, to January 1, 1979, paragraph 2, change the amount from 30 cents to 22 cents; paragraph 3, change to read "Until July 1, 1979, those in- dividuals who revert to personal car usage for City business will be paid 22 cents per mile for the first 5,000 miles and 17 cents per mile thereafter," and eliminate paragraph 6, seconded by Council Member Kopczynski. The motion carried. Council Member Taylor made a motion to recommend this bill to the Council favorable, as amended, seconded by Council Member Adams. The motion carried. BILL NO. 195 -78 A BILL ESTABLISHING A USER FEE FOR THE USE OF AMBULANCE /MEDICAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, THROUGH ITS "PARAMEDIC BRANCH OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. Peter Mullen, City Controller, made the presentation for the bill. He indicated that because the service is provided without charge, it was estimated that at least one -third of the ambulance runs are either for taxi service or non - emergency. He indicated they felt these calls would be eliminated if there was a charge for this service. He indicated they were requesting a charge of $35 for all ambulance runs, except for senior citizens who will be charged $20. Mr. Lester Fox, of REAL Services, spoke in favor of a users fee. He indicated he would recommend that there be an established fee for all users, however, if there is no third party payment, the older adults should not be charged, since they would deny them- selves of using this service when it was needed. Mr. Jim Beck, 1630 Randolph, indicated that he was aware of the abuse some citizens have made of the ambulance service, however, most of the citizens do not have insurance to pay this fee. Mr. Paul Bognar, 807 W. Washington, indicated that the City has expensive paramedic units making tax runs, and a users fee would eliminate this problem. Council President Parent made a motion to amend this bill in Section II, as follows: "There will be no user fee for services rendered to "senior citizens" over the age of 65 years, by the City of South Bend, Indiana, through its Ambulance /Paramedic Service of the Fire Depart- ment.", seconded by Council Member Kopczynski. Council Member Szymkowiak made a motion that this apply only to citizens of South Bend. The motion failed for lack of a second. Council Member Adams read a report on the insurance coverage of major employers in the area. She made a motion to recommend this bill to the Council unfavorable, seconded by Council Member Kopczynski, The motion failed. Council Member Taylor indicated that the City was facing a deficit next year and benefits are going to have to be cut. Council Member Kopczynski indicated that the Council should put top priority on services that can be used by all people. Council Member Serge in- dicated that the surrounding cities have a fee for this service. Council Member Miller made a motion to amend Section II, as amended by adding "if there is no third party payment." Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski - Farrand indicated third party could be construed in many ways. Council Member Taylor made a motion to recess to discuss this matter, seconded by Council Member Dombrowski. The motion carried and the meeting was recessed at 8:15 p.m., and reconvened at 8:30 p.m. Council Member Taylor made a motion to refer this matter to the Administration and Finance Committee and continue it until the next meeting, seconded by Council Member Dombrowski. The motion carried. There being no further business to come before the Committee of the Whole, Council Member Serge made a motion to rise and report to the Council, seconded by Council Member Dombrowski. The motion carried. ATTEST: ATTEST: City Clerk REGULAR MEETING RECONVENED Chairman Be it remembered that the regular meeting of the Common Council of the City of South Bend re- convened in the Council Chambers on the fourth fllor of the County -City Building at 8:30 p.m., Council President Parent presiding and nine members present. BILLS, SECOND READING ORDINANCE NO. 6465 -78 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 4990 -68, AS AMENDED, COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA (CHAPTER 21, MUNICIPAL CODE) (1825 S. MAGNOLIA STREET.) This bill had second reading. Council Member Adams made a motion to pass this bill, seconded by Council Member Dombrowski. The bill passed by a roll call vote of nine ayes.