City of Baltimore - File #: 20-0203R

• File #: 20-0203R
• Version: 0
• Name: Investigative Hearing - Vacant Structure Water Cut-Offs
• Type: City Council Resolution
• Status: Failed - End of Term
• File created: 3/9/2020
• In control: Housing and Urban Affairs Committee
• Final action: 12/7/2020
• Title: Investigative Hearing - Vacant Structure Water Cut-Offs For the purpose of inviting representatives from the Department of Public Works, the Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Department of Real Estate to discuss the enforcement of existing City law requiring that water be cut-off to certain vacant structures, what impediments stand in the way of better enforcement, and whether any legislative action is necessary.
• Sponsors: Mary Pat Clarke, Mayor Brandon M. Scott, John T. Bullock, Bill Henry, Kristerfer Burnett, Zeke Cohen, Leon F. Pinkett, III, Ryan Dorsey, Sharon Green Middleton, Eric T. Costello, Robert Stokes, Sr., Shannon Sneed, Isaac "Yitzy" Schleifer
• Indexes: Cut-off, Investigative Hearing, Vacant Structures, Water

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
12/7/2020	0	City Council	Failed - End of Term
3/12/2020	0	The City Council	Refer to Dept. of Public Works
3/12/2020	0	The City Council	Refer to Dept. of Real Estate
3/12/2020	0	The City Council	Refer to City Solicitor
3/12/2020	0	The City Council	Refer to Dept. of Housing and Community Development
3/9/2020	0	City Council	Assigned
3/9/2020	0	City Council	Introduced

Introductory*

City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)

Introduced by: Councilmember Clarke

A Resolution Entitled

A Council Resolution concerning
title
Investigative Hearing - Vacant Structure Water Cut-Offs
For the purpose of inviting representatives from the Department of Public Works, the Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Department of Real Estate to discuss the enforcement of existing City law requiring that water be cut-off to certain vacant structures, what impediments stand in the way of better enforcement, and whether any legislative action is necessary.
body

Recitals

Article 24, Section 2-3(b)(2) requires that the Department of Public Works cut-off water to vacant structures in Baltimore that are in arrears with their water payments. The policy behind this law is evident. There is no need to have running water to a property that no one lives in or one that is otherwise inhabitable, and broken pipes and leaks that are ignored may greatly affect neighboring properties where people do live.

Further, having running water to a vacant structure often adds to the fees that are owed on that property. These added and unnecessary fees might serve as a deterrent to someone that is otherwise willing to invest in that property to make it habitable and make it less of a blight on the community.

The Council is aware that this law requiring water cut-offs to vacant structures in arrearage is not being broadly enforced. Thus, the Council would like to have a discussion with the relevant City agencies about what administrative impediments are standing in the way of proper enforcement and whether any legislative fixes might be necessary.

Now, therefore, be it resolv...