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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7276 f,- �\Q NFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7276 * 'T"',, To the Mayor and Members of the City Council April 19, 1988 Subject: RENTAL REGISTRATION ,all On March 18, 1986, the City Council appointed a citizens Renta Registration Committee to review a proposed ordinance establishing procedures for the abatement of public nuisances by the City* review the City's current Minimum Building Standards Code, and review the concept of rental registration. The committee was composed of the following members: Mr. Herman Stute, Chairman Mr. Tony Marsalis, Tarrant County Property Owners Association Mr. Jerry Bodiford, Rental Property Owner Mr. Malcom Fleet , jr. , Apartment Association of Tarrant County Mrs. Hazel Harvey Peace, Near Southeast NAC Mr. Dan Young, League of Neighborhoods Mr. Don Klick, Rental Property Owner Mr. Fplipa Carrizales, Near Northside NAC Mr. John Dotson, President, Rvan Place Improvement Association Mr. Milton R. Harrell , Greater Fort Worth Board of Realtors Mr. George Parker, American Association of Retired Persons In the past two years the committee held more than a dozen public meetings during which there was extensive discussion and debate with citizens and City staff about many hOLISing and code enforcement related issues. Accomplishments of the committee include the review and recommendation to the Citv Council for approval of the Nuisance Abatement ordinance. The ordinance was adopted by the City Council on June 24, 1986. Although the committee is not recommending the development or implementation of a rental registration program, the committee is proposing revisions to the current Minimum Building Standards Code and the development of a "City of Fort Worth Minimum Building Standards Code Handbook" that will better enable property owners and the City to deal with housing problems and code violations. Proposed revisions to the Minimum Building Standards Code will clarify ambiguous language, simplify procedures, and shorten time frames for being able to deal with problems. Significant changes include; -Section 7-87 (c) , clarifies the right to enter property for the purpose of inspection and provides for a warrant procedure. -Section 20-22, reduces the time frame for commencing repair or demolition of a substandard structure from ninety to sixty days. -Section 7-116, authorizes placement of a lien on property for cost of securing vacant and open structures. -Section 7-120, requires filing of a certificate with the County certifying that the structure is substandard. -Section 7-123 (A)(3), reduces waiting period from thirty days to ten days for awarding of a contract for demolition. -Section 7-128, clarifies understanding of change in ownership. -Section 4, provides for a fine not to exceed $1000 for violations related to fire, safety, zoning, public health, or sanitation. -ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7276 Dow 2 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council soft? April 19, 1988 x Subject: RENTAL REGISTRATION Adoption of the revised Minimum Building Standards Code will be requested at the April 26, 1988, City Council meeting. The "City of Fort Worth Minimum Building Standards Code Handbook" is in the final stages of development. When finished and printed, it will provide the public and the City with an easv reference in determining requirements applicable to the Minimum Building Standards Code. Additional information may be provided upon request. e u��g i Ug la s Harman Manager opb. 00- -ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS April 13, 1988 To the Mayor of the City of Fort Worth and members of the City Council of Fort Worth: After extensive meetings by your Rental Registration Committee with staff persons and numerous members of the public; it is the recommendation of the Rental Registration Committee that a Rental Registration Ordinance should not be passed by the City Council of Fort Worth at this time. The Committee finds that the changes that have been recommended and reduced to Ordinance concerning shortening the processing periods for violation of the existing City Minimum Building Standards Code and proposed Housing Ordinance are more likely to achieve the program objectives; maintaining quality rental housing, increasing owner accountability of rental housing, and decreasing incidents of code violations in rental housing, than the enactment of any new Ordinances. The Committee finds that the existing Zoning Ordinances, and Minimum Building Standards Code and revisions in the Housing Ordinance are sufficient to attain the Program objectives as stated. It is not OP161 necessary to create additional functions to duplicate the efforts of existing City Staff Inspectors. The Committee finds that it would be far more cost effective to increase enforcement of current Ordinances under the existing City Department Heads for Code Enforcement. However, the Council may wish to consider increasing the maximum fines for violations of the existing Ordinances as an additional incentive to offenders of the existing Ordinances. The Committee finds the Rental Registration as currently proposed is a prelude to Rent Control which would be detrimental to the orderly growth and development of the City of Fort Worth. Rental Registration does not address problems we now have with substandard and nuisance properties whether occupied by owners or tenants. The Committee believes the argument that other cities have Rental Registration is not a viable reason for imposing the same in Fort Worth because most of the residential dwellings in surrounding cities that have Rental Registration programs are newer than those in City of Fort Worth. Moreover, the City of Arlington is currently in litigation as a result of imposing a Rental Registration Ordinance. The Committee requests that the City Council be very prudent in granting property owners more than one (1) extension of time, in order to correct op", violations of the Minimum Building Standards Code. In conclusion, the Committee reiterates that vigorous enforcement of the existing Codes and Ordinances will do more to improve the condition of rental dwellings in the City of Fort Worth than the super-imposing of a new Ordinance that will duplicate services and functions of existing Staff and substantially blur the lines of communication and authority within the City Government concerning the responsibility for Code Enforcement. Res ctfully submitte Res ectfully sub 0 7 H man Stute, Chairman Rental 1 t 1 Reugistration Committee enta R OPIA