HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012 Annual Report - Residential Neighborhoods Committee The South Bend Common Council Annual Report for the Residential Neighborhoods Committee
Date:12/6/2012
To: The South Bend Common Council The office of the Clerk
From:Tim Scott, 15t District Common Council Representative-Chairperson
I am pleased to file this 2012 Annual Report of the Council Residential Neighborhoods Committee in
order to comply with Section 2-10(i)of the South Bend Municipal Code.That Code provision requires all
Standing Committee Chairpersons to file an Annual Report with the Office of the City Clerk by the 2nd
Monday of December.As noted at the November 26th Common Council meeting,the deadline for filing
all of these reports is Monday, December 10, 2012.
Duties:
The Council Residential Neighborhoods Committee oversees the various activities related to
neighborhood development&enhancement.
2012 Committee Members:
• Karen L.White,Vice-Chairperson-At-Large Common Council
• Dr. Fred Ferlic,4th District Common Council
• Oliver Davis, 6th District Common Council
• Ken Bradford, Citizen Member
• Jen Tindell, Citizen Member
Committee Meetings and Highlights:
To date the Residential Neighborhoods Committee met four times in 2012 and held public hearings on
the following issues:
Rev.Sylvester Williams,Jr.spoke on the possibility of an adaptive reuse of the old Marquette School
into a senior center.
• The Committee held a joint hearing with the Health and Public Safety Committee on the
concerns of high police, rescue and code enforcement calls to Court Yard Place Apartments.As
of February, Court Yard Place (CYP)was on pace for close to 1,000 calls for service. Expending
much of the City's time and resources; many on council,within the city departments and
residents are concerned about safety around CYP. Chief Boykins reported of the concern.The
property owner's attorney was present to listen and not report to council. The owner agreed to
meet with the City and members of the two committees.
• The committee met to discuss future legislation around quality of life issues such as nuisance
properties, increase police presence in neighborhoods,vacant and abandoned housing and the
continued work on a landlord registration bill proposed by the Neighborhood Resources
Commission.
• The committee heard an update on the Mayor's Vacant and Abandoned Housing Task Force.
Tim Scott also serves on the Task Force and gave an overview of the work the Task Force had
completed by August.Jim Kelly,Vice-Chair of the Task Force, also reported on the Task Force.To
date the Task Force developed a model to efficiently identify houses for demolition as well as for
rehabilitation.The Task force held several public hearings throughout the city. Questions were
asked of the objectivity of the scoring system for demo/rehab.The first steps are to demolish
those houses beyond rehabilitation. Establishing a land bank system to deal with and move
those homes that can be rehabilitation will enable the city to a receivership that can turn the
properties around.As of the writing of this report,the Task Force has not released the final
report.
• The final meeting of the Residential Neighborhoods Committee was in November to hear an up-
date on Court Yard Place.Since the last hearing on CYP, it is in receivership,security has been
doubled and calls for service have dropped by 75%. While it is still a safety issue the receiver
continues to make improvements.The Council will take a "wait-and-see" approach while a new
owner steps forward.
I would like to thank our Citizen Members, Ken Bradford and Jennifer Tindell for their participation on
this committee. Both were two of many that applied for the committee.Citizen involvement is what
makes our government stronger and transparent for all. I also want to thank my Council colleagues for
their input and guidance during this first year.Thank you to Kathy Cekanski-Farrand,John Voorde, Mary
Beth Wisniewski and Janice Talboom for their support.Thank you to all the City Department heads and
personnel that came and contributed to this committee and for sharing their acknowledgement and
experience so we can be informed and make the best decisions for the all within the City of South Bend.
Thank you.
Respectfully Submitted,
Tim Scott
Residential Neighborhoods Committee Chairperson
1St District Council Member
Flied In ww ' Y Offi Office
DEC 102012
JOHN FVOOHOE
CITY CLERK,$oR rr END,IN