HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-13-13 Community Relations & Residential NeighborhoodsCOMMUNITY RELATIONS & RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS May 13, 2013
Community Relations Committee Members Present: Oliver Davis, Tim Scott,.
Valerie Schey, Dr. Varner
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: Marti Wolfson, Aladean DeRose, Eric Horvath, Dan Heckel (VPS) Vacant
Property Specialists
• 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
Vice - President Oliver Davis, Chair of the Community Relations Committee called to order the joint
committee meeting of the Community Relations and Residential Neighborhoods Committees.
Two items on the agenda, both of which related to the Mayor's Vacant and Abandoned Task Force
initiative were scheduled to be heard.
Councilmember Henry Davis and primary author of Bill No. 14 -13 made the presentation. He used a
power -point (A copy is on file in the Office of the City Clerk) and called upon Dave Heckel of Vacant
Property Specialists to augment the presentation. Mr. Heckel focused on securing vacant properties
until a determination is made to either demolish or rehab. Henry has suggested a more thoughtful,
methodical plan to address the problem of vacant and abandoned housing problem than suggested by
the task force. His bill focuses more on rehabilitation than demolition and purports to provide the
process resulting in an economic plan for the neighborhood.
A considerable discussion followed the presentation. In the Council portion Dr. Fred Ferlic said people
want action taken on vacant and abandoned blight now. He asked who would pay for a rehab focused
plan — the banks, the City, private investors. He said such a focus was too expensive to be practical.
Carol Davis spoke in the public portion city a successful rehab, reuse program in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Ultimately Tim Scott motioned no recommendation go to full Council. David Varner seconded and a
majority agreed.
Bill No. 13 -18 also sponsored by Henry Davis calls for a 60 day moratorium on the demolition of homes.
During this period plans for the rehab of homes could be formulated in a collaborative approach with
those who actually live in the distressed neighborhoods. Potential rehab funding sources could be
identified and methods to maximize the use of funds could be devised.
Lynn Collier spoke in support of the moratorium. He said the rehab focus required a new mindset. Tear
down money could be shifted to rehab.
As was the case with the previously considered bill, it was sent with no recommendation to full Council.
Valerie Schey made the motion. Tim Scott seconded and a majority concurred.
There being no further business to come before the committee at this time, Chairperson's Scott and
Davis, adjourned the meeting at 4:30 p.m.
L s,anairperson
un Reiations Committee
Tim Scott, Chairperson
Residential Neighborhoods Committee