Block Captain Guide
BuildNeighborhoods.com
Rockford Block Captain Guide A resource for neighborhood leaders
Contents Introduction ___________________________________________________ 2 Why you should read this book
Setting Expectations _____________________________________________ 3 Apply these standards to yourself and then share with others.
The Basics of Being a Block Leader _________________________________ 5 How to be a block leader or support others
Neighborhood Management Handouts ______________________________ 6 Sharing good neighbor concepts with neighbors
Rockford Police: Community Services Unit _________________________ 12 This unit is dedicated to helping neighborhoods fight crime
Version 1.0
Property Standards _____________________________________________ 14 This helps you understand what is a violation on your street
Neighborhood Standards ________________________________________ 15 Additional things you should know about keeping up the appearance of your neighborhood
Neighborhood Builder __________________________________________ 16 How to find more in-depth instructions about organizing your neighborhood for improvement
Rockford, IL
Block Captain Guide
BuildNeighborhoods.com
Introduction The Block Captain Guide is tool designed for concerned neighbors who desire a better environment for their neighborhood. Today’s neighborhoods have many challenges keeping them from reaching their full potential. The good news is there are many examples of how neighbors just like you have overcome these challenges. So how did they do it? Successful leaders or activist start by reaching out to their neighbors and encouraging positive relationships and interactions. The disconnected neighborhood is an easy mark for criminals and problem neighbors. The more people talk the stronger the area becomes.
Where to start? The first section we have included in the manual is about setting expectations. It discusses what many people in the community would want their neighbors to consider as a standard of house maintenance. These are not official codes of the City of Garland, but common expectations of the community. We have included a section on becoming a block captain for your street. It lets you know what would be expected of you if you chose to be the leader for your street. We highly encourage you to consider this as a way to get things done on your street. When you have your street talking together then consider getting involved with your larger neighborhood group. They will love to have active members like yourself. If you don’t have a larger neighborhood group, consider starting one. You start be encouraging more people on nearby streets to do what you have done on your street. Give them copies of this document as a start. Consider ordering the Neighborhood Builder disk, available at our web site. It provides an indepth set of directions to bring your neighborhood together.
Build Neighborhoods
Resources for Building Your Neighborhood!
www.BuildNeighborhoods.com Find ways to organize your street and area with the intention of building your neighborhood. Learn about how to work with your neighbors to get your streets looking attractive and being the neighborhood you want to live in.
2
Rockford, IL
Block Captain Guide
BuildNeighborhoods.com
Setting Expectations How does setting expectations create strong neighborhoods? Today’s society has changed dramatically over the past several decades. Neighborhood residents have shown an increasing lack of interaction with each other. Reasons for this include busier schedules, frequent turnover of housing units, and others. The impacts of these trends have led to unstable neighborhoods. Unstable neighborhoods refer to areas where although the housing stock is in fair shape, signs of decline are apparent to visitors. These signs, such as Christmas lights on houses in July, overgrown yards, and unmaintained shrubbery show a lack of care by the residents. The first thought for the visitors to the area is its “changing” or becoming more “rental”. This leads to fewer homeowners interested in buying into the neighborhood. The opposite is equally true. When visitors see well kept yards, houses showing no signs of disrepair, and a generally clean neighborhood, they will have a higher opinion of the neighborhood. The result is an area where potential homeowners want to move into the neighborhood. By definition, this is a vital neighborhood.
The Neighbors With fewer neighbors interacting in a neighborhood, it becomes more difficult for a household to understand their neighbors’ expectations. If we can strive to meet these expectations, the neighborhood will improve dramatically.
First You, Then Your Neighbors! Everything starts with at you. Neighbors won’t paint the trim on their house when your Christmas lights are up in July! Use the Block Leader Guide to see if there are things requiring change to make your home appear more neighborly. Once you are addressing the needs of your own property, then you can ask your neighbors to improve theirs. The one thing you can do right away is talk to your neighbors. It doesn’t matter what you talk about, just talk! Catch them as they get home from work, when they are in their yards on the weekends, or maybe when you see them at your next block meeting. You don’t have to make them your best friend, but you need to establish a neighborly relationship with those around you. Below are some ideas of what the average neighbor expects from the people around them. If neighbors would review each section and take steps to address anything conflicting with the suggestions, the neighborhood would take on a more positive look and the attitudes between neighbors would improve.
