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Home My WebLink AboutRecommending that a Tall Grass/Weed Abatement Piolt Program Focusing on Providing Youth with Working Opportunities be Implemented for the Summer of 2015Attest: RESOLUTION 4474 -15 Passed by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana July 13, 15 20 . City Clerk President of Common Council Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana July 14 20 15 Approved and signed by me �J ` r i 20 . City Clerk RESOLUTION NO. ` q � �_� Substitute Bill No. 15 -35 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, RECOMMENDING THAT A TALL GRASS/WEED ABATEMENT PILOT PROGRAM FOCUSING ON PROVIDING YOUTH WITH WORKING OPPORTUNITIES AND LIFE SHILLS TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT BE IMPLEMENTED FOR THE SUMMER OF 2015 fie, for the past several months, discussions have taken place with members of the City Administration on needed updates to improve the City's tall grass /weed regulations, with those regulations aimed at updating our local procedures are set forth in Substitute Bill No. 22 -15; and Qfif;.d, in light of the proposed updates which streamline local regulations and focus on the property owner who fails to comply with paying the costs, rather than passing the costs of enforcement to the average taxpayer, there is an opportunity to create a Pilot Program which may provide limited job opportunities for youth as well as Youth mentoring skills this Summer; and dXC,wd, a Pilot Program under the jurisdiction of the Department of Code Enforcement is potentially feasible to be in operation in mid -June through November 6, 2015; and y the Department of Code Enforcement would work closely with the Law Department so that qualifying 14 years E)f age and older may have the eppeAunity to leat!n to safely inew, trim and remove debris from Git)- seleeted lecations. entities have the opportunity to provide youth mentoring skills and limited employment opportunities in assisting the City to abate environmental public nuisances Each qualifying lion pr-efi erganiFatien and entity meeting the standards set forth in the City's request for proposals would further be required to comply with: • Federal, state and local laws governing youth employment • Proper required liability insurance and worker's compensation coverage • Proper thresholds requiring supervision of all youth who are participating • Proper youth training in all aspects in the proper use, maintenance of all equipment • Proper youth training in all aspects in the proper use of safety goggles, gloves and other required items for youth safety and overall public safety • Provide the Department of Code Enforcement with before and after photos of each property assigned to be cut on a daily basis where clean -up abatement services by the youth have been provided �Jf�e information on the website for WorkOne Northern Indiana notes that "when you are young, getting a good job can be a tough process... successful job seekers foster an attitude of life -long learning'; and 6)0 a the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for the U.S. Department of Labor reported that last Summer "...unemployment among youth rose by 913,000 from April to July 2014... [with] the July 2014 labor force participation rate for 16 to 24 year old mean being 63.2 percent... "; and y the Bureau of Labor Statistics for last Summer also reveal that youth employment rates were only 63.2 % for Whites, 56.2 % for Hispanics, 52.9 % for Blacks, 45.8 % for Asians leaving 3.4 million unemployed youth in July 2014 as reported in the August 13, 2014 BLS Economic News Release entitled "Employment and Unemployment Among Youth Summary ". Pilot Program for Grass /Weeds Abatement Resolution Page 2 Section I. The South Bend Common Council recognizes that in the publication Youth Unemployment Challenge and Solutions — What Business Can Do Now, the following factors were identified as to "Why Youth Fare Worse Than Adults" in the initial workforce entry: • "A lack of information, networks and connections among youth, especially youth from families lacking significant social capital. • A lack of skills relevant to the workplace. • A lack of experience and credentials that address employers' risk in making hiring commitments. • A lack of available jobs suited to entry-level skills ", Manpower Group, Youth Unemployment Challenge and Solutions, pp. 6 -7. Section II. The South Bend Common Council in collaboration with the City Administration recognize that: "Young people bring energy, talent and creativity to economies that no -one can afford to squander... What our young people do today will create the foundations for what our economies will do tomorrow ", Youth Employment: A Global Goal, a National Challenge, ILO 2011; and "Companies need to `lean forward, 'take a calculated risk, and open their doors to inexperienced young job candidates... they need to engage their best employees as mentors to young talent ", Manpower Group, Youth Unemployment Challenge and Solutions, pp. 27. Section III. The South Bend Common Council hereby authorizes and recommends that in collaboration with the City Administration that a Tall Grass/Weed Abatement Pilot Program focusing on providing youth with working opportunities and life skills training and development be implemented by the City of South Bend for the Summer of 2015, as consistent as possible with the guidelines set forth in the Resolution. Section IV. The Common Council further recommends that the Department of Code Enforcement and any other City Departments or agencies involved provide periodic updates on the program to the Council's Health and Public Safety Committee, with such updates suggested to take place in the months of July and November 2015. Section V. This Resolution shall be in full force and approval by the Mayor. �RESLN fED _�—(3 - S NOT APPRO�M mime.• I John oorde, City C erk JOHN VOORDE CITY CLER:(, SOUTH BEND, IN by the Common Council and d st District Ccy" cil e L. White, Council Member at Large Dr. Fred Ferlic, 4" District Council Member Pete ButtigizrK ayo outh Bend, Indiana TO THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND: Your Committee of the Whole, to whom was referred: BILL NO. 15 -35 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, RECOMMENDING THAT A TALL GRASS/WEED ABATEMENT PILOT PROGRAM FOCUSING ON PROVIDING YOUTH WITH WORKING OPPORTUNITIES AND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT BE IMPLEMENTED FOR THE SUMMER OF 2015 Respectfully report that they have examined the matter and that in their opinion, this bill is being recommended to the full Council with a favorable recommendation as substituted by adding a June start date, adding Dr. Fred Ferlic as a sponsor and provides opportunities for businesses and organizations who include youth mentoring skills to participate in a Pilot Program. This bill was heard by the Health & Public Safety Committee. Karen L. White Chairperson, Committee of the Whole (574) 235 -9321 June 15, 2015 Members of the Common Council 4'h Floor County -City Building South Bend, Indiana 46601 Re: Substitute Bill No. 15 -35 A N, Common Council City of South Bend Indiana 41h Floor County -City Building 227 West Jefferson Boulevard South Bend, Indiana 46601 (574) 235 -9173 Facsimile Tall Grass/Weed Abatement Pilot Program focusing on Providing Youth with Working Opportunities and Life Skills Training and Development Dear Council Members: (574)235 -5567 TTY /TDD The two (2) Bills pending before the Common Council addressing tall grass /weeds has generated much discussion, and has prompted many individuals to cut their grass who may have not done so in the past. The Substitute Bill changes the initial start of the program to the month of June, and adds Dr. Fred Ferlic as a sponsor to the Bill, and provides opportunities for businesses and organizations who include youth mentoring skills to participate in a Pilot Program. We look forward to discussing this proposal with you at the June 16'h Health and Public Safety Committee meeting. We seek your approval of the Substitute Bill at the June 22nd Common Council meeting. Thank you. Most sincerely, Tim Scott, Is' District Council Member South Bend Common Council Dr. Fred Ferlic, 4'h District Council Member South Bend Common Council Attachment Karen L. White, Council Member at Large South Bend Common Council cc: Randy Wilkerson, Department of Code Enforcement Executive Director Filed in Clerk's office JUN Nib JOHN VOWIDE CITY CLEROC, SOUTH SEND. IN