11-28-16 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 28, 2016 but that he had a willingness to try things out and evaluate and, if necessary edit, the process appropriately. Officer Lane stated that he sees the ordinance as a tool for problem - solving. It allows him to work on properties to which the Police are responding repeatedly. The ordinance is geared toward allowing the Police to be proactive. Instead of focusing on one (1) bad complex, it allows them to spread out and make the City a safer one in which to live. Addressing Ms. Sullivan, Officer Lane explained that when the Department receives a lot of calls regarding a specific property and they forward the case to him, he goes to the property to investigate the issue. If he discovers that, like in Ms. Sullivan's case, there is a veteran suffering from mental illness at the residence, then his job isn't to penalize the residents of the property but to assist them in getting help. Kicking them out of their home does not solve the problem. In a case like Ms. Sullivan's, Officer Lane's job would be to get a hold of a mental health institution to help with that situation. Addressing Councilmember Williams- Preston, Officer Lane explained that in the hypothetical scenario she had drawn earlier, he would get in contact with the property owner to inform them that their tenants are being a nuisance, selling drugs, whatever the case may be. If the property owner has something like a leaky roof and the tenants are destroying her property and she does not have the funds to repair the home to Code, Officer Lane would at that point direct her to roof repair resources. He would then call Code Enforcement and explain the situation, seeking out options and solutions for the property owner. The goal, Officer Lane explained, is to investigate the problem and find the solution to that specific problem. He stated, I'm trying to be a multi- tasker to help you out. Councilmember Williams- Preston responded that her concern regarded an owner - occupied scenario, but that she understood Officer Lane otherwise. Councilmember Broden stated, going forward in 2017, she did not want to lose Mr. Larimore's recommendation. She was unsure of how easy it would be to implement something like an auto - dial mechanism in conjunction with the Landlord Registry, but she felt that the potential was possibly there. She compared a possible implementation of auto -dial to how schools send automated messages to parents when their children are absent. She stated that she would love to see this issue brought up by property managers tackled and solved in 2017. Councilmember Scott responded, I think we look at every possibility, every technology. He stated that Chief Laskowski told him that they took in around 89,000 calls. He stated that he agrees with Councilmember Broden, but he wants a balance so that the Police do not become full -time property management. Councilmember Scott stated, though, that any technology that aids the process is completely welcome. He stated, I think that's a benefit to landlord registration: having the right information and contact. Officer Lane and Ms. Colborn were both in favor of landlord registration because so much of Officer Lane's time is not only spent dealing with people but trying to track down who on the property he needs to speak with in the first place. Ashley Colborn, Assistant City Attorney with offices on the 12th Floor of the County -City Building, stated that issues like Ms. Sullivan's are specifically why HIPPA protection was added to the ordinance so as to prevent such cases from being added to the Chronic Nuisance List. Councilmember Dr. David Varner made a motion that Bill No. 70 -16 be sent to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. Councilmember Karen White seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of seven (7) ayes and one (1) nay (Councilmember Regina Williams - Preston). 69 -16 PUBLIC HEARING ON AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, ESTABLISHING INTERNAL CONTROL STANDARDS AND ESTABLISHING A MATERIALITY THRESHOLD. 14