ORDINANCE NO. BL2017-705

An ordinance establishing an incentive program to allow neighborhoods to be awarded for meeting all Code requirements.

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council of Nashville & Davidson County recognizes that there are areas of the city that unfortunately include areas in violation of the property standards and other requirements of the Metropolitan Code of Laws, whether it be grass too high, trash piled up in the front yard, or cars parked in the front yard; and

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Code is long and, in many cases, property owners may actually not know that they are in violation of the Code; and

WHEREAS, instead of penalizing people in neighborhoods for violating Codes, the use of incentives to reward compliance can bring neighborhoods together to work with each other in bringing their respective areas up to Code standards; and

WHEREAS, under an incentives program, neighborhoods could apply for an initial review with the Department of Codes Administration, without penalty, and then the neighborhood could then work to come into compliance with Codes provisions and, if successful, could obtain an incentive grant from the Metropolitan Government to be used for the further benefit of the neighborhood;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That Title 16 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws is hereby amended by inserting the following new language as new section 16.34:

Chapter 16.34 NEIGHBORHOOD INCENTIVE PROGRAM

There will be created within the department of codes administration a program to be named the "Neighborhood Incentive Grant Program" which will be used to incentivize neighborhood areas that are not in compliance with the property standards and other provisions of the Metropolitan Code of Laws. The grants, in an annual amount not to exceed $5,000 per neighborhood, will be awarded to neighborhoods that, after an initial review by the department of codes administration, are determined on a second review by the department to have come into full compliance with the Metropolitan Code.

The program and all policies and procedures will be drafted by the codes department for implementation of the program no later than September 30, 2017 and a copy of said policies and procedures shall be provided to each district council member.

The amount of the funding for the program shall not exceed a total amount per district per year of $25,000 and neighborhoods will be eligible to participate on a first-come, first-served basis. When the program income is distributed per district for that given year, that program for the district will be concluded for that respective year.

District council members shall be made aware by the department of codes administration of any and all applications submitted by neighborhoods in their respective districts and shall be invited to attend and participate in all aspects of the program.

Section 2. That this Ordinance shall take effect from and after its passage, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Jim Shulman, Davette Blalock