Council moves disorderly-conduct ordinance to second reading after code cleanup

A councilmember introduced Ordinance 1616, a first reading amending Chapter 9.10 of the South Bend Municipal Code to clarify disorderly conduct and public-nuisance enforcement and to make clerical corrections. The presenter said the update removes local firearm-discharge language (noting the city adopts the Revised Code of Washington by reference) and moves fireworks violations out of the criminal-disorderly category and into the public-nuisance framework.

The presenter described the enforcement changes: “the firearms… shooting a firearm in the city is actually a gross misdemeanor. Our municipal code had it as a misdemeanor,” and said the fireworks language is now framed as a nuisance with penalties. The ordinance also adds authority to assess a $150 infraction for a first nuisance violation and a $250 infraction per day the property remains in violation, with escalation to criminal misdemeanor if the same violation recurs within 12 months. After questions about referencing state law, the council moved and seconded a motion to set Ordinance 1616 for a second reading; the motion was carried by a voice vote.