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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-10-2026 Health and Public Safety Committee Minutes OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK BIANCA L. TIRADO, CITY CLERK INTEGRITY | SERVICE | ACCESSIBILITY Jasmine Jackson Matthew Neal Veronica Pitt-Payne CHIEF DEPUTY CITY CLERK / CHIEF OF STAFF DEPUTY CITY CLERK / DIRECTOR OF POLICY DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS EXCELLENCE | ACCOUNTABILITY | INNOVATION | INCLUSION | EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall | 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. | South Bend, Indiana 46601 | p. 574.235.9221 | f. 574.235.9173 | www.southbendin.gov HEALTH & PUBLIC SAFETY AUGUST 10, 2026, 4:30 P.M. Committee Members Present: Dr. Oliver Davis, Savino Rivera Jr.*, Brittney Erp, Dr. Heidi Beidinger, Sharon McBride Committee Members Absent: Sheila Niezgodski, Rachel Tomas Morgan Other Council Present: Canneth Lee, Karen L. White, Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers, Sherry Bolden-Simpson Others Present: Bianca L. Tirado, Matthew Neal, Jasmine Jackson, Lari’onna Green, Veronica Pitt- Payne, Bob Palmer Presenters: Jenna Throw Agenda: Bill No. 39-26 - Repealing Chapter 5 of the South Bend Municipal Code Entitled Responsible Animal and Pet Ownership Care and Control Regulations, and Replacing it With a New Chapter 5 Entitled Animal Care Regulations and Welfare Enforcement (Substitute) Members marked with an asterisk (*) are in virtual attendance via Microsoft Teams. Please note the attached link for the meeting recording: https://docs.southbendin.gov/WebLink/browse.aspx?dbid=0&mediaid=412049 Committee Vice Chair Sharon McBride called to order the Health and Public Safety Committee meeting at 4:37 P.M. Bill No. 39-26 - Repealing Chapter 5 of the South Bend Municipal Code Entitled Responsible Animal and Pet Ownership Care and Control Regulations, and Replacing it With a New Chapter 5 Entitled Animal Care Regulations and Welfare Enforcement (Substitute) EXCELLENCE | ACCOUNTABILITY | INNOVATION | INCLUSION | EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall | 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. | South Bend, Indiana 46601 | p. 574.235.9221 | f. 574.235.9173 | www.southbendin.gov Committee Member Dr. Oliver Davis moved to accept Substitute Bill No. 39-26, which was seconded by Committee Member Dr. Heidi Beidinger and carried by a vote of five (5) ayes with two (2) Committee Members absent. Committee Chair Rachel Tomas Morgan – Absent Committee Vice Chair Sharon McBride – Aye Committee Member Sheila Niezgodski – Absent Committee Member Dr. Heidi Beidinger – Aye Committee Member Dr. Oliver Davis – Aye Citizen Member Savino Rivera Jr. – Aye Citizen Member Brittney Erp – Aye Jenna Throw, City Attorney, with offices on the sixth (6th) floor of City Hall, South Bend, IN 46601, presented the bill. She noted that the Committee discussed the bill during their last meeting and will vote on the bill tonight. She summarized the new Chapter Five (5) of the Municipal Code and stated that the proposed changes improve clarity, align the ordinance with current practice, and strengthen the City’s ability to protect animal welfare. She stated that Chapter Five (5) was reorganized into articles to improve the flow of the ordinance and group related requirements together, making it easier for residents and SBARC staff to find relevant information. She explained that the animal care standards were expanded to clarify requirements for shelter, adequate space, veterinary care, and protection from extreme weather. She said these standards are intended to help SBARC staff identify mistreatment and neglect, support timely enforcement action, and educate the public on responsible animal ownership. She noted that the standards apply to both domestic and permitted animals. She stated that the permitting and licensing framework was standardized across regulated activities to ensure consistent language. She said the expanded framework also grants SBARC inspection authority for permitted uses and establishes health and recordkeeping requirements. She explained revisions to the animal designation system, which now clearly define the criteria, procedures, and outcomes for each designation tier: "public nuisance," "dangerous," and "vicious." She introduced the Regulated Animal Possession Permit, a new enforcement tool for owners with repeated or high-risk violations, which would replace the Habitual Animal Offender designation. She said these permits can come with individualized conditions, such as limits on the number of animals owned, mandatory training, or inspections, and they may be denied for extreme offenses. She described other changes that were made to strengthen enforcement and due process in Animal Welfare Commission proceedings. The new language clarifies authority for investigations, inspections, and impoundments and establishes hearing procedures, notice and appeal rights, and evidentiary standards. She added that licensing and impoundment procedures were codified to align the ordinance with SBARC’s current operational practice, and other changes were made to improve readability and incorporate plain language. Finally, she summarized feedback from the Animal Welfare Commission that was incorporated into the substitute bill. Committee Vice Chair McBride held the public hearing, and nobody spoke. Committee Member Dr. Davis thanked Attorney Throw and acknowledged the work that went into drafting the ordinance. EXCELLENCE | ACCOUNTABILITY | INNOVATION | INCLUSION | EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall | 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. | South Bend, Indiana 46601 | p. 574.235.9221 | f. 574.235.9173 | www.southbendin.gov Committee Member Dr. Davis moved to send Substitute Bill No. 39-26 to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation, which was seconded by Committee Member Dr. Beidinger and carried by a vote of five (5) ayes with two (2) Committee Members absent. Committee Chair Rachel Tomas Morgan – Absent Committee Vice Chair Sharon McBride – Aye Committee Member Sheila Niezgodski – Absent Committee Member Dr. Heidi Beidinger – Aye Committee Member Dr. Oliver Davis – Aye Citizen Member Savino Rivera Jr. – Aye Citizen Member Brittney Erp – Aye With no further business, Committee Vice Chair McBride adjourned the Health and Public Safety Committee meeting at 4:49 P.M. Respectfully Submitted, Sharon McBride, Committee Vice Chair