Next meeting will be Thursday, July 17, 2014 at 11:00 AM due to the office being closed on Wednesdays for the summer.

Present:  David Hawkes from the Neighborhood Service Center, and Jeff West, Senior Code Enforcement Officer, Dept. of Neighborhood and Business Development; Donna Sarnacki, John and Joann DeMott, Maya Broady, Annie Brown, Kathy O’Neill, and Deb Leary

David Hawkes asked that the committee give NSC clear expectations of what NSC can do for us. The need for landlord education and compliance was discussed.

Deb visited an Upper Mount Hope Neighbors meeting dealing with student housing issues.  She joined a break-out table of 10 landlords who were interested in doing things right.  They agreed that some other landlords are not, and that the solution is not to re-write the Zoning Code, but to provide more enforcement.

A survey on Terrace Park and Congress Ave. showed code compliance, police calls, behavioral issues and house parties.

John DeMott discussed commercial areas.  NSC meets with business owners one month before business renewal is approved.  Businesses sign “ Good Neighbor” agreements.  Some of the problems are scattered litter, transparency of windows with signage, counters blocking the front windows.

There was discussion of vacant houses.  NSC prioritizes vacants and demolishes as soon as the City approves and funds it. There is also a new program of taking landlords to court for abandoning properties.  Formerly, nothing happened to such landlords.

Maya Broady and Annie Brown came to the meeting to discuss conditions on their respective blocks.  Annie lives on Sawyer St. which has rundown houses and vacants.  She stated that the neighborhood needs more people to move in and keep up their properties.  Maya Broady agreed.

Action Items:

NSC to provide spreadsheet of properties not in compliance, both landlords and commercial properties.  David Hawkes said he would take care of this.

19th Ward will lobby for more inspectors.  The U of R might be contacted to provide the City with some funds for this.

Annie has contacts for possible neighborhood promotion.

The committee will make a connection with U of R student regarding guidelines give to students who live off campus.

David Hawkes also will provide the committee with a list of landlords who own multiple properties.

Respectfully submitted by Kathy O’Neill  (typed by Deb Leary)