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j vgpt,7N6EM <br />Q �O <br />lYiS l <br />The South Bend Common Council <br />227 West Jefferson Boulevard, Room 441 <br />Downtown South Bend, Indiana 46601 <br />574.235.9321 TDD 574.235.5567 <br />March 9, 2016 <br />The South Bend Common Council <br />4"' Floor County -City Building <br />South Bend, Indiana 46601 <br />Re: Proposed Landlord Registration Program <br />Dear Council Members: <br />Following a series of discussions with representatives of the City Administration representing the Code <br />Enforcement Department, the Law Department, the Police Department, and the Human Rights Office, as well as <br />with input from individuals involved in the real estate used for renting, and neighborhood groups and <br />organizations, we are pleased to introduce for your consideration and approval a proposed ordinance which <br />would create a Landlord Registration Program in the City of South Bend. <br />We have reviewed landlord registration best practices implemented throughout the country. We have also <br />studied landlord registration programs which have been in effect in several Indiana communities. Two <br />ordinances in particular were carefully studied - Indianapolis and Evansville — in light of the fact that they were <br />passed after the new Indiana state laws were enacted in 2014. We also reviewed Elkhart's ordinance which was <br />updated in 2007; Goshen's ordinance which was last updated in 2006; along with rental registration regulations <br />in effect Bloomington, Gary, Hammond, Elkhart, and Valparaiso. <br />A common theme in all of these regulations focused on landlords as "responsible stewards of their property, <br />working with the municipality to ensure safe, clean neighborhoods ". <br />It is acknowledged that the Indiana General Assembly has restricted the ability of a municipality to regulate in <br />this area. The proposed regulations are believed to be consistent with the governing state law regulations which <br />are believed to be in the best interests of the City of South Bend. We look forward to receiving your input and <br />seek your support. Thank you. <br />Most sincerely, <br />Tim Scott, 1 s' District Council Member <br />South Bend Common Council <br />Karen L. White, Council Member at Large <br />South Bend Common Council <br />Attachment <br />Filed in Clerk's Office <br />MAR 0 0 7016 <br />KAREEMAH FOWLER <br />CITY CLERK, SOUTH BEND, IN <br />