McMinnville ecology committee backs vegetation/debris removal authority and slum‑clearance process

McMinnville’s Ecology Building & Grounds Committee voted to recommend two code changes to the full Board of Mayor and Aldermen: an ordinance to authorize expedited removal of vegetation and debris under TCA 6 5 1 13, and adoption of a slum‑clearance and redevelopment process under TCA 13 21.

Committee members said the vegetation and debris measure would shorten existing time frames for enforcement and allow the city to add cleanup costs to the property’s tax bill rather than rely on a standard lien process. A staff member said, “It'll expedite the process, make it cleaner, faster, and much more reliable results.” The staff member added the ordinance would require notice periods—generally 10 days, with some categories receiving 20 days—before the city could proceed with cleanup and tax assessment.

On the slum‑clearance item staff recommended creating a seven‑member review committee to evaluate vacant, blighted properties for redevelopment. Under the described procedure an owner would receive up to 90 days to remedy violations; if not remedied the city could proceed with steps that include tax sale processes and, as an option, eminent domain proceedings after due process. A staff member said the authority “fills in the gap that we currently have” because the city can now remove blighted structures but has been limited in how it repurposes resulting vacant lots.

Committee members asked about appointment and representation; staff said the mayor would appoint committee members subject to board affirmation and suggested appointing one representative from each of the city’s seven code‑enforcement neighborhoods so coverage is geographically distributed.

Both items were moved, seconded and passed at the committee level with votes recorded as “Aye”; the committee will forward both recommendations to the full Board of Mayor and Aldermen for consideration.

The committee discussion included repeated reminders that the slum‑clearance path requires substantial due process and that tax sale procedures remain an available, sometimes faster, alternative to eminent domain.