2024-09 Ordinance Creating Chapter 70.2 - Registration of at Risk Properties

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ORDINANCE NO. � '�4 — Oq ORDINANCE CREATING CITY CODE -CHAPTER 70.2 - -REGISTRATION OF AT RISK PROPERTIES— BE IT ORDAINED, BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS: WHEREAS, the City Council desires to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the incorporated area of the City of Decatur and maintain a high quality of life for the citizens of the City through the maintenance of structures and properties in the City; and WHEREAS, the Council recognizes properties subject to foreclosure action or foreclosed upon and vacant properties(hereinafter referred to as"Registrable Properties")located throughout the City lead to a decline in community cohesion and property values; create nuisances; lead to a general decrease in neighborhood and community aesthetics; create conditions that invite criminal activity; and foster an unsafe and unhealthy environment; and WHEREAS, the Council has already adopted property maintenance codes to regulate building standards for the exterior of structures and the condition of the property as a whole; and WHEREAS,the Council recognizes that it is in the best interest of the public health,safety, and welfare to discourage Registrable Property owners and mortgagees from allowing their properties to be abandoned, neglected or left unsupervised; and WHEREAS, the Council has a vested interest in protecting neighborhoods against blight caused by Registrable Property and concludes that it is in the best interests of the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens and residents to impose registration requirements of Registrable Property,as defined herein,and located within the City to discourage Registrable Property owners and mortgagees from allowing their properties to be abandoned, neglected or left unsupervised. WHEREAS, the Council finds that the implementation of the following changes and additions will assist the City in protecting neighborhoods from the negative impact and other deleterious conditions that occur as a result of vacancy, absentee ownership, and lack of compliance with existing City regulations and laws. Section 1. That the City Code of Decatur is amended by creating and enacting Chapter 70.2 entitled Registration of"At-Risk"Properties and shall provide as follows: