EXPLANATION: CAPITALS indicate matter added to existing law.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
* 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
Introduced by: Councilmember Henry
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ORDINANCE concerning
title
Public Safety Conservation Areas - Reconstitution
FOR the purpose of merging the Public Safety Conservation Area Advisory Board and the Baltimore Urban Lighting Board (BULB) into a new, reconstituted board; reviving the Public Safety Conservation Area Program; correcting, clarifying, and conforming related provisions; and generally relating to promoting a crime-free environment in neighborhoods.
body
BY repealing and reordaining, with amendments
Article 14 - Special Benefits Districts
Section(s) 16-1 through 16-8
Baltimore City Code
(Edition 2000)
SECTION 1. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Laws of Baltimore City read as follows:
Baltimore City Code
Article 14. Special Benefits Districts
Subtitle 16. Public Safety Conservation Areas
§ 16 1. Definitions.
(a) In general.
[For the purposes of] IN this subtitle, the following terms [shall] have the meanings [listed below] INDICATED.
(b) Area.
"Area" means an area consisting of 2 or more block faces.
(c) Block face.
"Block face" means all [the] properties, INCLUDING COMMERCIAL, RELIGIOUS, AND RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, on 1 side of a street between 2 consecutive intersecting streets[, including commercial, religious, and residential properties].
(D) BOARD.
"BOARD" MEANS THE BALTIMORE URBAN LIGHTING BOARD ESTABLISHED BY THIS SUBTITLE.
(E) [(d)] Public [safety conservation area] SAFETY CONSERVATION AREA.
"Public [safety conservation area] SAFETY CONSERVATION AREA" means an area designated [in an application filed pursuant to § 16 5 in which signs provided for in] AS A PUBLIC SAFETY CONSERVATION AREA UNDER this subtitle [may be erected].
§ 16 2. Program established.
(a) In general.
[With the cooperation of neighborhoods and City officials, there] THERE is [established] a Public Safety Conservation Area [Advisory Board and] Program to promote a crime free environment in neighborhoods, WITH PRIORITY ATTENTION FOR PUBLIC UPGRADES GIVEN TO NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ORGANIZE THEMSELVES TO IMPROVE THEIR OWN PRIVATE LIGHTING AND TRIMMING OF GREENERY.
(b) Availability.
The Program [shall be] IS available to all qualified [residential blocks and] areas of the City.
(c) Qualifications.
[In order to] TO qualify for the Program, [such blocks and areas shall] AN AREA MUST meet the criteria set forth in this subtitle and [any] IN THE rules and regulations [established] ADOPTED by the Board [in consultation with the Director of Public Works and other City agency heads] under [the requirements of] this subtitle.
§ 16 3. [Advisory] Board ESTABLISHED.
(a) [Board established] IN GENERAL.
There [will be] IS a [Public Safety Conservation Area Advisory] BALTIMORE URBAN LIGHTING Board.
(b) Composition.
[(1)] The Board [will be made up of] COMPRISES THE FOLLOWING 18 MEMBERS:
(1) 11 MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE IV, § 6 OF THE CITY CHARTER, OF WHICH:
(I) 1 MUST BE A MEMBER OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS' ASSOCIATION OF GREATER BALTIMORE, INC.; AND
(II) 1 MUST BE A MEMBER OF THE GREATER BALTIMORE COMMITTEE.
(2) 1 COUNCILMEMBER APPOINTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
(3) [(i)] the Police Commissioner OR THE COMMISSIONER'S DESIGNEE[;].
(4) [(ii)] the Director of Recreation and Parks OR THE DIRECTOR'S DESIGNEE[;].
(5) [(iii)] the Commissioner of [the Department of] Housing and Community Development OR THE COMMISSIONER'S DESIGNEE[;].
(6) [(iv)] the Director of [Public Works] TRANSPORTATION OR THE DIRECTOR'S DESIGNEE[;].
(7) THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING OR THE DIRECTOR'S DESIGNEE;
(8) [(v)] the Director of the Mayor's [Coordinating Council] OFFICE on Criminal Justice OR THE DIRECTOR'S DESIGNEE[; and].
[(vi) the Chair of the City Council's Policy and Planning Committee;]
[who shall serve ex officio; and]
[(vii) a member of the Property Owners' Association and 3 citizens appointed by the Mayor.]
[(2) Any agency head may designate an agent to serve in his or her stead.]
§ 16-4. QUORUM.
(A) QUORUM.
A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD CONSTITUTES A QUORUM FOR THE TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS
(B) VOTING.
AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE BY THE MAJORITY OF A QUORUM IS SUFFICIENT FOR ANY OFFICIAL ACTION.
§ 16 5. OFFICERS.
(A) CHAIR.
THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD IS DESIGNATED BY THE MAYOR FROM AMONG THE APPOINTED MEMBERS.
(B) OTHERS.
THE BOARD MAY ELECT, FROM AMONG ITS MEMBERS, ANY OTHER OFFICERS NEEDED FROM TIME TO TIME.
§ 16 6. GENERAL DUTIES. [(c) General duties.]
[This Advisory] THE Board [will] SHALL:
(1) PUBLICIZE AND PROMOTE THE PUBLIC SAFETY CONSERVATION AREA PROGRAM ESTABLISHED BY THIS SUBTITLE; AND
(2) consider [petitions received from any community group] APPLICATIONS requesting designation OF AREAS as [a] Public Safety Conservation [Area] AREAS.
§ 16 7. MEETINGS.
THE BOARD SHALL MEET ON THE CALL OF THE ITS CHAIR OR THE MAYOR AS FREQUENTLY AS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ITS DUTIES, BUT NOT LESS THAN ONCE EVERY 6 MONTHS.
§ 16 8. [§ 16 4.] Rules and regulations.
The Board shall [promulgate] ADOPT rules AND REGULATIONS [necessary] to:
(1) GOVERN ITS PROCEDURES;
(2) IMPLEMENT THE PUBLIC SAFETY CONSERVATION AREA PROGRAM; AND
(3) OTHERWISE carry out [the provisions of] this subtitle.
§ 16 9. [§ 16 5.] Applications for [participation] DESIGNATION.
[(a) In general.
The procedure shall be as follows.]
(A) [(b)] Applications by residents.
(1) To be considered for the Public Safety Conservation Area Program, a neighborhood group, group of residents, or community association shall submit an application to the Board indicating that at least 60% of the residents of the [block or blocks] AREA wish to [form such an Area] BE DESIGNATED A PUBLIC SAFETY CONSERVATION AREA.
(2) The boundary of the PROPOSED Public Safety Conservation Area [shall] MUST be dearly identified IN THE APPLICATION.
(3) In addition, [on the application] the residents applying must certify IN THE APPLICATION that they have or will have and will use front and rear outdoor lights.
(c) Applications by Police Commissioner.
[For good cause shown and when] IF the Police Commissioner determines that a delay would be harmful to the public safety and welfare, the Commissioner may apply directly to the Board to have an area designated a Public Safety Conservation Area.
§ 16 10. [§ 16 6.] Referral to police district.
(A) REQUIRED REFERRAL.
[Upon referral of the] THE BOARD SHALL REFER EACH application to the local police district[,].
(B) CONFIRMATION OF NEED.
[the] THE Major of that district must confirm that calls for service and incident reports from the area [requesting designation as a Public Safety Conservation Area] demonstrate a need for increased public-safety measures.
§ 16 11. [§ 16 7.] Action by Board.
(a) In general.
The Board [shall] MAY approve or deny [the] AN application.
(b) Reasons to be given for denial.
[When] IF an application is denied, the Board [shall] MUST state the reasons for the denial.
§ 16 12. [§ 16 8.] Operation of Program.
(a) In general.
[Upon approval] ON DESIGNATION of a Public Safety Conservation Area, the CITY WILL TAKE THE following steps [shall be taken by the City] IN THE AREA.
(b) Private lighting confirmed.
Private lighting will be confirmed.
(c) [Inspection of privately] PRIVATELY owned trees.
The CITY FORESTER WILL INSPECT trees [owned by the] ON PRIVATE property [owners in the Area will be inspected by the City Forester] and MAKE recommendations [made] to the owners for trimming [them].
(d) [Trimming of publicly] PUBLICLY owned trees.
The City Forester will trim all trees on public property [which] THAT interfere WITH [to] OR decrease the [intensity] EFFECTIVENESS of the street lighting.
(e) Upgraded street lighting.
[The street] STREET lighting will be upgraded on a priority basis, USING STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY TO ACHIEVE THE MOST ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF LIGHTING AT THE MOST REASONABLE COST.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, That Mayor and City Council Resolution 01 017 {"Baltimore Urban Lighting Board - BULB") is repealed, and the Board established under it is abolished.
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, That the catchlines contained in this Ordinance are not law and may not be considered to have been enacted as a part of this or any prior Ordinance.
SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, That this Ordinance takes effect on the 30th day after the date it is enacted.
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