Title
Resolution to Establish Funding for the City to Abate Dangerous Buildings (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
Attached for your approval is a resolution to establish funding for the City to abate dangerous buildings.
At present there are buildings in the City that are identified as dangerous buildings per Chapter 101 of the City Code of Ordinances. Such buildings are deteriorating neighborhoods, affecting property values adversely, attracting unwanted activities and creating nuisances. Owners of these properties are not taking any action to correct the situation. Community members and some of the Council members have expressed a desire for the City staff to aggressively abate dangerous buildings.
Chapter 101 prescribes the procedure to address dangerous buildings. Chapter 101 also directs the Planning and Development Services Unit to take necessary actions, including securing and demolition of buildings, if warranted, in case the owner of the dangerous building fails to comply with the City directive. To date the City has not aggressively dealt with the said dangerous buildings as no specific funds have been allocated for this. It is estimated that up to $250,000 might be needed for the City to demolish these buildings. The City's settlement from the Michigan Inn lawsuit will reimburse the General Fund for the initial funding of the abatement program.
Owners of record will be invoiced for the City's costs for its actions to address dangerous buildings. The City will use all options available to it to recover these costs. While highly unlikely, there may be a property for which the City is unable to recover its costs. This should not discourage the City to take necessary action to address dangerous buildings as abating dangerous buildings benefits the entire City.
It is also requested that City recovered abatement costs from the property owners be reimbursed to the account specifically allocated for the abatement of dangerous buildings and be available on an-going basis without regards to the fiscal year.
Staff
Prepared by: Debra Williams, Management Assistant
Reviewed by: Sumedh Bahl, Community Services Administrator
Approved by: Steven D. Powers, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, There are buildings in the City that are designated as dangerous buildings per Chapter 101 of the City Code of Ordinances;
Whereas, Owners of dangerous buildings are not taking timely action to abate these buildings;
Whereas, Continued presence of dangerous buildings adversely impact neighborhoods they are in;
Whereas, On-going allocation of funding specifically for dangerous buildings will provide City staff the ability to take necessary timely action to address dangerous buildings;
Whereas, It is estimated that up to $250,000 be needed to address dangerous buildings identified in the City; and
Whereas, City's costs incurred to abate dangerous buildings are to be recovered from the owners of such buildings;
RESOLVED, $250,000 is appropriated from the General Fund Balance into the Non-Departmental budget for City staff to take appropriate actions to abate dangerous buildings;
RESOLVED, City costs for abatement of dangerous buildings recovered from owners of these properties are reimbursed to the funds specifically allocated for the abatement of dangerous buildings;
RESOLVED, That all costs recovered be appropriated to the Non-Departmental expenditure budget at the time of receipt; and
RESOLVED, Funds to be available until fully expended for the abatement of dangerous buildings on an on-going basis without regard to fiscal year.