(a) Whereas it is hereby found and determined that insufficient vacant property guidelines, can pose a danger to the public health, safety and welfare of families and communities. Several studies have determined that vacant and foreclosed properties can quickly become blighted properties. Moreover, vacant and foreclosed properties are at greater risk of becoming abandoned properties than other properties in the City. Locating the person in control of the property or responsible for the care and maintenance of the property is often an impossible task, mired in disputes between the mortgagee, mortgagor, servicer and sub servicer. Accordingly, citations and invoices for property maintenance are routinely ignored at these properties which place these properties at increased risk for becoming unsecured, vandalized and hazardous. These properties are also responsible for thousands of dollars of unpaid invoices due to the City of North College Hill for maintaining these properties.
(b) The purpose of this ordinance is to ensure that vacant and foreclosed properties are protected and maintained and the city officials are alerted to the location of these vulnerable properties in a timely manner. This ordinance is enacted in order to address the problem of blighted properties that are a direct result of vacant and foreclosed properties and that pose a threat to the public health, safety and welfare.
(Ord. 17-2017. Passed 11-20-17.)