House Appearance 1. Any painted surface should remain free from chipping or peeling paint. 2. Brick work should be properly grouted with a uniform color of grout material. 3. Roofs should be in good repair, missing shingles should be replaced. Temporary repairs involving plastic coverings should be removed quickly with permanent surfaces. 4. Broken or cracked windows should be replaced promptly. 5. Screen or storm doors should be kept in good repair. 6. Christmas lights should be removed no later than March or whenever weather allows.
3
Rockford, IL
Block Captain Guide
BuildNeighborhoods.com
Fences
Sidewalks
1. Wood fences should be kept straight and upright.
1. Grass or weeds should not be allowed to grow up through cracks in the sidewalks.
2. Wood fence surfaces should be preserved with a proper wood stain. 3. Missing pieces of fence should be replaced. 4. Loose pieces should be properly secured to prevent loss during strong winds. 5. Grass on both sides should be cut low, with trimming performed where necessary.
Lawns 1. Although most city codes requires grass to not exceed 12�, the opinions of your neighbors would be no higher than six inches. 2. Patches of missing grass should be addressed with planting grass seed and watering.
2. Toys, tools, and other items should not be left unattended on the sidewalks.
Rear Yards 1. The rear yard should be maintained in the same way as the front yard. 2. Even though there may be a screening fence around your yard, you should not keep inoperable vehicles, old furniture, or any other unsightly items in the yard. 3. Garbage should be kept in proper containers. 4. Pets, either penned or chained to one area, should be moved periodically to avoid creating strong odors that affect your neighbors.
Trees
Side Yards
1. It is very important to keep trees that are located near the street trimmed back from any street lights to allow for proper lighting of the neighborhood.
1. Side yards or areas should not be used for storage of any kind.
2. Trees need to be trimmed in general to avoid looking unkempt.
Neighborhood Behavior
3. The grass around any tree or bush should be trimmed down to give a clean appearance. 4. Leaves should be raked up and removed during the fall months.
Driveways 1. Car repair in driveways should be completed within two days. 2. Automobiles should not be left lifted up when no one is present (for safety and appearance reasons). 3. Grass or weeds should not be allowed to grow up through cracks in the driveway. 4. It is not neighborly to block the sidewalk with your vehicles.
4
1. All parents should be approachable regarding the behavior of their children 2. You should notify your immediate neighbors of any party plans with potential for loud music or noise. 3. The ending time of parties should be discussed with neighbors so that you understand their expectations. 4. Remain calm when discussing differences with neighbors. 5. It is ok to contact neighbors either by phone or in person about the behavior of their children. 6. You should participate in any neighborhood block watch or group. 7. Continuous barking of your dog should be addressed promptly.
Rockford, IL
Block Captain Guide
BuildNeighborhoods.com
Becoming a Block Captain Becoming a block captain is an important step in the improvement of your neighborhood. A block captain sees there is work to be done and wants to see action. Often their first contact with the City is through the police department. They offer instruction for creating a crime watch. The crime watch is a great place to start for someone wanting to make a difference. We, however, want to enhance the crime watch model by making the block captain more of a leader for all improvements required by the street they oversee.
The role of the Block Captain A block captain serves a critical role in managing the neighborhood. Without the block captain, neighbors have a tendency to avoid confronting what needs to be addressed in the neighborhood. The block captain engages their fellow neighbors in conversation and problem solving to make the neighborhood better. Neighbors have a general desire to have stronger relationships with the people on their street, but fail to connect. The block captain plays an important role in introducing people to each other while asking them to work on common issues. These relationships build up a level of social capital resulting in a vital neighborhood.
How is it different from a crime watch block captain You have most likely heard of block captains and crime watches. A block captain goes beyond the role of the crime prevention block captain to look at neighborhood improvement. What are things the neighbors and the City could do to improve the neighborhood to be more attractive to both themselves and visitors? A block captain will look at beautification, needed city services, neighborhood standards and similar topics. They will organize a response when they see a need occurring in their neighborhood. A crime watch block captain will focus more on preventing criminal activity. This approach is very necessary for our neighborhoods, however there is much more to be done beyond crime prevention.
