[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6311146,"mediaKeyId","2396649-10fa31cf57daf37133a64f27ba2b7a64","parentId",2396649,"title","Commission hears update on vacant-property registry; staff proposes ordinance changes and vendor software","audioSeconds",546,"startMs",1373000,"endMs",1919000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2396649-10fa31cf57daf37133a64f27ba2b7a64&start=1373&end=1919","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2396649-10fa31cf57daf37133a64f27ba2b7a64/thumbnail_1373000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6311146/Ohio/Commission-hears-update-on-vacant-property-registry-staff-proposes-ordinance-changes-and-vendor-software","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6311146-37df5b0b284617795f6f9feb066bad0c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770898747&Signature=ATz03Kya~8lw9iN6IZmswulT3Ay0IH93w40rKMX3KTYwhyJ-s88aqAQqVOnu5ilQOXoWTAnGIWeIkUM3QU7cmYpbk5skomqs-~i7XZq~ohB0wicC4xuo1zfkpr1KhxRP45MKp-6JevYSdcutkRF3OEnTJ8K4CIB7vx2DyNUQ0INc0dpF55BQdXnlwy~Q9FAG2PZhFZU9dFVzaqFsQ6GxX9ziVzndNlNxlNnF5zH9TkxKGtHu3ElnK5Lgg3YQMaBw7e7d2LJ0HzwEjunb51D4cHTErKzqLOXsH8-1udgOmPfeQhK1FVN-sK56udx2i6aUja~98Xw1~0HE57nTux-Ihw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Springfield OH","date","2025-02-25T13:39:42Z","article","Logan Cobbs, director of community development, briefed the Springfield City Commission on proposed updates to the city’s Vacant Property Registry (VPR) ordinance and a planned contract with PERA Property Registry LLC to provide software administration for the program.

Cobbs said the VPR was established in January 2020 to reduce neighborhood blight, correct public nuisances and help the city document ownership of vacant residential, commercial and industrial properties. He summarized recent progress: between December 2020 and December 2022 the city reduced the number of unregistered vacant residential structures and increased registrations; in December 2020 the city recorded 722 unregistered vacant properties, including 71 with deceased owners that presented extra complexity.

The ordinance changes Cobbs described (to be read as a first reading) would expand the registry to include commercial and industrial properties, raise the residential registration fee from $100 to $125 annually, add a commercial construction registration fee of $300 semiannually ($600 annually for commercial structures under construction), increase the civil fine for nonregistration from a Class A ($50) to a Class B ($100), and extend the scope of registration notices to owners within a 250-mile radius of City Hall.

Cobbs explained new vacancy thresholds in the proposed ordinance: a commercial structure would be considered vacant after 30 days for certain rules, a multifamily structure after 60 days, and a single-family residential property after 90 days; he clarified that owners would have built-in time to transfer, renovate, or market properties before enforcement timelines take effect. Cobbs said the changes aim to address faster deterioration of vacant commercial properties and the longer-term economic impacts these properties create in business districts.

Cobbs said the city’s prior registration software vendor filed bankruptcy in 2022, leaving the registry stalled; the proposed contract with PERA Property Registry LLC (a software and administration vendor) would be revenue-neutral to the city and provide notice mailing, portal maintenance and billing functions while the city retains inspection, enforcement and fine authority.

Commissioners asked about the vendor’s other municipal customers and fee comparators; Cobbs said PERA serves about 80 customers and that the proposed fees are at the lower end of what that vendor typically charges. Commissioners and staff discussed why the city contracts for software: staff said contracting can be more efficient than hiring full-time staff, and that some federal and state procurement rules also shape vendor selection. Commissioners expressed support for expanding the VPR to commercial properties and for raising penalties to improve owner accountability.

Assistant City Manager/Director of Economic Development (Tom Branson, not a presenter) and other staff participated in questions and clarifications about registration timeframes and enforcement process. City staff said code enforcement will continue to inspect properties, issue orders and levy fines; the software vendor would assist with owner identification (including foreclosed properties) and portal administration.

Cobbs said both the proposed ordinance changes and the agreement with PERA Property Registry LLC would appear as first-reading items on the commission’s legislative agenda that evening; no ordinance was adopted during this meeting’s presentation. Commissioners asked staff to continue outreach and to provide additional details before final vote.

