The City Council approved funding Tuesday night for a program to identify properties that do not comply with various city ordinances.

The South Campus Area Neighborhood Associationcq will receive $3,700 from the city’s Neighborhood Improvement Program for its Campustown Pride Program. Under this effort, hired student interns will identify and correct violations such as couches, inappropriate signage, over-occupancy and litter.

“If done correctly, I think it could be a positive type of program,” said Steve Schainker, Ames city managercq.

After identifying violating properties, interns will not report deficiencies, but instead will contact owners and tenants to attempt voluntary compliance. They will also work with the greek community to organize the “Adopt-A-Block” program that will establish the ongoing cleanup of specific blocks south of Campustown.

At the end of the program, interns will write a follow-up report to describe neighborhood conditions, explain what needs to be continued or changed and identify properties unwilling to comply.

This less-aggressive effort is an attempt to avoid tensions that sometimes develop when attempts are made to rectify city code violations.

“We have the funds available, and I commend the neighborhood association for recognizing this,” Schainker said.