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REGULAR MEETING February 25, 2019
<br /> the time. I guess I'm just kind of concerned about those families in the meantime. I heard a lot of
<br /> talk about holding landlords accountable, but I don't think I heard anything in the presentation
<br /> about helping those families in those transitions when those landlords reach that point of the City
<br /> having to do something. So, I guess I'm just concerned about them. But, otherwise, I think this is
<br /> a really great thing. I just wanted to say my piece.
<br /> The petitioners were then given five(5) minutes for rebuttal.
<br /> Ms. Fritzberg stated, The assistance for renters in need came up in the most recent comment and
<br /> then in another comment. In this presentation we presented an abbreviated pitch to you that didn't
<br /> include all the information about the rental relocation fund that is established as a part of this
<br /> ordinance. So, I will take a moment to refresh our conversation on that. That is a flexible fund that
<br /> is established in partnership with St. Vincent DePaul. They have the capacity to leverage existing
<br /> funding sources. They helped to oversee a number of programs that renters are eligible for and
<br /> they can layer City funding as a remedy and part of a funding for families or individuals who find
<br /> themselves displaced as a part of this bill. That includes moving expenses as well as additional
<br /> costs. I would like to remind Council again that certainly part of the review process will be to
<br /> monitor the uptick of that fund and assess, as necessary, to create any different flexibility around
<br /> the use of those dollars. In addition to that, we've also created agreements with South Bend
<br /> Housing Authority and South Bend Heritage to offer preference to folks who are displaced as a
<br /> result of this program. I would say, as well, there are a number of housing improvements that can
<br /> be performed while tenants remain in the home. Our anticipation is not that there will be a great
<br /> number of displaced individuals as a result of this program.
<br /> Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston stated, I'll try to hit those things and I'm going to take
<br /> my time as the District representative for District Two (2) that has the largest number of larger
<br /> home complexes. If you've been following this, that has been one (1) of my biggest issues. I hear
<br /> and see, because I also live in those neighborhoods, families who are really struggling with this
<br /> issue. We've talked about the fear of reporting. It's not just because their landlords may kick them
<br /> out. Often times I see many landlords helping them or try to help them, even if they can't pay, but
<br /> they have a fear of reporting because DCS may come and take their children. So, there are many
<br /> factors that come into this that I think we don't always see when we're sitting up here in the ivory
<br /> towers. That is why I'm thankful for those who came and spoke in terms of the tenant experience
<br /> because we do have to walk this line with a delicate balance. If we're not careful, we may end up
<br /> harming the people that we actually aim to support and help. That is why I'm going to enumerate
<br /> some things here.
<br /> Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston continued, As I mentioned, my only one (1) concern
<br /> was that the initial approach was going to take too long in my assessment. I wasn't alone in that
<br /> thought. That has been addressed. For that, I want to thank you. This is just walking through some
<br /> of the issues to have it on record because I think, again, this whole experience has been a great
<br /> display of how we can work together, with all stakeholders,to really get at the issue. So,with that,
<br /> that has been addressed and we will have a way to address these large housing complexes where
<br /> people have actually come in front of the Council already, shown us the pictures and asked for
<br /> help. We haven't helped for years. Now, we are finally getting at that and so I'm thankful for this
<br /> ordinance.Number two(2),one(1)of my concerns was our capacity to actually address the issues.
<br /> We had no metrics, which, was also a concern. Like, how do you not have data in a data-driven
<br /> society on how many of these properties we might have to deal with? So, moving forward,
<br /> somewhat blindly, but, I had concerns on our administrative capacity to handle what comes
<br /> through the door because once we start the billing process, inspections and re-inspections, do we
<br /> have the capacity to get that right? Quite frankly, we don't do a great job of handling what we've
<br /> got now. So, that has been a very big concern. Also, I wonder about the capacity to remedy the
<br /> problems once we find them. Do we have enough contractors in our community? That is a
<br /> challenge but also an opportunity. So, this is where I'm calling on other parts of City government
<br /> but also people in the community to connect. Let's figure this out in this year that we have, or this
<br /> time, whatever, we have to start pooling together the contractors that are going to be working on
<br /> this. So, this is the way we can address the issue of minority contracting with the City. I see some
<br /> people in the audience here from the Department of Community Investment who are working on
<br /> that.
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