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neighborhood, their customers wouldn't have anybody to turn to. They started Rage Customs <br />with nine (9) employees. They're down to two (2) because when their employees would come to <br />their job and park legally within the street parking the city recently put up, Code Enforcement <br />would issue them citations, and they would tell these employees that unless you move your car <br />we're going to issue you a $1,500 fine. Mr. Rice made an arrangement to allow his employees to <br />park in a neighbor's private driveway, and it didn't stop Code Enforcement from citing cars <br />there. When the employees went to park, they were told their cars would be towed. <br />The local, South Bend workers who quit formed the impression that Code Enforcement was out <br />to get us. You're talking about fines and fees for people who haven't complied, but I suggest <br />that the problem is that Code Enforcement isn't even trying to get people to comply. The <br />ordinance requires that if there is a nuisance, they should provide the property owner a <br />reasonable time to abate the nuisance. I don't think that's happening anymore. You don't need <br />to raise fees, you can solve this with good old fashion neighborliness and prudent use of <br />government. <br />You have one code inspector for every 12,500 people. How could so many of them be focusing <br />on one little business? It drives the hurt feelings of everyone who feel like they're being picked <br />on. Government has such power, please use it judiciously. Work with the businesses to help <br />them grow. There's a better way of doing business, folks. <br />Osee Brazer asked if we are talking about our own issues with code, or about the bills that were <br />mentioned. <br />Council Attorney Cekanski - Farrand stated that the legal notice was on the two bills. <br />Chairperson Voorde stated that we have to restrict ourselves to the proposals. <br />Councilmember Preston stated that if you have a story related to exorbitant costs, that's <br />appropriate. <br />Chairperson Voorde announced that there was a half hour to 45 minutes before he had to leave. <br />Osee Brazer, 1612 Lincolnway West with Women's Outreach, was given property at 522 Allen <br />St. for the women's program of having disadvantaged women in the community live there. When <br />we got the house it needed some repairs and the gentleman who was supposed to do the back <br />taxes did not do his part so they ended up doing the back taxes. Her organization then made an <br />agreement with Code Enforcement to fix up the house but if they did not meet the deadlines that <br />Code Enforcement set they were penalized and it got so bad that the civil penalties became more <br />expensive than the taxes on the house. Being a non - profit they depend on donations and making <br />those deadlines was very difficult. Her non -profit was not even able to keep the house because <br />the expenses from repairing the house, back taxes and paying these fees to Code Enforcement <br />was too much for them and had to lose the house. She claimed they tried to come to some <br />agreement with Code Enforcement but they didn't want to change the initial agreement. We were <br />just trying to help these women get low income housing to get them on their feet. <br />4 <br />