Happy New Year!
The Housing
and Neighborhood Development Department (HAND) wants to thank you and all the
folks in your neighborhood for the work you do to make your neighborhood a
great place to live.
With a new
year HAND wants to make you aware of our 2013 Neighborhood Services programs
and services along with updates to Bloomington
ordinances that have a direct impact on your neighborhood. If you would like to have a HAND staff member
attend your meeting in 2013 or you have any neighborhood related questions, please
feel free to contact me, Vickie Provine at provinev@bloomington.in.gov or
349-3505.
Neighborhood Services
What’s new in 2013?
- HAND, CONA and United Way is
bringing Paul Schmitz, the author of
Everyone Leads: Building Leadership from the Community Up” on
Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. Learn
a new approach to leadership including defining leadership as an action
everyone can take, not a position to be held; how to be more effective at
bringing diverse people and communities together to solve problems; and
taking personal and social responsibility to work with other on common
goals. For more information you can link
here to the website.
- Blooming Neighborhoods has a
new twist for 2013, the awards have been replaced with “My Neighborhood Pot Luck Idea.” The neighborhood “Pot Luck” gives neighborhoods the opportunity to share good
ideas with one another. For more information you can link
here to the website.
- 2013 Neighborhood Improvement Grants are available through
application – click
here for further information and check out great projects from Bloomington
neighborhoods.
- Snapshot of 2013 Programs and services attached (according to date)
- 2013 Neighborhood Calendar attached.
New Title XVI: Residential Rental Unity and Lodging Establishment
Inspection Program
What is new in 2013?
Highlights
that pertain to neighborhoods:
16.04.040 Exterior Property Areas. This requires that the exterior be
maintained -- including sidewalks. New to the code, "Furniture not
generally intended to be used for outdoor purposes (typically upholstered
furniture) shall not be permitted to be stored on the exterior of the premises
of residential rental units, this includes both screen-in and non-screened
porches." Neighborhoods have been asking for that for years.
16.040.050 Exterior Structure. Requires that the structure be maintained
-- including painting which has to be done in accordance with EPA rules.
It also doesn't allow graffiti on rental property. If it happens, it
needs to be cleaned up, fixed, restored, etc.
16.040.080 Rubbish and Garbage. Requires that all rental units and their
accessory structures to be maintained free from rubbish or garbage. For
example, if we find a garage or other structure on the property to be full of
trash, we would cite it and they would need to clean it out. We do find
garages and other structures to be full of trash and that attracts rats and
other unwanted pests.
This code is instrumental in maintaining our neighborhoods as 67% of our
occupied housing is rental.
Title VI “Weeds
and Trash Enforcement”
What is new for 2013?
The
Bloomington Common Council passed an ordinance which made significant changes
to Title 6 of the Bloomington Municipal Code as it relates to Refuse and Weeds.
Below is outlined some of the most
significant changes that the HAND Department feels you should be aware of.
To read the changes in its entirety, you may
go to
www.bloomington.in.gov/council.
Look for Ordinance 12-23 in the council
packet dated September 19, 2012.
Synopsis of
changes to Chapter 6.06 of the Bloomington
Municipal Code titled, “Garbage and Weeds”
1.
The
word “weed” has been defined as any plant or vegetation classified by either
the State of Indiana or the United States
government as a detrimental plant, exotic plant, exotic weed, invasive plant,
noxious weed or weed.
2.
Added a
new provision which prohibits the dumping of trash into a private dumpster
without the owner’s permission.
3.
Adopted
a new escalated fine schedule within a 12 month period of the initial fine of
$50, which can increase up to $100, and then $150.
4. Eliminated the 7 day grace period to
clean up non-possessory residential rental property. The fine remains, however, in order for the
tenant to be responsible for the fine, a lease needs to be received within 7
days of the violation notice.
--
Vickie Provine
Program Manager
Housing and Neighborhood Development
City of Bloomington
812-349-3505
fax 812-349-3582
