75A - PH AMENDING CH. 8 OF MUNI CODE

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Santa Ana Municipal Code Ordinance Amendment Regarding Vacant and Historic Properties August 18, 2020 Page 2 banking institutions registered and monitored their properties to address property maintenance concerns. The City Council has a continued stake in protecting neighborhoods against various dangers caused by vacant and abandoned properties and concludes that it is in the best interests of the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens and residents to ensure that all properties within the City are held to reasonable standards of maintenance and security. Vacant and abandoned residential, commercial, industrial, and historic properties are a significant problem and can depreciate property values, reduce property tax revenue, attract crime, create the potential for a permanent loss of a historical resource, degrade the quality of life within the community, and foster an unsafe and unhealthy environment for residents. A recent Code Enforcement survey conducted in June 2020 found approximately 175 properties vacant and abandoned identified as privately owned and not recognized as defaulted or foreclosed mortgage properties. This included a number of historic properties allowed that have remained vacant without proper maintenance, monitoring or security, leading to trespassing, vandalism, delinquency, arson, and destruction. Expanding on the effectiveness of the current ordinance, the Planning and Building Agency recommends amending Chapter 8, Article X of the Santa Ana Municipal Code to include vacant and historic properties providing additional tools for staff to enforce the City's registration and maintenance program. The ordinance will require property owners of vacant properties to properly maintain and secure their properties and also provide the city the ability to require the posting of bonds by property owners, installation of fencing on all vacant properties, and additional private security monitoring. The adoption of the ordinance and implementation of the recommended changes and additions will further assist the City in protecting neighborhoods from the negative impacts and conditions that occur because of vacancy, lack of proper oversight, absentee ownership, and lack of compliance with City regulations and laws (Exhibits 1-3). FISCAL IMPACT The total approved City Foreclosure Registration Program fee is $513. Similar to the PROCHAMPS cost for the administration and collection of the Foreclosure Registration Program, PROCHAMPS annual flat rate registration of $100 will continue for additional identified vacant or abandoned properties such as historic properties. PROCHAMPS will issue a property status report and a check for funds collected from this program to the City on a monthly basis. At this time, the Planning and Building Agency estimates that the additional time needed for monitoring will increase this amount by an additional $800. The staff is working with PROCHAMPS to finalize and refine the amount. The preparation of a fee amount resolution to be adopted with the second reading of the ordinance. 75A-2