A 3-2 Dowagiac City Council vote Monday night defeated a Building Department fee increase proposed to take effect April 1.

With Third Ward Councilman Dr. Charles Burling absent and First Ward representatives Lori Hunt and Junior Oliver opposed, Mayor Pro Tem Leon Laylin, James Dodd and Bob Schuur didn’t constitute the majority necessary to impose the new fee schedule.

City Manager Kevin Anderson reported that a “major restructuring” of fees took place in 2000.

“At that time it was determined that it would be appropriate to annually review and adjust fees in a manner similar to the reviews undertaken by other city departments for fees,” Anderson stated.

“It has been two years since the fee schedules have been revised. Proposed fee increases for this year are consistent with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the past 12 months, which is 1.5 percent with rounding to the nearest 25-cent increment.”

In other March 28 business, the council approved Southwest Michigan Planning Commission’s request for a bicycle safety program the tri-county agency in Benton Harbor has been promoting for three years.

Associate Planner Suzann Flowers will be at Dowagiac District Library April 7 for the program at 10:30 a.m.

“In the past, our local police departments have helped us run the obstacle course, fit bicycle helmets and register bicycles,” Flowers states. “I would also like to see if we could close a section of roadway near the library during the bicycle safety program so that we can insure the greatest degree of safety and practice area for our participants. The section of roadway that I am interested in is New York Avenue, between the corner of New York and Commercial and the library parking lot.”

Mayor Donald D. Lyons proclaimed “Green Michiana Month” in June along with Indiana University South Bend and other Michiana communities to promote sustainability.

The mission of IUSB’s Center for a Sustainable Future is to provide awareness, education and capacity-building concerning all things sustainable.

Earth Day falls on April 22.