Keep communication open with neighbors Communication is key to the success of your efforts. Your neighbors need to talk to you and with others on their street. This is not the norm for most streets. The block captain will encourage people to share their concerns with the rest of the group so everyone can be aware. The block captain will also be in communication with the city departments they contact while performing their duties. When you learn something from an official, you will want to share the message with your block. Many block captains will use phone calls, email, flyers, or newsletters to communicate with neighbors.
Knowing who to call A large part of the responsibilities of being a block captain surround making phone calls. Often they receive emails or phone calls from their neighbors about something requiring attention by a city department. By using the City Directory, the reader will be able to determine the proper department to call or email with their request. Your neighbors need someone who has the answer of who to call. Over time, the block captain will gain working knowledge of the city departments and not only know which department to contact, but also the individual/employee they should call.
Follow-up When a block captain puts in request of city departments or asks a neighbor to take action the activity doesn’t stop there! Follow-up is key to having success in managing your neighborhood or street. You will need to make phone calls or emails to your contact people to make sure progress is being made. The frequency of your follow-up should be kept in mind to avoid becoming overbearing but yet enough to get the desired action. 5
Rockford, IL
Block Captain Guide
Friendly Reminder Campaign Many block leaders run into the problem of lack of awareness by their neighbors when it comes to maintenance and other issues related to their yard and home. It doesn’t seem to matter if the neighborhood is old or new. There are several ways you can approach the topic with your neighbors: 1. Call a meeting where you stress the importance of curb appeal on your street and throughout the neighborhood. 2. Pay a visit to your neighbor and talk about the importance of presenting a good image for the neighborhood. 3. Take the message door-to-door about the importance of yard/house maintenance. In all three examples, it would be important to have some written material to leave with them. The following are pages of flyers to utilize when talking about the topic. These pages are also available for free download at our web site. If you put them on colored paper, stay with the pastel colors so the text is easy to read. Avoid dark colored paper.
Calling a meeting The best method here is to call a meeting for the topic or simply have it as one of the items you are discussing at your next meeting. Stand up and give a brief message about preserving home prices and having a street where people enjoy coming home to a beautiful neighborhood. Acknowledge the fact there is some work involved to achieve an attractive street. If everyone would work on their own yard and home, the whole block would prosper. You may want to mention how neighbors can work together to take on large projects or to share tools. Sometimes the only thing to be shared is knowledge of how to do something like building flowerbeds. After you get agreement from the group to try to improve their home, let them know you will be putting out some information over the next couple of months. One objection may be the neighbors who are not taking care of their yard are not at the meeting. Assure your neighbors your plan is designed to make them aware of their obligations. 6
BuildNeighborhoods.com
After the meeting, make copies of the first flier and deliver it to the door of every house on your street. The idea of the flyer is to put reminders of the neighbor’s responsibilities in a non-threatening manner. It is important for all houses to receive the flyer. When a disgruntled neighbor ask you why you put the flyer on their door, you simply reply you put it on everyone’s door as useful information for everyone
Pay a Visit Try to catch the person-in-question on the weekend or after work when you see them in the front of the house. If you don’t know them, introduce yourself. Tell them you are working to preserve and improve the appearance of the street so more people enjoy living in the neighborhood. Talk about examples on the street or nearby where people have put effort into the appearance of their homes. Let them know you will be putting out some information on how people can make their home look better with simple little things. The person in question may start getting defensive. Avoid talking about the deficiencies of their house. Instead share how you too find it hard to keep up on things with a busy life. You may get the reason for their lack of beautification is financial. Try to identify with them on this reason too. What you want is for them to see you have the same struggles. However, you can share how you overcome these obstacles such as “I just set aside 20 minutes a week to work in my flowerbed” or “I bought those bushes on sale at the end of the season”. Simply avoid confrontation no matter how good it will make you feel. Don’t try to solve the problem in one conversation; people just don’t change so easy. You want to follow up this conversation with the door-to-door campaign mentioned. This system works through a series of reminders.
