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k-Aty of South Bend 1965 x 441 County-City Building . 227W.Jefferson Blvd (574) 235-9321 South Bend,Indiana 46601-1830 Fax (574) 235-9173 March 15, 2013 hnp:llwww.southbendin.gov Derek D. Dieter President Members of the Common Council Oliver J. Davis 4th Floor County-City Building Vice-President South Bend, Indiana 46601 KareD L. White Re: Proposed Ordinance Addressing Accountability of Government Actions on Chairperson, ComfDittee Buildings Declared Vacant or Abandoned of the Whole Tim Scott Dear Council Members: First District I am pleased to introduce for your consideration, the attached ordinance which is Henry Davis, Jr. aimed to bring greater accountability of tax dollars proposed to be used on vacant & Second District abandoned properties, as well as the overall process involving properties proposed to be demolished by the City of South Bend. Valerie Scbey Third District In a front-page article which appeared in the Sunday, March 10, 2013 South Bend Tribune entitled "50 (Almost) Down, 950 To Go", a picture of a wrecking ball Fred Ferlic Fourth District depicted the number of"Demolitions between 2008-2012": David Varner 2008 185 Fifth District 2009 118 2010 141 Oliver J. Davis, 2011 25 Sixth District 2012 120 Derek D. Dieter The above-listed demolition numbers from 2008 through 2011 were part of former At Large Mayor Luecke's May 29, 2007 announcement that "...a three-year $6.825 million Gavin Ferlic strategy to reduce the City's vacant houses by more than one-fifth, with the At Large primary focus aimed at reducing abandoned houses by 72%"would be moving forward. Karen L. White At Large I am attaching a map provided to the Common Council by the former City Administration in late 2007. It depicts vacant & abandoned structures as of 2006 in the City of South Bend, and "Calls for Service" showing five (5) levels of service ranging from "absence or insignificant level, approaching negligible level,just below concern level, reaching concern level, serious level to urgent level". That map alone highlights the critical need for a well thought out and comprehensive plan to address the multi-faceted neighborhood issues which may be compounded by vacant & abandoned buildings.