Actions noted at the presentation stage: the proposed amendments to Chapter 13.80 (Vacant Property Registry) and a proposed professional services agreement with PERA Property Registry LLC for registry administration. No final vote on those items occurred in the work session presentation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Commission Meeting, Feb. 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Logan Cobbs, community development director, presented proposed changes to the Vacant Property Registry ordinance and a revenue-neutral software and administration agreement with PERA Property Registry LLC to improve ownership tracking, inspection and enforcement.","taxTitle","Springfield City Commission, Springfield City, Clark County, Ohio","taxId",68986,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6311151,"OIC-led coalition wins $1.6 million DOJ grant for Springfield gun violence reduction program",759,375000,1134000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2396649-10fa31cf57daf37133a64f27ba2b7a64&start=375&end=1134","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2396649-10fa31cf57daf37133a64f27ba2b7a64/thumbnail_375000.jpg","/articles/6311151/Ohio/OIC-led-coalition-wins-16-million-DOJ-grant-for-Springfield-gun-violence-reduction-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6311151-ac1f64c4c3d7ed57ee96eda30a7c1d8d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770898747&Signature=T--IyxCve0eIXWw7r~W3v4A~akvZl0D9GV4EcS9OpQrAJok7ixdF3d~2KmRBXFhFzhjlJH9SIl6vVxApXEPy1I-7SKhMbXetHYDIxecRRk8aBYzMgFnYbZaEXt3M2lTKgOhs-mlpugDvoSNvMUvje1g9cAWrS246IbM4-PCe9JHEajR7VKXqntshtFMZfDX8fdSpVQHC661iciW913f2q9uCaxesjbZ-U~tDtvGCMgxaF0rsyug5D0w9p2qhPVOpNb7IX0~q1Q7RdFwbj66IFxn9dP3OSfzsgW-vmQBqpmazHXzrWHZqwEIUG1dpfbMnwrJMQu8eWRvwyePMCKgjBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Caleb Perkins, gun violence prevention coordinator for the Community-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI) at the OIC of Clark County, told the Springfield City Commission the initiative secured $1,600,000 in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance to support research, planning and early implementation of community-led gun-violence reduction work.

Perkins said the initiative grew from a voluntary coalition of local stakeholders that includes Clark County Juvenile Court, the OIC of Clark County, the City of Springfield, Springfield Police Division, the Springfield Foundation, Springfield City Schools, the Mental Health and Recovery Board, and the Springfield NAACP. The OIC of Clark County is the group’s designated fiscal agent, and Perkins said he is currently the initiative’s only employee.

The grant comes from the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Community-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI). Perkins said the initiative partnered with Case Western Reserve University to collect and analyze data for a community assessment required by the grant. That assessment used data sources including Springfield Police arrest records, Clark County dispatch data and public-health information, plus community surveys and interviews.

Perkins highlighted findings that firearm offenders aged 14 to 24 accounted for the largest share of firearm-related arrests in recent years and that incidents cluster in several census tracts. He identified Census Tract 3 and adjacent tracts 12 and 13 as concentration areas for shots-fired calls and firearm arrests between 2021 and early 2024.

Perkins said the grant-funded work includes identifying and strengthening evidence-based protective programs already operating locally, closing gaps in services, and building a gun-violence reduction plan required by the DOJ grant. Implementation priorities he named include trauma-informed practices, increasing access to positive role models, creating safe spaces for youth and offering social and mentoring opportunities for those at risk of firearm involvement.

Perkins said the initiative is moving from assessment to implementation over the next year and a half and asked for community support and collaboration. He invited citizens and organizations to contact him directly at Cperkins@oicofclarkco.org to participate or to learn how existing local nonprofits and programs can work together under the initiative.

Commissioners thanked Perkins and OIC. Several commissioners asked whether citizens can get involved; Perkins repeated his contact information and said the initiative is still identifying partner organizations and will work with existing community providers.

The presentation described planned next steps and partnership-building rather than a formal commission action. No vote was taken on the program during the meeting.","Caleb Perkins of OIC told the Springfield City Commission the community-based initiative secured $1.6 million from the Department of Justice to fund research, planning and initial services focused on youth and neighborhood hotspots, and called for community partners to help implement the plan.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6311141,"Springfield City Commission approves contracts, grants and purchases in unanimous votes",1685,6453000,8138000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2396649-10fa31cf57daf37133a64f27ba2b7a64&start=6453&end=8138","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2396649-10fa31cf57daf37133a64f27ba2b7a64/thumbnail_6453000.jpg","/articles/6311141/Ohio/Springfield-City-Commission-approves-contracts-grants-and-purchases-in-unanimous-votes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6311141-edb1138e2cbfc5f2138b350e2c85d118/orig.mp4?Expires=1770898747&Signature=fcQaTGTGV0Erh5rWAwHVjzcmiiVks0-i~HU1LIjcKohcVvppjD7GGpUdyBVAuwFHTFsYxHEO4V~v-rFJBnD28qcq5ty0qet7sioOlDnLYeVsO3RZM3MI4bdwgKOhaMPaNB0EtNxKbGrrXFKEx87E80QmjOHQC522PloM4YXE5OzSzT8CeqR-YKnv0x2jEVZKYUTaA3RDv~~vkhG2XILChzDqZ~e7Yk0CMUz3q6zEGG0pJpcdwV2OlMFh6b4Nzh4I3mY3YP1PKoQHkNF0YyVb6lBUmvb-VYYurku3IXvuezO7MRZsUUxYVu11bXAenDfy4rl5neEyGxAvXY5a1eaSDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its regular meeting the Springfield City Commission approved a series of ordinances, contracts, grant acceptances and purchases by unanimous roll call votes. Commissioners present—Mrs. Brown, Dr. Estrop, Mrs. Houston, Mrs. Tackett and Mayor Rue—voted unanimously on the items shown below. Several items were first-read earlier in the meeting; the votes reported here reflect final actions taken during the formal session.