Message to Everyone A good way to avoid conflict is to simply drop off a flyer at every house. Wait two or three weeks and then drop off a different flyer. You can repeat this process in the spring and near the end of the summer to keep maintenance and being a good neighbor on everyone's mind.
About Our Yards . . . Steps to Improve Our Street!
R educe the Number of Mowings!
Many times we cut our grass because of the weeds, not the grass. When we see our neighbors yard in need of cutting it is mainly due to the weeds. Lets encourage everyone to apply weed killer twice a year to take away the weed issue and to make our yards look better!
T rees and Shrubs
W hat About No Grass?
It is great to have shade trees, but this leads to bare spots in the lawn where grass won’t grow. The answer is to plant ground cover or a type of grass called “shade grass”. This is a special type of plant that requires less water and sunlight to grow. Cover the area with some top soil that is easily purchased at your local hardware store. Then sprinkle the shade grass on top and then sprinkle more top soil over top of the seed. Water the spot every night until the grass starts to grow. You can add some straw if you like to help keep the seed and soil from washing away. Spots of no grass in a yard really takes away from the appearance of the neighborhood. We can all do our part to make the neighborhood a nice place to live by keeping our yards attractive.
Nothing makes the yard look better than some trees and shrubs. However, even these require a little attention now and again. Trees tend to get a little rough around the edges. They should be trimmed up and back along the outer edge of the branches. Small trees tend to get small branches or leaves growing from the lower trunk. These need to be trimmed up once or twice per summer to give a nice clean look. You wouldn’t believe how much this can improve the streetscape of the block.
About Our Homes . . . Steps to Improve Our Street!
S iding and Paint
You won’t find a better return on your investment than siding or painting your house. Even houses with brick exteriors usually have some type of trim-work that is hardy board or wood requiring painting. Nothing lasts forever, so we should review our homes each year to determine if there is a need. Roofs, gutters, and windows all help to preserve our houses so they last longer and minimizes our repairs. These are also very visible investments that encourage others to do the same. Seasonal decorations make the neighborhood seem very festive, but we must remember to take them down in a timely manner. Christmas lights in July does not put our best foot forward.
P arking Cars
How cars are parked is very important to the image of the neighborhood. There are only a couple of don’ts that we should avoid. The first is to park in-operable cars on the property or in the street. People know quickly if a car is not working. Cars with tarps over them, grass growing tall around the base of them, or other indicators tell the story. The neighborhood’s image just can’t afford to have these cars just laying around. Too many cars in the street show signs of overcrowding and greatly disturbs the neighbors.
C lutter in the Yard?
We always have the need for more storage, don’t we? Many times we leave things in the front of the house, because of a lack of places to put them. The down side of this is that it detracts from the image of our block and neighborhood. The solution may be to ad a storage shed in the backyard. If it isn’t a lawn ornament, it should not be left in the front yard. This includes toys, furniture, vehicles, garbage, or other items. All of these items may give a poor image of our neighborhood. We do care! We want a beautiful neighborhood to be proud of. We can do this by simply making sure our visible yard areas are kept free of clutter.
Cars parked in yards or facing the wrong way on the street are both illegal and damaging to the image of the neighborhood. These are all things we can work with each other to improve our neighborhood!
About Our Neighbors . . . Steps to Improve Our Street!
T alk to Your Neighbors
Of all the things we can do to make our neighborhood great, talking is the easiest and the most beneficial. Communication is king when looking at what makes a healthy neighborhood. By talking to each other, we learn what is happening in the neighborhood and what needs to be done. Discussing a vacant property, loud music, or other issues leads to solutions. Beyond the issues is the value of the relationships that are formed by simply talking about sports, hobbies, family, and even the weather!
S et the Example
As caring neighbors of the block, it is our desire to see everything in order and strong relationships on our block. We can make this happen by setting an example with our property and our actions.
A ttend Meetings
It is one thing to talk to our spouse or our neighbor about what the issue in our neighborhood is, its another to take action. Taking action usually requires organizing a response then acting on it with others. The best place for this is at our neighborhood meeting. By attending our neighborhood meetings, we get other people’s opinions and ideas. Sometimes, it will be our individual input that will provide the missing piece to solving an issue. Not everyone has to be a leader, but everyone should be involved in planning our future.
