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
Special Benefits Districts - Bmore Safe Places
For the purpose of redesignating the City’s Public Safety Conservation Area Program as the NeighborWatch Area Program; setting the requirements for neighborhoods to participate in the NeighborWatch Area Program; creating a Bmore Safe Places Board to implement the NeighborWatch Area Program; requiring the Department of Transportation to post signs in designated NeighborWatch Areas; and generally relating to the NeighborWatch Area Program.
body
By repealing and reordaining, with amendments
Article 14 - Special Benefits Districts
Section(s) 16-1 to 16-3, 16-6, 16-8, 16-9, and 16-12
Baltimore City Code
(Edition 2000)
By redesignating
Article 14 - Special Benefits Districts
Subtitle 16. Public Safety Conservation Areas
to be
“Subtitle 16. Bmore Safe Places”
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] Bmore Safe Places
§ 16-1. Definitions.
(a) In general.
In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
(b) Area.
“Area” means an area consisting of 2 or more block faces.
(c) Block face.
“Block face” means all properties, including commercial, religious, and residential properties, on 1 side of a street between 2 consecutive intersecting streets.
(d) Board.
“Board” means the [Baltimore Urban Lighting] Bmore Safe Places Board established by this subtitle.
(e) [Public Safety Conservation] NeighborWatch Area.
“[Public Safety Conservation] NeighborWatch Area” means an area designated as a [Public Safety Conservation] NeighborWatch Area under this subtitle.
§ 16-2. Program established.
(a) In general.
There is a [Public Safety Conservation] NeighborWatch Area 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 to reduce interference with the lighting of the neighborhood and also either:
(1) register privately-owned security cameras with the City; or
(2) run their own resident-based or privately-funded security patrol.
(b) Availability.
The Program is available to all qualified areas of the City.
(c) Qualifications.
To qualify for the Program, an area must meet the criteria set forth in this subtitle and in the rules and regulations adopted by the Board under this subtitle.
§ 16-3. Board established.
(a) In general.
There is a [Baltimore Urban Lighting] Bmore Safe Places Board.
(b) Composition.
The Board comprises the following [18] 21 members:
(1) [11] 14 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) The Police Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee.
(4) The Director of Recreation and Parks or the Director’s designee.
(5) The Commissioner of Housing and Community Development or the Commissioner’s designee.
(6) The Director of Transportation or the Director’s designee.
(7) The Director of Planning or the Director’s designee.
(8) The Director of the Mayor’s Office on Criminal Justice or the Director’s designee.
§ 16-6. General duties.
The Board shall:
(1) publicize and promote the [Public Safety Conservation] NeighborWatch Area Program established by this subtitle using materials approved by the Board; [and]
(2) consider applications requesting designation of areas as [Public Safety Conservation] NeighborWatch Areas; and
(3) approve the design and specifications of the signs that the Department of Transportation must provide in accordance with § 16-12(f) of this subtitle.
§ 16-8. Rules and regulations.
The Board shall adopt rules and regulations to:
(1) govern its procedures;
(2) implement the [Public Safety Conservation] NeighborWatch Area Program; and
(3) otherwise carry out this subtitle.
§ 16-9. Applications for designation.
(a) Applications by residents.
(1) To be considered for the [Public Safety Conservation] NeighborWatch 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 area wish to be designated a [Public Safety Conservation] NeighborWatch Area.
(2) The boundary of the proposed [Public Safety Conservation] NeighborWatch Area must be dearly identified in the application.
(3) In addition, the residents [applying must certify in the application that they have or will have and will use front and rear outdoor lights] must certify in the application which of the following they are able to provide:
(i) the location and ownership of all privately-owned security cameras to be registered with the City;
(ii) the frequency of any resident-based or privately-funded security patrol;
(iii) a commitment that they have and will use front and rear outdoor lights on their individual homes; or
(iv) a commitment that they will trim back - and keep trimmed - any privately owned greenery which might interfere with either public or private lighting of the neighborhood.
(b) Applications by Police Commissioner.
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] NeighborWatch Area.
§ 16-12. Operation of Program.
(a) In general.
On designation of a [Public Safety Conservation] NeighborWatch Area, the City will take the following steps in the Area.
(b) Private lighting confirmed.
Private lighting will be confirmed.
(c) Privately owned [trees] greenery.
The City Forester will inspect [trees] greenery on private property and make recommendations to the owners for trimming any privately owned greenery which might interfere with either public or private lighting of the neighborhood.
(d) Publicly owned trees.
The City Forester will trim all trees on public property that interfere with or decrease the effectiveness of the street lighting.
(e) Upgraded street lighting.
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.
(f) Signage.
The Department of Transportation will post at least one sign on each blockface of the Area, stating that this block is part of a NeighborWatch Area.
Section 2. 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 3. And be it further ordained, That this Ordinance takes effect on the 30th day after the date it is enacted.