Mayor Dan Canan says trash, parking and noise are the three key concerns that Ball State University students bring to the community. Tonight, the Muncie City Council will discuss a proposed amendment to the noise ordinance, but the recent parking ordinances are not on the agenda, even though they are on the minds of students and residents. The parking ordinances will only be discussed if a community member brings them up at the end of the meeting.
One thing is for sure: The Muncie City Council will vote on the introduction of an amendment to curtail loud parties in city neighborhoods.
"I look for the place to be packed," Chuck Leonard, City Council vice president, said.
Leonard said tonight's agenda is full of issues that affect many students and local residents. The council will discuss a proposed amendment that would allow police to track repeat noise ordinance offenders and enforce a $250 fine for first-time disturbances after properties are labeled as "no party properties." Some officials believe the current noise ordinance does not provide an adequate tracking system for repeat offenders. If introduced, the vote on the amendment will take place at the council's Oct. 3 meeting, council member Allison Quirk said.
Leonard said calling the current ordinance inadequate is a "false statement," and he will question why the original ordinance is not being enforced.
"I've looked at the records, and [the judge] never ruled against a noise ordinance," Leonard said. "When I talked to the police, they said the judge didn't want tickets written because a decibel meter wasn't used."
Leonard said the council should amend the original ordinance by bringing the fourth offense down from $2,500 to between $750 and $1,000 instead of passing a "no party properties" amendment.
In early June, the City Council passed three parking ordinances that changed restrictions on 35 roads near campus, making two-hour parking available on one side from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday on 25 of the roads, and totally restricting parking on 10 of the roads. The ordinances, however, did not go into effect on Aug. 15 as was planned because officials raised questions as to which sides of certain streets would be no-parking zones.
"I understand why people are unhappy," Leonard said. "They've lived in the same house for 20 to 30 years, and now they are being told they can't park in front of their house like they've done for the past 20 to 30 years."
Quirk said the council isn't addressing the issue.
"The public may try to discuss it, but it's not on our agenda," Quirk said.
Off-campus parking is a huge issue for Muncie because it "encompasses such a big area that it becomes a manpower problem," Leonard said.
"Only four people work on parking citations for the city of Muncie, and BSU isn't coinciding their efforts with ours," he said. "You can't just make an ordinance for houses and not vehicular movement."
Steve Geraci, Student Government Association president, said Friday during a meeting of the Mayor's Commission on Ball State Student Relations that he supports the party noise amendment, even though he initially was against it because, at first, he had incorrect information. Geraci encouraged students to attend tonight's meeting and voice their opinions on the amendment.
"It's a big deal if 10 [or] 15 students show up on an issue," he said. "It is noticed by the City Council."
Mayor Dan Canan said Friday that students often are not engaged in such issues because they either don't read about them or don't realize how they affect students.
"Very rarely does Ball State show up at a City Council meeting," Canan said.
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