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Home My WebLink About04-22-13 Community Relations & Residential NeighborhoodsCOMMUNITY RELATIONS & RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS APRIL 22, 2013 Community Relations Committee Members Present: Oliver Davis, Tim Scott Citizen Member Present: James Burns Residential Neighborhoods Committee Members: Tim Scott, Dr. Fred Ferlic, Karen White, Oliver Davis Citizen Member Present: Chris Sopczynski Other Council Present: Gavin Ferlic, Henry Davis, Jr., Derek Dieter Others Present: Mark Neal, Rahman Johnson, Carol Davis, Jack Smith, Mike Schmuhl • Bill No. 14 -13 — Addresses Government Accountability on Buildings Declared Vacant or Abandoned • Bill No. 13 -18 — Calls for Moratorium on Buildings Which are not a Safety Hazard This joint committee hearing of the Community Relations and Residential Neighborhoods Committees was chaired by Oliver Davis. Full attendance of both Committees including the respective citizen members introduced by Oliver and Tim Scott was noted. The two items on the agenda both concerned Vacant & Abandoned Structures and were both sponsored by Councilmember Henry Davis, Jr. President Dieter suggested a joint hearing of the bills. Council Attorney Cekanski - Farrand endorsed that idea at the committee level, noting separate consideration would be required at the formal meeting. As stated above, Henry Davis sponsored the agenda items and asked Oliver if he could focus the presentation on Resolution No. 13 -18 first. With that granted, Henry started by saying we all want a healthy, thriving community. The problems the city faces with vacant & abandoned houses are the result of a myriad of societal problems all of which need to be recognized and addressed. By the resolution Henry asks a 60 day moratorium on the demolition of houses. These houses may harbor crime but are not the cause of crime. To tear houses down without a development plan for these areas is short sighted. He asked what plan, if any, the City has. Are there development incentives? Is there any vision beyond demolition? He said South Bend should focus on building up, not tearing down. Henry was critical of the Vacant & Abandoned Task Force from the outset because of its lack of inclusiveness and is critical of its findings now for its myopic focus on demolition without redevelopment. Henry said redevelopment plans have had success in other communities. Methods to access investment capital have been devised elsewhere, but we are not taking advantage of it here. A 60 day moratorium would allow this needed conversation to begin. Oliver Davis spoke to the role of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) may play in the City's demolition plan. If, as rumored IDEM planned to step in to look at potential asbestos abatement violations it could possibly double the cost of a demolition. Oliver said the Council needs to be privy to what the City has heard from (IDEM.) HE said maybe a moratorium makes sense. Gavin Ferlic was skeptical of the value of a delay in a program well- thought out and long overdue. Derek Dieter asked what a moratorium would actually accomplish. David Varner saw no harm in a moratorium as long as those structures posing a health and safety hazard proceed! Tim Scott, who served on the Task Force, said that input from the community was solicited multiple times. He opposed taking away the City's tools to address the problem. Karen White wondered what a 60 day pause would accomplish without a clear set of goals and objectives. She also wondered what role the Council would play during a moratorium. Valerie Schey saw value in the reporting forms explaining the decision to demolish; but feared opening the door to slumlords and pseud restoration. Citizen member Jim Burns also expressed skepticism as to the value of a delay at this point. Henry summed up by alludirig to a number of amendments to Bill No. 14 -13 which would build understanding as to why and how a home is selected for demo. He reiterated there needs to be an end game. There needs to be a plan. President Dieter at this point said this discussion should be continued later. Ultimately following brief debate about closing discussion, Karen White moved the items receive no recommendation. Tim Scott seconded and all concurred. There being no furt er business to come before the committee at this time, Chairperson's Scott and Davis, a � urn a eting at 4:45 p.m. Oliver 1 Relarjbns Committee Tim_Seet?t, Chairperson Residential Neighborhoods Committee