Encouraging the City to Development a "Mow to Own" Program

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RESOLUTION NO. S(3 'ISM A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, ENCOURAGING THE CITY TO DEVELOP A "MOW TO OWN" PROGRAM v/�7eerare, the South Bend Common Council notes that on July 13, 2015, Resolution No. 4474-15 was adopted by the Council. It recommended that a "tall grass/weed abatement pilot program focusing on providing youth with working opportunities and life skills training and development..."and was approved by the Mayor on July 14, 2015; and Olciamei, the pilot program addressed in Resolution No. 4474-15 is under the"jurisdiction of the Department of Code Enforcement"with an update from that Department to be shared with the Common Council's Health and Public Safety Committee during November of 2015; and • tea, South Bend, like many other communities are addressing the many problems associated with vacant and abandoned properties; and one program which has begun in the City of Memphis, Tennessee, would permit the owner(s) of real estate which adjoin a vacant lot owned by the City or Shelby County to mow that government-owned property and eventually take ownership of the vacant property; and OCao, attached to this Resolution are copies of the initial Memphis City Council Resolution,as well as their 5-page ordinance creating a"Mow to Own Program"which addresses: 1. Program Eligibility 2. Application Requirements 3. Memorandum of Understanding 4. Approval and Implementation .dorm', .r/e P074 le a refal a 4 S ?anion tom/104e c r jrnetda&rend, Yneana, Wallowd: Section I. The South Bend Common Council believes that viable programs such as the one being developed in Memphis, Tennessee, addressing a "Mow to Own Program" should be carefully studied, to see if it would be feasible for the City of South Bend. Section II. Recognizing that state laws may be different,by moving forward to explore a similar "Mow to Own" concept in South Bend at this time, may result in State Senators and State Representatives, who represent our area of the state, to collaborate with local public officials and concerned citizens so that proposed legislation, if determined to be necessary would be introduced for the next session of the Indiana General Assembly.