CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY SECOND COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. R-17-230 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Diane G. Gibson
RESOLUTION
title
Creating A Task Force To Explore Options And Make Recommendations For Addressing Vacant And Abandoned Houses In The City (Gibson)
body
CREATING A TASK FORCE TO EXPLORE OPTIONS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADDRESSING VACANT AND ABANDONED HOUSES IN THE CITY.
WHEREAS, the City presently administers several local ordinances aimed toward enforcement of minimum health and safety requirements for vacant or abandoned residential properties; and
WHEREAS, the City’s enforcement agencies are presently monitoring over 600 properties across the City that already are, or are in danger of becoming, public nuisances; and
WHEREAS, these hundreds of vacant or abandoned houses across the City impact the home values in their respective neighborhoods and the resale opportunities for Albuquerque families; can disrupt quality of life in our city’s neighborhoods; and can present safety threats because of dilapidation and attraction of illicit activities; and
WHEREAS, because of the property rights and other issues involved the City’s process for enforcement and nuisance abatement enforcement against these properties can take several months to years and be very resource intensive; and
WHEREAS, given the intensive nature of enforcement efforts the sheer volume of these properties overwhelms the City’s resources such that City staff can focus on only a handful of problem properties at a time on this list of hundreds; and
WHEREAS, while nuisance abatement and zoning enforcement is and will remain a key mechanism to address these properties, other more proactive methods of dealing with this issue may be available; and
WHEREAS, exploring ways to address this issue in a well-reasoned and methodical way could help address the problems associated with vacant and abandoned houses in the city, help reduce property crime, and better leverage city resources.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE:
Section 1. A seven (7) member Vacant and Abandoned Houses Task force is established.
Section 2. The Task Force shall be made up of the following members:
A. One City staff member from the City’s Zoning Enforcement Department knowledgeable in the area of residential nuisance abatement and enforcement;
B. One City staff member from the Family and Community Services Department knowledgeable in housing and housing related needs in the City;
C. One City Staff member from the City Legal Department knowledgeable in nuisance abatement and zoning enforcement against vacant or abandoned residential properties;
D. One Staff member from each the City Council Services Department and Mayor’s Office; and
E. Two community members appointed by the Council with special knowledge or interest in issues and community impacts associated with vacant or abandoned residential properties.
Section 3. This Task Force shall explore: a) options for efficient enforcement methods to address the most pressing problems associated with vacant and abandoned houses; b) options for collaborative and proactive programs to prevent the dilapidation or deterioration of such houses; c) options for the city to help facilitate re-commissioning such houses for people and families; d) and any other relevant and helpful options relating to this issue. This Task Force shall prepare a list of recommendations for potential programs or legislation that could help address issues related to vacant and abandoned houses in the City by no later than January 1, 2018. This list of recommendations shall be made available to all Councilors and the Mayor.
Section 4. This Task Force is a fact finding and recommending body and not a final policy making body; accordingly, any meetings of this Task Force are not subject to the New Mexico Open Meetings Act.
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