Public Health & Housing Committee

APPROVED PUBLIC HEALTH and HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES Wednesday April 3rd, 2013 Members: Alderman Ken Kinsella – Chairman Alderman Gabby Rujawitz Alderman Jim Musgrove Alderman Dave Martinson Alderman Tim Carpenter Tricia Tialdo Mayor Eckert Staff: Robert Sabo Roger Barfield Guest: Alderman Hardt City Clerk Linda Fields Rick Brown Victoria Weygandt Lee Griffin Forrest Bevineau Alderman Kinsella called the meeting to order at 6:00P.M. On roll call all members were present. Alderman Musgrove made a motion to approve the minutes from the February 6th, 2013 meeting second by Alderman Martinson. All members voted AYE. Motion carried. Guest Rick Brown stated his opposition to the Crime Free Housing Ordinance. City Clerk Linda Fields opened the bid envelopes for the sale of the City’s vacant lots. Forrest Bevineau of 535 N 6th St. submitted a bid of $500. for 515 N. 6th St.. Larry Glaenzer of Glaenzer Electric in Belle Valley Ind/Park submitted a bid of $800.for Lot 14 Belle Valley Ind/Park. Thomas Smith of 615 E A St. submitted a bid of $2500. for 613 E A St.. Judith Hagen of 1431 Caseyville Ave. submitted a bid of $500.for 1313 Orchard St.. Ralph Hult of 421 E C St. submitted a bid of $1000.for 307 Walnut. Mayor Eckert commented that all the submitted bids were from adjacent property owners. Alderman Carpenter made a motion to accept all the bids as submitted second by Tricia Tialdo. Chairman Kinsella called for roll call vote: Alderman Rujawitz AYE Alderman Musgrove AYE Alderman Martinson AYE Alderman Carpenter AYE  Tricia Tialdo AYE Alderman Kinsella AYE The motion passed Chairman Kinsella brought up the proposed sale of the two City owned properties at 515 and 517 S 17th which were purchased by the City for the 17th St. expansion. Mayor Eckert related that per the City Attorney the property could be sold by sealed bids, listing for sale with a local licensed real estate agency or by public auction. The Mayor recommended that the committee authorize that the properties be appraised before making such a decision. Alderman Martinson made a motion to obtain appraisals for the two properties second by Tricia Tialdo. All members voted AYE. The motion passed. Alderman Carpenter requested that the City look at placing a fence along Rt 161 from Dutch Hollow Rd to Highwood Dr.. He related that there were a rash of break-ins this past winter and a fence would curtail foot traffic in the area. After discussion Alderman Rujawitz made a motion to table this request until further research is completed second by Alderman Carpenter. All members voted AYE. Motion carried. Chairman Kinsella opened discussion for the Crime Free Housing Ordinance Draft proposal. Alderman Carpenter stated that he had a major problem with the four strike process. He advised that the City is violating the fourth amendments rights of owners by taking away there business. Kevin Bouse commented that a owner/landlord will be consulted when there is a tenant breaking the law and have sufficient time to deal with the situation prior to revoking the Crime Free Housing certificate. Lee Griffin mentioned that the required background checks go too far and are directed against certain ethnic origin and low income people. He pointed out that the committee is of all Caucasians and no African Americans. After discussion Alderman Carpenter made a motion to send the Crime Free Housing Ordinance Draft to the Ordinance and Legal Review Committee on April 11th, second by Alderman Martinson. All members voted Aye. Motion carried. Rick Brown stated that 54% of all occupancy violations were issued to 25.4 % of the population. He related that statistics he received from Chief Clay showed that there were 1152 housing occupancy calls last year in the City and that the police would be better served handling more serious calls. Motion made by Alderman Martinson to adjourn second by Alderman Musgrove. All members voted AYE.