HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-12-24 Residential Neighborhoods (Signed)..
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RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS FEBRUARY 12, 2024 4:15 P .M.
Committee Members Present:
Committee Members Absent:
Other Council Present:
Others Present:
Presenters:
Agenda :
Karen L. White , Canneth Lee , Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers ,
Sheila Niezgodski and Citizen Member Amika Micou
Rachel Tomas Morgan , Dr. Oliver Davis , Troy Warner,
Sherry Bolden-Simpson
Bianca L. Tirado , Danica Kulemeka, Elivet Quijada-
Navarro , Victoria Stowell , Jenna Throw
Caleb Baur, Li z Maradik
Organi zational Meeting
Update-Neighborhood Health & Housing, Department of
Community Investment
Committee Chair Karen L. White called to order the Residential Neighborhoods meeting at
4:22p .m. She gave a brief overview of the agenda and then proceeded to the Organizational
Meeting.
Please note the attached link for the meeting recording:
https://docs.southbendin.gov/WebLink/browse.aspx?dbid=0&mediaid=380566
Organizational Meeting
Chair White gave Committee Members the 2023 Residential Neighborhood reports for
reference . Chair White said another meeting will be scheduled to plan and outline objectives for
2024.
Chair White then asked Committee members if they had any questions about the organizational
meeting or the 2023 report.
Update-Neighborhood Health & Housing, Department of Community Investment
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Chair White brought forward this update from the Administration's Department of Community
Investment. The issue of lawn parking, illegal parking and blocking alleys was raised by Citizen
Members in 2023. This is the first ( 1) of three (3) planned meetings on the topic.
Caleb Baur, Director of Community Investment, with offices on the 14 th Floor of the County-
City Building and Liz Maradik, Chief Neighborhoods Officer, with offices on the 13 th Floor
both presented.
Liz Maradik, gave a brief explanation of the structure of the office of Community Investment,
explaining the five (5) divisions: Growth & Opportunity, Engagement & Economic
Empowerment, Neighborhoods, Planning & Community Resources and Sustainability. As Chief
Neighborhoods Officer, she oversees the Neighborhoods division. This division is broken down
into four (4) sub-teams: Federal Grants Management, South Bend Animal Resource Center,
Neighborhood Health & Housing and Neighborhood Services and Enforcement Team.
Liz Maradik, discussed the various inspectors in the Neighborhood Department. Environmental
Inspectors, handle all quality-of-life ordinance enforcement including parking violations and
abandoned vehicles. Per the Ordinance, a vehicle must be deemed abandoned. A vehicle can be
deemed abandoned if: it is located on public property illegally, it's a hazard or obstruction on a
right of way, it's located on private property without owner's consent for more than forty-eight
( 48) hours, its partially dismantled on public property, its over three (3) years old and its
mechanically inoperable on private property for more than twenty (20) days, or it's located on
public property without a license plate.
If a vehicle is deemed abandoned , they will be tagged to establish a timeframe for removal. A
red tag for vehicles on public property which is a three-day (3) timeframe. For private properties
it's a yellow tag in which twenty (20) days needs to be given. After the timeframe an inspector
will go out to the area to see if the vehicle remains in the area unmoved; if the vehicle is not
moved it will be towed by a private tow company .
The inspectors also handle various parking violations including vacant lot parking, lawn
parking, parking on sidewalks, blocking alleys, parking within fifteen (15) feet of a fire hydrant,
improper storage, and parking commercial vehicles in a residential zone. Generally, a warning
notice is provided to set a timeframe to correct the violation. Once the timeframe passes an
inspector will reinspect to determine if the same vehicle remains in violation. If the same
vehicle is still in violation a ticket is issued; every day is a new violation and tickets are issued
weekly until resolved. Under the current ordinance, the City does not have the authority to tow a
vehicle for parking violations. If a vehicle is a safety risk or hazard it is referred to the police
department for evaluation and potentially tow. If the owner fails to address violation tickets and
fines will be sent to collections and continued non-compliance it can be escalated to the Legal
Department.
Chair White thanked the presenters and then moved for questions from the Committee
members.
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455 County-City Building 227W. Jefferson Bvld Sou t h Bend. lndiana46601 p 574.235.922 1 f574.235.9173 TTD 574.235.5567 www.southbendi n.gov
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Councilwomen Niezgodski requested the number of inspectors for the RSVP and
Environmental inspectors.
Liz Maradik explained that there 's four (4) positions for RSVP , two (2) are filled. There are six
( 6) Environmental inspectors .
Councilwomen Niezgodski asked for clarification on lawn parking and what the timeframe of
the warning and if they keep repeating it what is the process of giving them a fine if they keep
gaming the system .
Liz Maradik stated that inspectors have a dedicated area. So they know the area well and if
someone continues to park on their lawn after a warning then they can issue a ticket.
Councilwomen Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers requested an explanation of the process of inspection
of lawn parking if the issue only occurs in the evenings.
Liz Maradik stated that there is no enforcement after hours.
Councilwomen Gooden-Rodgers asked if someone was blocking an alley after hours what
would happen.
Li z Maradik stated that police department can be involved in that and can tow in those
circumstance.
Councilwomen Gooden-Rodgers asked if they patrol or if its only complaints.
Ms. Maradik explained that its both.
Chair White asked if there were any other questions from Committee members and then opened
it to Council members .
President McBride had a follow up on Councilwomen Gooden-Rodgers question. She detailed a
complaint in the third (3 rd ) district that had been occurring for years without resolution.
Liz Maradik stated that if the vehicle make is at least three years old and inoperable then they
can tag them and then after twenty (20) days they can be towed. For vehicles parked on grass
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the statute dictating what Environmental Inspectors can do depends on if the vehicle is in the
front yard or backyard and if the vehicle is operatable.
President McBride stated that she will follow up with the addresses to Liz Maradik.
Chair White stated that the committee had run out of its allotted time but that this will continue
into the next meeting.
With no further business, Chair Karen L. White adjourned the Community Investment
Committee meeting at 4:42 p.m.
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Karen L. White , Committee Chair
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455 County-C ity Building I 227 W Jefferson Bvld I South Bend, Indiana 4660 1 Ip 574.235 .9221 l f574.235.9173 ITTD 574.235.5567 lwww.southbendin.gov