04-16-12 Residential Neighborhoods Committee

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RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE APRIL 16, 2012 Committee Members Present: Tim Scott, Karen White, Dr. Ferlic Citizen Members: Jen Tindell, Ken Bradford Other Council Members Present: Henry Davis, Jr., Gavin Ferlic Others Present: Pam Meyer, Kevin Allen, Gary Gilot, Cather Toppel, Kathy Cekanski- Farrand, Kyle Chamberlin Agenda:, Residential Neighborhoods "Kick -Off' Tim Scott, Chairperson of the Residential Neighborhoods Committee, with a quorum present opened the hearing he billed as a "kick off." He explained the purpose was to set an agenda reflecting the challenges facing South Bend's neighborhoods. By reviewing current approaches, evaluating new ideas, reviewing "best practices" from other cities, and assigning priorities tangible progress hopefully would result. Basically Tim hopes to identify concerns and set a map for addressing them. Tim opened discussion by listing six points. Number one was the need to review the nuisance ordinance. It is strong enough? Who enforces it? What are the costs of enforcement? How cold costs be recovered? Everyone weighed in on this one. Dr. Ferlic advocated a tougher coordinated enforcement approach with improved communication among city departments and the Council. Basically a who's doing what, when, where and how can "teeth" be put in the nuisance ordinance Citizen member Jen Tindelll said slumlords need to be targeted. Henry Davis felt an increased police presence in the neighborhoods would help. He suggested a good start would be a review of the quality of life ordinance already on the books. Ken Bradford wondered if other cities had success in attaching similar problems. Jen Tindell added her feelings that banks who own many vacant houses need to be brought to bear in maintaining property they own. Gary Gilot cautioned against a tough negative enforcement approach that might increase abandonment of properties. He proposed using a carrot as well as a stick!