Discuss strategies to more effectively manage potential nuisance activity related to vacant properties.

Initiated by: Councilor Arnold

The City of Roswell, like many municipalities in New Mexico, is faced with certain challenges related to vacant properties. Currently, the City has ordinances which principally seek to address some of the issues presented by vacant properties by classifying the negative outcomes as a nuisance. The enforcement of these ordinances typically falls upon the City's Code Enforcement Officers, who work steadily to address properties in a current condition constituting a nuisance to the public. However, their enforcement activities are directed at abating a nuisance that has already occurred. This reactive methodology is time-consuming and does little to prevent vacant properties from deteriorating and becoming a problem for the community. This discussion item is an opportunity to look into additional, and ideally more proactive, methods of regulating vacant properties to give the City additional tools to locate and prevent vacant properties from being damaged by acts of vandalism, arson, or squatters.

See Fiscal Impact below.
N/A

City Attorney has reviewed this item. 
 

Legal Committee will be the first to consider this item.

Proceed as presented.