To ICON Members and Participants
We will hold our next ICON meeting Monday, June 25th, 7 p.m., at the First Church of the Brethren, Yale and Ash. Mark Cullen, city attorney, will join us to review new language in the Nuisance Abatement Ordinance which is on the July 3rd agenda for final passage. The new language should strengthen the position of the police department and city legal to bring and enforce legal action against individuals involved in repetitive violations of city code. This ordinance, in addition to the boarded property ordinance approved earlier, will provide a one two punch to reduce problem properties which have plagued the older neighborhoods.
During a press conference held Thursday morning, Mayor Houston emphasized his commitment to be more aggressive against landlords who allow their properties to deteriorate and become overgrown with weeds. He has initiated a very proactive approach to problems that have blighted the neighborhoods. Housing inspectors have increased the number of citations they have issued from 469 in 2011 to 1,354 during the same time period this year. All of this reflects the type of changes we have been seeking from the city ever since ICON was formed two years ago.
We encourage you to join us next Monday to review the effect of these changes on our neighborhoods.
Steve
P.S. Go to city website and check on ordinance 2012-227
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 98, SECTION 98.06 OF THE 1988 CITY OF SPRINGFIELD CODE OF ORDINANCES, AS AMENDED, REGARDING CHRONIC NUISANCES