When our neighbors see us walk out in the street to pick up a discarded piece of paper, they will be encouraged to do the same. When we edge our grass along our driveway and sidewalk, they begin to see the need to do the same. When we come home at night and see a neighbor in their yard, let us take a few minutes to walk over and start a conversation with them. You would be surprised at how many others will take notice of this. The hope is that others see the value in creating these positive relationships and repeat the process.
About Walking . . . Steps to Improve Our Street!
G reat Neighborhood Activity
Picture the people in our neighborhood walking in the evening hours as the day cools down. What a natural opportunity to meet and greet each other! We also get a chance to identify things we need to get fixed in our neighborhood. People are the greatest asset we have, so lets make sure we socialize and find out what is happening both on our street and with our neighbors!
N otice Things E xercise
Everyone can benefit from getting out and walking. Light exercise keeps us young and energetic. As we age, we tend to become inactive. Walking in our neighborhood with our fellow neighbors allows us to get our blood pumping and muscles moving all while socializing with our neighbors.
To make a healthier street we have to know our neighborhood. When we walk we see both the things that are good and those that need to be addressed. Let’s use our time to make note of things that should be improved and take action on them. Don’t assume that something has been reported to the City or to our neighborhood organization. We can make a difference by taking notice and then taking action.
N eighborhood Walk Night Mondays at 7:00 PM
Just step outside at this time and start walking. When you encounter other people walking introduce yourself or simply waive. Better relations will lead to a better neighborhood.
About Our Children . . . Steps to Improve Our Street!
K now What They Are Doing!
We often hear or see young people are causing mischief in our neighborhood. Our children are our greatest asset so me must take good care of them. At a certain age, we find they are old enough to play in the neighborhood without supervision. As parents, we owe it to them to take time to track them down and observe their behavior. This means walking down the street to the house they are playing at and checking with them to see if all is well. This reminds them that they are being monitored and that their behavior matters!
O h The Toys! H ear From Your Neighbors
You can’t be everywhere at once, so accept help when you can get it. In today’s society, we are afraid to tell some one that their kids have been acting up. We need our neighbors to be open to hearing about their children’s behavior. Along with the bad news comes an opportunity for good things. The same neighbors who report the bad will look out for your children. Your neighbors can keep a protective eye on the children when they are playing. We need to provide a setting where the “village can raise the child”.
If you have children, you most likely have those big monstrous toys like the big cars or wagons the kids enjoy so much. The down side for the neighborhood is when these big toys or others are left in the front or side yards of a home. Neighbors and visitors find this look to be a poor reflection on the neighborhood. We need to have a storage place for these toys and they need to be picked up when they are not being played with.
Rockford, IL
Block Captain Guide
BuildNeighborhoods.com
Rockford Police: Community Services Unit The Community Services Unit consists of Rockford Police Officers who are responsible for developing crime reducing and problem solving partnerships with the citizens and businesses in their areas. Officers within this unit employ both traditional and non-traditional methods to solve these problems. Officers may take an educational approach to problem solving by educating the business in their areas on the topics of armed robbery prevention, business security or work place violence. Citizens may receive training in the areas of home repair fraud, senior citizen scams or financial identity theft. Community Service Officers are also available to conduct home security surveys. Click HERE for your Community Services Officer.
Special Programs Sponsored By Community Services Neighborhood Watch Community Services Officers are available to assist neighborhoods in starting a neighborhood watch. Officers will assist with notifying other neighbors, presiding over the first meeting, and addressing crime problems in their neighborhoods. They will also act as a liaison to other units of government that may be able to assist with problems in their areas.
Crime Free Multi -Housing The Crime Free Multi-Housing program is a unique, three-phase certification program for rental properties of all sizes. This program is designed to reduce the incidents of crime at rental properties. During the first phase, property owners receive training from police officers, firefighters, building officials and legal staff on topics designed to increase their awareness of crime and other city codes. During the second phase, landlords are given suggestions on property security and general building appearance. In the third phase, the property owner is asked to sponsor a safety social for residents and neighbors. This is designed to acquaint tenants with neighbors and neighbors with the building owner. Upon completion, property owners are provided with CrimeFree Multi-Housing signs to display on their buildings along with permission to use the patented CFMH logo when advertising vacancies.
