* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Schleifer
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
Let’s Lead By Example
For the purpose of inviting the Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Community Development and relevant code enforcement staff, the head of the Bureau of Solid Waste in the Department of Public Works, the Executive Director of the Environmental Control Board, and representatives from BMORE Beautiful to discuss code enforcement, how we can lead by example by properly maintaining City properties, and the potential opportunities for community engagement and partnership.
body
Recitals
Baltimore has a major trash problem. Far too often, we are reliant on reactive modes of fixing this problem, and as this Council has heard many times, reliance on the 311 system is misplaced because agencies do not effectively communicate with one another and complaints are closed with no resolution and no communication to the constituent who made the complaint.
To the Council’s knowledge, there is no comprehensive code enforcement plan. The current system of reactive engagement and problem-solving must end, and it can begin with properly and proactively maintaining properties that the City owns. It is profoundly embarrassing to hear from a constituent about a garbage problem or a code enforcement issue on a property and, after research is conducted, the property turns out to be City-owned. How are we to encourage our constituents to stop littering and maintain their homes, when the City is failing at the same duty? The City spends millions of dollars on code enforcement, yet the trash situation does not provide us the cost-benefit that we demand from other agencies.
Thus, the Council would like to hear from the various departmental stakeholders on these basic code enforcement efforts and the development of a comprehensive code enforcement plan. The citizens of Baltimore deserve a culture of proactive competence. We can start by leading by example, having a plan, and cleaning up our own properties.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of Baltimore, That the Council invites the Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Community Development and relevant code enforcement staff, the head of the Bureau of Solid Waste in the Department of Public Works, the Executive Director of the Environmental Control Board, and representatives from BMORE Beautiful to discuss code enforcement, how we can lead by example by properly maintaining City properties, and the potential opportunities for community engagement and partnership.
And be it further resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Commissioner of Department of Housing and Community Development, the head of the Bureau of Solid Waste in the Department of Public Works, the Executive Director of the Environmental Control Board, and the Mayor’s Legislative Liaison to the City Council.