02-09-15 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 09, 2015 Rhonda Richards, 1020 Ogre Street South Bend, states I agree that we don't want to go off budget but we could use this fee for expenses to cover the cost, and those expenses paid for other things, especially when the owner of those properties should be carrying that burden. Gerry Fry, 319 N Williams Street South Bend- Small investors of properties. I do support this bill as $50 you will worry about it later but if it is $300 and you have 5 houses you will take care of it a lot sooner. Wishing to speak to the council in opposition to this bill. Jesse Davis, PO Box 205 South Bend, states I think when we are revisiting this bill, if you have people that are not spending $50 than they probably not going to pay the $300. He sold a property and the actual owner did not transfer the title, so now you have an issue of a non -owner getting stuck with the fine. Rebuttal by the petitioner to address with the deed title change it definitely brings up an issue. The exceptions are fair but these are for the non - responsive property owners Councilman Henry Davis fees that are taxed to houses that are not being registered, what happens to those houses do they go on tax sale? Petitioner, if they go on tax sale Local County can alleviate some of that. Councilman Davis what I am asking if I accumulated taxes over $1,000 what are the consequences be for not registering? Petitioner it would go to collections and legal would get involved. Councilman Davis, I would think that it would go to a tax sale, so my point is what is the penalty of not paying? I need that clarified. If we have budgeting happening every year and we are not budgeting properly and enforcing it then there is something else that we are not taking care of My concern is that we have so many other issues that we are not making sure that the enforcement part of administration is not happening. Councilman Varner the only time that this will come in to play is if an owner of a property won't identify themselves and we have to do research which takes time in order to enforce the things that need to be acted upon. With ownership comes responsibility, I don't agree with taxes or fees, but I do think the estimated cost of $300 is fair to cover those cost and I agree with Mr. Davis that we need to enforce them. I support this in terms of what we can do. Councilman Oliver Davis my concern if we raise the fees now, that this is something that should have been budgeted with this meaning in February, that this is irresponsible to put us on the side of raising fees. We have the summer time for people who cut grass for vacant properties, I don't mind for them to raise the cost but don't wait until the last minute to ask for those fees. I'm just stating that there is a process. In the past for fees that were increased and there was a violation, I haven't seen anybody fined, so I think it is an issue of enforcement. I would have preferred someone from the department to come up here and make the presentation. Councilmember Ferlic I don't think it is unreasonable to say that things change throughout the year and that adjustments can't be made. I think that property owners should be held responsible. Just want to say that I support it. Councilmember Dieter made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council concerning this bill, subject to the written commitments as on file in the Office of the City Clerk. Councilmember Gavin seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of five (5) ayes and two (2) nays by Councilman Henry Davis and Councilman Oliver Davis RISE AND REPORT Councilmember Tim Scott led the motion Councilmember Dieter made motion to rise and report to full Council. Councilmember Gavin Ferlic seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of seven (7) ayes.