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RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE FEBRUARY 24.2014 2:30 P.M. <br />Committee Members Present: Karen White, Tim Scott, Henry Davis, Gavin Ferlic (AB) <br />Other Council Present: Valerie Schey (AB), Dr. Fred Ferlic (AB), Dr. David Varner (AB), <br />Oliver Davis, Derek Dieter (AB) <br />Others Present: John Voorde, Kathy Cekanski - Farrand <br />Agenda: Organizational Meeting <br />The Residential Neighborhoods Committee was called to order by Chairperson Karen White with a <br />quorum present to discuss goals and objectives of the Committee for 2014. <br />To facilitate the process, Karen provided Committee members with an outline for discussion along with <br />an informative piece detailing eight elements of a great neighborhood. (Attached) <br />Karen opened asking Tim Scott, last year's Chair to review the Committee activity in 2013. Tim <br />recounted four Committee meetings focusing on three major issues: <br />1. Vacant & Abandoned Houses. <br />2. Crime / Safety concerns <br />3. Chronic nuisance properties. <br />Before asking each Councilmember for their input, Karen described the overall mission of the Council <br />was to improve the quality of life for its residents in neighborhoods seen as the heart of the community. <br />She then asked Committee member Henry Davis for input. <br />Henry had several potentially positive suggestions. Among them was starting a rental housing <br />registration inspection program. He cited similar programs in Indianapolis, Kokomo and Bloomington <br />already in place. Henry also made suggestion for a housing TIF to encourage reinvestment in <br />neighborhoods. He referred to these as "promise zones ". <br />Tim Scott, inturn, suggested a "Light up South Bend" Program. He advocated for a complete streetlight <br />inventory, a rapid response to outages, and additional lights in many areas across the City to discourage <br />crime. <br />Karen added that "quality of life" issues should be paramount pledging to see that reflected through the <br />budget process. <br />Kathy Cekanski - Farrand, Council Attorney, suggested that vacant lots created by vacant and abandoned <br />housing demolitions be utilized as "pocket parking" parcels where needed to alleviate on street parking. <br />Karen adjourned at 3:04 P.M. after summary comments. <br />