Home Security Surveys The Rockford Police Community Services unit would like to help you make your home or business an uninviting target for burglars. Police Officers, certified as Level II Crime Prevention Specialists, are available to conduct a security survey of your home or business. During this survey officers will prepare a written report and provide you with recommendations for increased security. These officers are able to provide tips on the obvious things such as locks and lighting as well as suggesting ways to landscape your property in such a way that it encourages criminals to "move on" to an easier target. Whether you have an existing home or are considering building a new one, we encourage you take advantage of this free service by calling the Community Services Unit at 987-5041 and scheduling an appointment.
Neighborhood Organizations The Rockford Police Department recognizes that the strength and vibrancy of the city is largely attributable to the strength of its neighborhoods. Many studies show that criminals target those areas where complacency seems to be acceptable. Active neighborhood organizations that work together on improving the quality of life in their neighborhoods send a different message. Some neighborhood groups work together on such things as improving the appearance of their neighborhoods while others lobby city officials for improved lighting or neighborhood park improvements. The Community Services Unit of the Rockford Police Department currently assists 24 active neighborhood organizations. Community Services Officers attend each one of these meetings and encourage those in attendance to bring their crime and quality of life issues forward. The Community Service Officers then work on these problems and report the results at the next meeting. C.S.O’s also provide assistance with meeting notifications allowing neighborhood groups to use the police departments "Reverse 911" system to call each resident who lives within the group’s boundaries. This system is also used to notify residents of crime trends in their neighborhood. Officers will also assist by organizing and presiding over the groups initial meetings.
If you would like more information on any of the programs please contact the Community Services Unit at (815) 987-5041.
12
Rockford, IL
Block Captain Guide
BuildNeighborhoods.com
Property Standard Requirements Garages and Accessory Structures
•
City of Rockford’s Property Maintenance Code Section 302.7 regarding Garages and Accessory structures states: All accessory structures, including detached garages, fences and walls and retaining walls shall be maintained structurally sound and in good repair. All garages where a garage door was intended or installed must be provided with a functioning garage door.
Roofs and Drainage •
Any roof needs to be sound, tight and not have defects that admit rain. Just putting a tarp over the roof does not fix the problem. A roofing permit is required to do any roofing work.
•
Gutters and downspouts need to be maintained in good repair & free from obstructions. Drainage water may not be discharged in a manner that creates a public nuisance.
•
Overhangs should be free from decay & deterioration. This includes canopies, metal awnings & fire escapes, to name a few. These should also be properly anchored so as to be kept in a sound condition.
Below are some options available to homeowners & banks/mortgage companies to prevent an ordinance violation: •
Make sure garage & garage doors are tightly secured at all times when not in use;
•
Keep fences, walls & retaining walls in good condition. Replace any rotted, broken boards or extremely bent chain link fencing.
•
Make sure retaining walls are in good shape & do not allow ground erosion onto neighboring properties; replace or repair any retaining walls that are in bad shape & falling apart.
General Exterior City of Rockford’s Property Maintenance Code Section 304 regarding the Exterior of a Structure deals with many types of exterior issues. •
•
•
Stairways & Porches •
Exterior stairways, decks & porches should be maintained structurally sound, in good repair & be capable of supporting the imposed loads.
•
Exterior handrails and guardrails should be firmly fastened & maintained in good condition.
Windows and Doors •
The General Exterior of a structure must be in good shape.
All exterior window & door frames should be in sound condition, good repair and weather tight.
•
Exterior surfaces need to be free of holes, cracks & decay. Rotting wood & missing siding needs to be replaced to avoid decay underneath the surface.
All windows shall be maintained free from cracks and holes. Plexiglass or regular glass may be used when replacing any windows.
•
Property addresses need to be visible from the road in order for emergency personnel to be able to identify the property.
Every window, other than a fixed window, shall be easily openable and capable of being held in position by window hardware.
•
Insect screens are required during the period from April 1st to October 1st on every door, window and other outside opening to allow for ventilation of habitable rooms.
