TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager to explore the feasibility of a citywide Vacant Lot Registry Ordinance that would address the blight of privately-owned, neglected vacant lots throughout the City of Long Beach.
DISCUSSION
On October 4, 2011, the City Council passed revisions to the Foreclosure Registration Program that require all residential properties issued a Notice of Default to be registered with the City. It also requires the registration fee and registration form be renewed annually as long as the property remains in foreclosure. The Foreclosure Registration Program was implemented to protect residential neighborhoods from becoming blighted due to a lack of adequate maintenance and/or security of vacant, abandoned or foreclosed properties.
With the success and positive impact of the Foreclosure Registration Program, a Vacant Lot Registry is the next step in ensuring property owners are held responsible, and that our community is kept clean and safe. Vacant lots within cities cause numerous problems for neighborhoods surrounding them. Often times, they are a site for illegal dumping, a location for criminal activity, have generally unsafe and unhealthy conditions, and can disrupt a neighborhood's sense of community. Unkempt and problem lots can also lower neighborhood property values.
A Vacant Lot Registry would protect public health, safety, and welfare by requiring the maintenance of them. These vacant lots often have habitual code violations due to failure to maintain code requirements. Vacant Lot Registries have been enacted in multiple cities across the country including Pasadena, Monterey Park and Jersey City.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact for this report. If adopted at a later time, a Vacant Lot Registry would potentially produce revenue since the City's past experience with registries has proven their ability as a revenue generator to support nuisance abatement activities.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation....
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