Bill No. 20-23 Ordinance Amending Chapter 6 & Replacing Article 14 Titled Rental Safety Verification Program

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Filed in Clerk's Office BILL NO. 20-23 APR 0 5 2023 DAWN M.JONES ORDINANCE NO. CITY CLERK,SOUTH BEND,IN AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA,AMENDING CHAPTER 6 OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE BY RESCINDING AND REPLACING ARTICLE 14 TITLED RENTAL SAFETY VERIFICATION PROGRAM STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT On February 25, 2019, the rental safety verification program (RSVP) was established by this Council's adoption of Ordinance No. 10644-19 to ensure safe, decent, quality residential rental units by requiring minimum property standards, and to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of tenants. On October 15, 2019, RSVP was amended by Ordinance No. 10686-19 to revise Sec.6-86(f)for an update to the City of South Bend accounting fund where RSVP penalties and fees are deposited. At this time, it is necessary to clarify and to improve efficiency of the program by rescinding and replacing Chapter 6, Article 14 of the South Bend Municipal Code. Among the specific changes to the existing ordinance are the following: 1. textual language clarification for better understanding and ease of use; 2. clearer definition of the process to ensure that it matches actual implementation including compliance with state law; 3.references to and clarification of building and other standards to be used for inspections; 4. adding to and improving the definitions; and 5. revision of the City's organizational structure of RSVP within the reorganized Department of Community of Investment. It is in the best interest of the City and its residents that this ordinance be adopted. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, as follows: SECTION I.Chapter 6 of the South Bend Municipal Code shall be and hereby is amended by rescinding the existent version of Article 14 of that Chapter and replacing it with a new Article 14 that shall read in its entirety as follows: ARTICLE 14. Rental Safety Verification Program Sec. 6-79. General Concept and Purpose of Rental Inspections. (a) The Rental Safety Verification Program(RSVP)is designed to ensure that City of South Bend rental units meet minimum property standards based on the International Property Maintenance Code and Indiana State Code IC 22-11-18, as defined by the RSVP Inspection Standards established by the Department and as amended from time to time, which are