Votes at a glance (each item approved by the commission, roll-call recorded as unanimous 5–0 unless noted):

- Rezoning: Amend zoning map to rezone 0.95 acres at 0 East Street from M-1 General Manufacturing to M-2 Heavy Manufacturing — approved (5–0).

- Change order: Decrease to contract with Tony Smith Wrecking and Trucking for demolition of various parcels, decrease by $15,500 (new total not to exceed $335,200) — approved (5–0).

- Fleet purchase: Authorize purchase of six Ford F-150 trucks, amount not to exceed $358,345.08 (Sourcewell cooperative) — approved (5–0).

- Grant/energy program amendments and acceptances: First amendment to State Energy Program grant (reporting modification) — approved (5–0); acceptance of 2025 Energized Community grant via NOPEC up to $60,694 — approved (5–0).

- Subrecipient agreements for homelessness and related services: Subrecipient agreement with Shelter, Inc., for comprehensive homelessness solutions (amount not to exceed $302,784) — placed on first-reading earlier and approved by roll call (5–0); subrecipient agreement with Project Woman of Ohio for homelessness-related services (amount not to exceed $50,980) — approved (5–0); subrecipient/funding agreements for HUD Continuum programs and Springfield Metropolitan Housing Authority (amounts cited in agenda) — approved (5–0).

- Contract renewals and professional services: Renewal of utility bill printing/mailing contract with Smart Bill Corporate (amount not to exceed $440,000) and continuation of EMS billing services with AcuMed Billing Inc. (details on agenda) — placed on the consent/first-reading list and advanced; authorizing professional services with Highbridge Consulting LLC ($48,000) — approved (5–0); option to renew general professional engineering services with Carpenter Marty Transportation, Inc. (up to $500,000) — approved (5–0).

- Vacant Property Registry ordinance amendment and vendor contract: Amending Chapter 13.80 (Vacant Property Registry) and first reading of a contract with PERA Property Registry LLC for administration were presented in the work session and placed on the legislative agenda; final action on these items was not taken during the presentation but related ordinance action appeared on the evening legislative list for future consideration.

- Purchases for street materials and asphalt: Contracts authorized with A & B Asphalt Corporation (not to exceed $421,950), Shelley Materials Inc. (not to exceed $415,000), Highway LLC (not to exceed $78,400) and Valley Asphalt Corporation (not to exceed $576,050) — each approved (5–0).

- Appropriations, payroll and equipment upfits: Supplemental appropriations and confirmations of purchases and services were approved as emergency measures; authorization to purchase and install upfitting for four trucks (not to exceed $644,465) — approved (5–0). The commission also approved a 2% cost-of-living increase for nonbargaining unit employees effective July 1 — approved (5–0).

- Land-use and incentive items: Tax-increment financing and cooperative agreements for Melody Park New Community Authority and related developers, an amendment to Sycamore Ridge TIF compensation payments, and an amendment related to an energy special improvement district under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1710 were placed on the agenda and approved where shown by roll call (5–0).

- Appointment: Consent appointment of Bradley Souls to the City Planning Board — approved (5–0).

Commission discussion and staff explanation: For several items staff described reasons for contracting or procurement choices (efficiency, existing cooperative purchasing agreements such as Sourcewell and ODOT procurements), and staff clarified the procurement process for homelessness funding (HUD and subrecipient RFP processes). Commissioners asked clarifying questions (for example about vendor customer size for the property registry vendor and why some services are contracted rather than maintained in-house). Staff responded that contracting is often more efficient and subject to procurement rules and that federal funds often require specific program procurement steps.

The meeting record shows commissioners thanked staff for reports on public safety, the vacant-property work and homelessness services, and encouraged continued coordination with county and state partners on system-level issues such as jail capacity and housing.","The commission voted unanimously on a package of ordinances, contracts, grants and appropriations covering utility billing renewals, homelessness subrecipient grants, vehicle and street-material purchases, energy grants, salary adjustments for nonbargaining staff, and other routine city business.","actionData","errors"]

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Commission hears update on vacant-property registry; staff proposes ordinance changes and vendor software

OIC-led coalition wins $1.6 million DOJ grant for Springfield gun violence reduction program

Springfield City Commission approves contracts, grants and purchases in unanimous votes