•
All exterior doors shall be maintained in good condition & be able to be tightly secured at all times.
•
All exterior structural members need to be free from decay & deterioration.
•
Foundation walls need to be free from holes, cracks & decay as well. These issues a lot of times enable rodents and other pests a way to gain entry to the interior of the structure.
13
Exterior walls need to be free from deterioration as well. Exterior walls need to be weather-proofed by either siding or painting.
Rockford, IL
Block Captain Guide
BuildNeighborhoods.com
Neighborhood Standard Requirements terraces and approaches to alleys.
Tall Grass and Weeds City of Rockford’s Property Maintenance Code Section 302.4, and City of Rockford Code of Ordinances, Section 17-1 and 17-2 Weed Control states: All premises and exterior property areas shall be maintained and free from weeds, grasses, plant growth and vegetation in excess of 10 inches in height. Weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants, vegetation, overgrowth, and underbrush other than trees or shrubs. This does not include cultivated crops, flowers and gardens. All noxious weeds are prohibited. In addition, section 26-17 of the City of Rockford Code of Ordinances requires that you maintain any vegetation growth on the right of way abutting your property. Tall grass and\or weeds:
•
Owners who live out of town can hire a private contractor to mow the property. Your telephone yellow pages can give you the names private lawn maintenance contractors.
Inoperable and Abandoned Vehicles City of Rockford’s Property Maintenance Code Section 302.8 regarding inoperable vehicles states: All inoperable vehicles whether on public or private property and in view of the public, have been declared a public nuisance and are therefore prohibited. Inoperable and abandoned vehicles A vehicle is considered inoperable if there it is not currently registered or if the vehicle is visibly inoperable (missing or flat tires, missing or no engine parts, etc).
•
Are a general nuisance that become a home for mosquitoes, rodents, snakes and other vermin.
•
Can hide debris, vehicles and lower your property values and those of your neighbors.
•
May become a home for rodents, mosquitoes, insects, and other vermin.
•
Are not pleasant to look at and take away from the beauty of our city.
•
May be a fire hazard if they contain flammable substances.
•
May pose a danger due to loose, sharp, or jagged parts, to the public, particularly small children who are often attracted to junk motor vehicles.
•
Contain fluids that, if leaked, may contaminate the environment.
The City will give a two day written notice for the first occurrence of violation. No further notice will be sent during the next 36 months for recurring violations. If the property is still in violation after 2 days, a City contractor will mow the property and the costs will be billed to the property owner. If the property becomes in violation again during the next 36 months, the City shall contract the same service without further notification prior to the cutting. To make a complaint, contact the Weeds Hotline at 815-967-6768. •
Make sure that you have a properly working mower and take the time to mow your property when needed. In a typical summer, most property owners mow their lawns once a week.
Inoperable vehicles pose threats to the community as they:
Many individuals park inoperable vehicles on their property with the eventual plan to make them road-worthy. Unfortunately, they reduce property values and pose a threat to the public. Below are some options available to homeowners to prevent an ordinance violation: •
The vehicle may be placed in a closed garage.
•
Local hardware companies usually can sharpen your mower blades.
•
Contact a local towing company and have the vehicle towed away.
•
Mowing your property includes the public right of ways adjacent to your property. Such as parkways,
•
Repair or remove your vehicle from the property.
14
Rockford, IL
Block Captain Guide
Off-Street Parking/ Parking on Grass City of Rockford’s Zoning Ordinance 40-002F regarding off street vehicle parking states: Automobiles, motorcycles, vans and trucks with passenger car or “B” plates must be parked on a paved surface in side and rear yards, and must be parked in a drive-way in front yards of 1 and 2 family residences or in a parking lot of multifamily residences (3 or more units). Improper parking of your vehicle:
BuildNeighborhoods.com
on a paved surface because: •
They contain fluids such as gasoline, propane and raw sewage that, if leaked, may contaminate the environment.
•
They can also create a visibility hazard for the police, fire and other drivers.
•
They can take away from the beauty of our city.
Options for Storing Recreational Vehicles, Boats & Trailers
•
Can be a general health hazard if the vehicle is not parked on a paved surface. Vehicles contain fluids that may contaminate the environment if leaked.
