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Council introduces vacant‑property registry ordinance, votes 3‑2 to move it forward
Summary
The council introduced Ordinance No. 18‑82 to establish a vacant, abandoned and foreclosed residential‑property registry; the council directed staff to set a registration fee by resolution and to begin enforcement after a six‑month outreach period. The motion passed 3–2.
The Gardena City Council on May 20 introduced Ordinance No. 18‑82, establishing a vacant property registry for residential properties that are vacant, abandoned, or in foreclosure, and directed staff to return with a fee resolution and a notice of exemption under CEQA.
Under the proposed ordinance, beneficiaries, trustees or property managers must register residential properties that secure a deed when a notice of default is recorded: registration is required within 10 business days after recording a notice of default, and owners of properties already vacant must register within 30 days. Registration is annual and nonrefundable; staff said the exact fee will be set by resolution after a cost analysis and suggested a likely range of $150–$350 based on comparable programs staff reviewed.
Nut graf: The council moved the measure forward after staff and council discussion about how to identify foreclosed or otherwise unmaintained homes and whether a registry will let code enforcement be more proactive. The ordinance passed first reading 3–2; councilmembers Francis and Love voted no.
The code enforcement process described in the staff presentation would require a registry entry, an initial inspection by code enforcement and weekly property checks by a local property management company or trustee. The ordinance would require properties to be secured, landscaping maintained, and the absence of graffiti, trash and debris; failure to comply would subject owners to municipal code enforcement measures, citation and potential liens to recover abatement costs.
Staff said enforcement would start after a six‑month grace and outreach period following adoption to allow education and community notification. Council members asked about numbers; staff said Gardena had recorded 45 foreclosures in the last 12 months but that code enforcement typically identifies only a handful of active abandoned properties each year. The council asked staff to return with a fee resolution and implementation details.
Ending: The ordinance was introduced and will return for adoption and fee resolution; staff will design an outreach plan for the six‑month implementation period and bring a fee proposal back to council.
