05-21-15 News Release - Tim Scott & Karen L. White - Tall Grass and Weeds Continuation of Bills

Home Browse Search

eoo�N, . NEWS RELEASE Date: Thursday, May 21, 2015 / From: I" District Council Member TimE cott I� Contact 538-1936 Council President Council Member at Large Karen L. White 0 Contact: 229-3100 City Council Committee of the Whole Chairperson Tall Grass/Weeds Proposals Continued Until June Stn Iii a i NN ,n�, We are sponsoring two (2) Bills which would create a 2-pronged approach to better tackle the challenges created by some owners who are not mowing the tall grass and weeds on their property. South Bend's regulations have not been updated since before 1962, when push mowers out-numbered gasoline- powered mowers. Today, with new technologies, low emission gasoline engines, battery-powered mowers with larger cutting swaths, riding mowers, mulching mowers, and robotic mowers are all available to assist property owners in regularly maintaining their property. For the past several weeks, we have been working with the City Administration, as well as studying regulations from many other communities,in order to overhaul our local regulations. Our approach aims to: —> Implement "best practices" so that our ordinance regulations protect the public health, safety& welfare of our community by placing the costs of compliance on the property owner who fail to comply; and also encourage environmentally friendly practices and sustainable landscaping procedures, which will be enforced fairly. --+ Develop a pilot program whereby contractors would work with youth of our city in "mentor-ships", where youth would be employed, learn life skills, be exposed to business training, all while cutting lots which will help enhance the overall beauty and quality of life of our community Some additional details need to be addressed on both of these priorities. We are therefore requesting that Bill No.22-15 (proposed ordinance) and Bill No. 15-35 (proposed resolution) be continued until the June 8"' Common Council meeting, so that the best possible practices and procedures will result.