•
Consider adding an additional paved parking surface in the side or rear yards.
•
Can also create a visibility hazard for police and fire.
•
Storing these vehicles at an off-site storage facility.
•
Is unsightly and takes away from the beauty of our city.
Gravel is not considered an acceptable surface. However; when the parking ordinance was changed to eliminate gravel as driveway material, any current gravel driveways were allowed to remain as they were with the understanding that when the gravel driveway became in need of repair, blacktop or cement material would replace it. Gravel driveways cannot be maintained by adding more gravel onto them.
Recreational Vehicle\Boat & Trailer Storage City of Rockford’s Zoning Ordinance 40-002F states: Motor homes\recreational vehicles (RV), campers, and travel trailers up to 30 ft. may be stored in side and rear yards. Side yard storage must be a minimum of 6 ft from the property line. RV’s may not be used for residential purposes. When upon trailers made for the purpose of hauling; boats, snowmobiles, waverunners, jet skis, ATV’s and golf carts may be stored in side and rear yards. Side yard storage must be a minimum of 6 ft from the property line. All other vehicles including utility, car hauling, box type utility commercial or any other trailer whose sole purpose is to haul are prohibited on the premises. RV’s, campers, travel trailers, boats and other vehicles can be a general health hazard if the vehicle is not parked 15
Fencing City of Rockford’s Zoning Ordinance Article 55 explains fencing ordinances. Because of the variety of fencing issues, the information in this pamphlet is to be used only as a guideline. More information can be found from Neighborhood Standards or Construction & Development Division. Approved fencing material includes, but is not limited to, masonry block, wood, trex board, chain link/metal (no less than 11 gauge thickness), wrought iron, aluminum, PVC, concrete or steel deck. General Fencing Regulations - Zoning ordinance 55-001B states: All fences require a permit from the Construction & Development Division. This includes a detailed fence plan with construction and elevation details drawn to scale and must be submitted with the fence permit application to the Zoning Officer. All fence permits shall be valid for 120 days (four months) from the date of approval by Zoning staff. If any fence permit expires prior to the completion of the construction of the fence, then another fence permit must be obtained and another fee paid. Any fence erected prior to obtaining a fence permit shall be removed if it is in violation of this ordinance. If the fence meets all the restrictions of this ordinance, it may remain only if a fence permit is obtained within 30 days after notice from the City at double the regular fee.
Rockford, IL
Block Captain Guide
All fences shall be installed with the finished side facing the adjacent property or public right-of-way, and fence posts must be located on the inside of the fence facing the property on which the fence is located, unless the fence is designed and constructed to look the same on both sides of the fence. Barbed wire fence, spiked railing or any guard or barricade with barbed wire or sharp\pointed devices that are liable to injure residents are not allowed in any residential or commercial zoning district. Electric fencing is not allowed within the City. .
16
BuildNeighborhoods.com
Rockford, IL
Block Captain Guide
BuildNeighborhoods.com
BuildNeighborhoods.com Neighborhood builder provides instructions and insight to organizing your neighbors in a meaningful way leading to a strong, healthy neighborhood.
Who is it for If you are frustrated in how your street or neighborhood is becoming then Build Neighborhoods is for you. There are many people like you who reach a point where they feel they must get involved and do something. The question of what and how confront them. Often they ask around and get incomplete information of what they can do. Neighborhood Builder answers those questions.
How to use it Our manuals are designed to lead you through a series of steps designed to move your efforts forward and help you accomplish your goals.
An overview The instruction is divided into sections, Block Builder and Organization Builder.
Block Builder Designed for those trying to make improvements on their street. It share how to invite people to a street meeting, how to run the meeting and how to pursue the questions people bring up. Block builder also provides instruction to a leader who wants to see more block groups formed throughout a larger neighborhood.
Organization Builder For those leaders who see the big picture and want a strong neighborhood organization for the larger area, Organization Builder discusses forming committees and getting people involved.
How to get it We provide these manuals and more to our subscribers who pay a very reasonable fee to have access to our instructional materials. We hope you will visit our site and consider joining as a member.
17