Title
Ordinance Amending Chapter 11 of the Greensboro Code of Ordinances with Respect to Minimum Housing
Body
Department: Neighborhood Development and Office of the City Attorney
Council District: All
Public Hearing: Yes
Advertising Date/By: August 8th and August 15th
Contact 1 and Phone: Barbara Harris 373-2509
Contact 2 and Phone: Tom Carruthers 373-2320
PURPOSE:
To make changes to the Minimum Housing Code in order to effectuate a repair as well as a demolition program, to make the issuance of civil penalties restorative rather punitive, and to make other text edits to clarify the intent of the ordinance.
BACKGROUND:
In 2013 after adoption of minimum housing ordinance revisions and procedural recommendations by the post-RUCO council committee the Code Compliance Program began assessing daily civil penalties as authorized by Chapter 11 of the city ordinance (Housing Code). Uncollected housing civil penalties totaled $857,375 by the end of May 2015, with over $800,000 assessed against five property owners.
In a June 23, 2015 work session Council was briefed on proposed revisions to Chapter 11, Housing Code, to reevaluate the civil penalty fee structure, to implement additional enforcement measures for multi-family dwellings to the Minimum Housing Code (Chapter 11) and to begin requesting that the Minimum Housing Standards Commission issue orders to repair (in addition to current authority to issue orders to demolish).
These amendments will accomplish the following:
• …the city council finds that housing preservation initiatives are warranted rather than relying only on a demolition program;
• After the initial $200 (one time) civil penalty a penalty of $10 per day may be assessed;
• After a unit has been brought into compliance the total amount of civil penalties assessed may be waived or reduced by the Director of Neighborhood Development or by the City Attorney (or a designee ) in accordance with an established written policy;
• All civil penalties and inspection fees collected under Chapter 11 shall be used for implementation of Chapter 11, including future repairs, alterations, improvements and demolitions;
• Chapter 11 is reorganized to separate the procedures for Non-Residential Buildings and Structures (Division 2) from those for Residential Dwellings (Division 1);
• Adopt the Administration, Definitions, and Appendix A of the International Property Maintenance Code;
Ordinance revisions will become effective immediately upon adoption with a six month implementation timeline.
BUDGET IMPACT:
None
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED: Neighborhood Development and the Office of the City Attorney recommend and request approval of the amendments to Chapter 11 of the Greensboro Code of Ordinances.