06-22-15 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JUNE 22, 2015 Councilmember Dr. David Varner — I have the privilege of hearing this discussion every year. We have had the problem with un -mowed lawns as long as I can remember. In the past we raised fees, in the past we were told there would be greater enforcement, and in the past we have been told that the Parks can do an adequate job if we brought everything under their umbrella. I think for the most part, they have done as well as they could with what they have. I'm not sure all of it has gone as well as we wanted. I think some of it has gone to do parks rather than what we thought would be abandoned homes. None the less, the job of this council. I have no desire to be an administrator. Our job is to give them the tools that they need in order to pursue the resolution to this problem. The only resolutions we have had were a fine mechanism, follow -up mechanism, or ordinance violation mechanism. If this is adopted tonight, even with refinements in the fixture, if the lawns are not mowed and the bills aren't collected, it could amount to substantial fines. If it is not aggressively and equitably enforced it is not the Council's fault, it is the people that handle the administration, who tell code enforcement we need to get you more money to do some more lawns. It is the people who say code enforcement is going to give the bills and levy the fines we're going to collect them and code enforcement can continue to write their citations knowing there is some authority behind it who will follow up. That is the job of the administration which is why they are called administrators. We provide them the tools and the opportunities, I think this is one opportunity; I don't know what it takes to get people to mow their lawns. I know what we have done in the past hasn't worked, I know that some people will respond, some people won't, and some people will never respond. I applaud Mr. Scott's efforts to apply some serious fines to those who have been in continuous non - compliance. Why should people mow their lawns when they can ignore it, which they do? Like other people I have mowed other's lawns when they move, I will probably continue to do it as its necessary but it sure would be nice if this was taken and applied equitably and thoroughly across the board, get their attention and got some of these lawns mowed. But all we can do is supply the tools, this is a tool, where it goes from here is up to the administration. Councilmember Dr. Fred Ferlic — I personally want to thank Randy in the new Code Department. He has incorporated some SOPS that have never been done before in this city. When I first got involved in code three years ago, when you looked up a certain property, there was 150 pages of it which was impossible to decipher. Now with the new operating procedures, the Code Officer will ride around in a certain area then pull up the house on GPS that registers the address, takes a picture with his I -pad that goes electronically to the Code's department. Then the codes department can send it to legal, then legal decides when to send for citation or the collection agency. We have a whole new plan that I think will make South Bend a nicer place to live. That is the important thing, I think this can be enforced. Has it been in the past? No, my other Councilmembers are exactly correct. You never stop speeding in Roseland until they start enforcing it, now you don't speed in Roseland as you know you will get picked up. The problem I have in my district is with the LLC's, the banks, the absentee landlords, not the usual one or two citizens. Basically I have to call banks, real estate agencies to mow their yards or we will have to file alien against them. I think the last thing is, I hold Code responsible to do this job as they get paid to do the job. Ultimately code is under the Mayor's jurisdiction, if the Mayor doesn't get it done he is accountable for it. I think our present Mayor Pete, Randy, and others in the administration will get the job done. If they don't buyer beware as I won't vote for them if that's the case. We just celebrated our 150' Anniversary, we have a great chance to make South Bend a great city again. Let's take the bull by the horns and let's get something done here. Councilmember Valerie Schey — So I am speaking both as a taxpayer and second as a Councilperson. I am supportive of this bill, but I have listened carefully to both sides of the debate. I feel it is my responsibility to explain why I am going to support this bill. The complaints that I've heard are primarily from the 6" and 2 °d district residents. I do want to say per Randy's comment about the red flags that your team will be leaving behind once you cite a property, is a wonderful ideal. It is a visible indication that your team has been there and can potentially delay some frustrations that residence have that these properties are not being cited. I want to encourage you and your team to pursue that because that can help with the concerns that I've heard here. As a taxpayer, I know that we as a city have budgeted for, and using taxpayers' dollars to clean up illegal dumping, the code enforcement crew does that. We are not charging the negligent property owners or individuals out in the alley doing all of that illegal dumping. We are charging you, the taxpayer to carry on that burden. Kathy Cekanski- Farrand maybe you can help me, what is the total amount we budget each year to clean up illegal dumping? Council 16