City of Camden, NJ Chapter 164 Adopt-A-Street and -Lot Program

[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Camden 6-28-1990 by Ord. No. MC-2555 (Ch. 115 of the 1987 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 164-1 Petition to participate.

[Amended 7-26-2001 by Ord. No. MC-3676]

Any person or persons, notwithstanding age, may petition to the Department of Public Works of the City of Camden to participate in the Adopt-a-Street and -Lot Programs.

§ 164-2 Application requirements.

Any individual, organization or group shall complete a form setting forth the name of the street or lot for which it desires to become responsible and setting forth the names and addresses of all participants, either on an individual or group basis.

§ 164-3 Application review.

[Amended 7-26-2001 by Ord. No. MC-3676]

The application shall be reviewed by the Department of Public Works of the City of Camden and forwarded to the Department of Utilities, Division of Engineering, and any other appropriate departments or divisions of this City for review and comment as to the feasibility and compatibility of the individual, organization or group participating in the cleanup and care program.

§ 164-4 Authorization by City Council.

The City Council, after receipt and review of reports of the proper departments and divisions of the government of the City of Camden, will adopt a resolution authorizing the individual, organization or group to begin a program of care and maintenance of said street or lot.

§ 164-5 Additional application requirements.

The application for participation in this program shall set forth what steps and what actions the particular individual or individuals are going to take to provide the continuous care and maintenance of the street from debris, trash and refuse.

§ 164-6 Request for review; recommendation by City Council.

After a period of not less than six months, the individual, organization or group who has petitioned the City of Camden shall request the City Council and the appropriate departments and divisions of this municipal government to review its actions over a six-month period, and the departments and divisions of this City shall then report their findings to the governing body. After the governing body has received the reports of the departments and divisions of the City of Camden who have reviewed and inspected the work efforts and, after City Council or a committee created of Councilpersons shall review the area, it shall then be recommended to the governing body for the adoption of a resolution to post said street or lot as an "adopted street" or "adopted lot" and shall then commend the individual, organization or group for its efforts.

§ 164-7 Erection of signs.

If a street or lot is adopted after the procedures have been followed, as set forth herein, an appropriate sign or signs shall be erected in a prominent place displaying the fact that this street or lot has been adopted under this program and has qualified as a street or lot appropriately cared for and maintained by the adoptive groups.

§ 164-8 Participants not deemed City employees; City held harmless.

No individual, organization or group who performs any work or services under this program shall be deemed to be an employee of the City of Camden, but merely volunteers, and the City shall be held harmless from any negligent or careless acts of the individual, organization or group in the performance of any functions under the program.

§ 164-9 Equipment not supplied by City.

The City shall not supply any tools, equipment or supplies for this program. Any and all tools, equipment or supplies shall be furnished by the volunteers.

§ 164-10 Guidelines to Adopt-a-Lot Program.

[Added 8-9-2016 by Ord. No. MC-4983]

A. Camden City property owners can "adopt" City-owned lot(s) (hereinafter referred to as an "Adopt-a-Lot") that are located adjacent to the property they own. Only Camden City property owners can apply for Adopt-a-Lot status (hereinafter referred to as an "adoptee"). Any tenant who wants to adopt a lot(s) shall be required to have their landlord apply to the Adopt-a-Lot Program for such adoption.

B. At all times, the City of Camden maintains full and continuous legal ownership of the adopted City-owned lots under an Adopt-a-Lot. The City's approval of an Adopt-a-Lot shall not be intended or construed as a grant to adoptee of any ownership interest in the subject City-owned lot(s).

C. The purpose of the Adopt-a-Lot is solely for the cleaning and beautification of City-owned lots. The lot is permitted to be used to plant a floral or vegetable garden only. No other activities can be conducted on the lot. The adoptee is required to properly keep up with the maintenance of the lot, which means the grass should be cut and the yard cleaned. The vegetable and/or flower gardens are to be kept nice and neat.

D. It is suggested that all adoptees complete a request to purchase the lot(s) at the Bureau of City Properties in City Hall, 3rd Floor, Room 327-A, Camden, NJ as the maximum time period to Adopt-a-Lot is now three years. Additional information in this regard can be provided by the City properties upon request.

E. An adoptee must supply the City of Camden with a certificate of insurance, which shall evidence sufficient types and amounts of insurance coverage — as set by the City in its sole discretion — for the City against general liability while the adopted lot(s) is under the care and upkeep of the adoptee.

F. All Adopt-a-Lots will be issued signage designating the lot(s) as an adopted lot.

G. Periodic inspections will be performed by the City to verify an adoptee's compliance with the ordinances, rules and regulations governing Adopt-a-Lot. If an adoptee is found by the City to not be in compliance, the City can immediately revoke its Adopt-a-Lot designation without any prior notice.

H. An Adoptee cannot engage in or do the following activities upon the Adopt-a-Lot:

(1) Adoptee is not permitted to park cars, trailers, boats or any other vehicle on the adopted lot.

(2) Adoptee is not permitted to plant trees on the lot.

(3) Adoptee is not permitted to put any permanent structures on the adopted lot [For example, without limitation: No pools, car ports, driveways (concrete, asphalt etc.), sheds, garages, permanent playground equipment, etc.].

(4) Adoptee is not permitted to place large compost piles on the lot

(5) Adoptee is not permitted to conduct any business transactions of any kind on the adopted lot (For example, without limitation: No vegetable stands, no selling of cars, no car repairs, no yard sales, etc.).

(6) Adoptee is not permitted to rent, lease, sublet, sell, or assign the adopted lot to any person or organization.

(7) Adoptee is not permitted to remove the City signage of the adopted lot.

(8) Adoptee is not permitted to conduct religious services on the adopted lot.

(9) Adoptee is not permitted to have alcoholic beverages on the adopted lot.

(10) Adoptee is not permitted to allow pets or any other animals to be housed or roam freely unleashed on the adopted lot.

I. Adoptees shall further comply with the following:

(1) Fencing is the sole responsibility of the adoptee.

(2) Fencing cannot be higher than four feet tall.

(3) Adoptee shall not remove or change any existing fencing.

(4) No cemented poles are to be erected by adoptee.

(5) If an adoptee decides to cancel his/her Adopt-a- Lot privileges, adoptee is solely responsible for, and must immediately remove, all fencing that adoptee erected on the lot.

(6) An adopted lot, at any time, can be removed from the Adopt-A-Lot status.

(7) For any reason deemed necessary by the City of Camden, at its sole discretion, and at any time, if the City of Camden sells the adopted lot(s) and adoptee is not the buyer of the lot(s), adoptee must immediately cease any and all activity on the lot. The adoptee is solely responsible for, and must immediately remove, all fencing that adoptee erected on the lot.

J. Community gardens.

(1) Community gardens are no longer permitted under Adopt-a-Lot program. Individuals or groups desiring to establish a community garden must enter into an appropriate license agreement with the City of Camden.

(2) The City of Camden does not provide a water source for any Adopt-a-Lot or community garden.

(3) After harvest season, the ground must be tilled and leveled for a nice, neat and kept appearance for any Adopt-a-Lot or community garden.