Jersey Village council tables property maintenance code adoption, will host community town hall

Jersey Village City Council on March 16 tabled its adoption of an updated property maintenance code after several residents requested clarification about local enforcement.

The overview

During its March regular meeting, the City Council discussed an ordinance that would implement an amended version of the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code, or IPMC, which establishes standards for residential and commercial buildings related to structural integrity, sanitation, ventilation and other safety factors.

After lengthy discussion, council voted to table its decision to allow for further public education about how the code would affect local property regulations.

Several residents spoke against the IPMC adoption during public comment, saying the city did not provide enough time to review the changes ahead of the March 16 meeting.

However, Community Development Manager Miesha Johnson said most of the requirements within the IPMC already exist in the city’s code of ordinances. Jersey Village also previously adopted other standards from the International Code Council in 2024, including its building, plumbing and electric codes, she said during the meeting.

More details

The amended IPMC received approval from the city’s Building Board of Adjustment and Appeals March 12, paving the way for City Council authorization. Council member Jennifer McCrea, who serves as council liaison to the BBOAA, said the residents on the board have extensive experience related to property codes.

“I don’t feel like we’re giving those committee members the appropriate consideration for what they do for this because it is a lot of work,” she said during the City Council meeting.

City attorney Tommy Ramsey said when reviewing the IPMC he removed everything related to what the ICC prescribes for enforcement, allowing Jersey Village to localize the policy based on its pre-existing practices.

“What’s coming in would be the property maintenance standards,” Ramsey said during the meeting. “What’s not coming in is the [IPMC’s] enforcement process. That’s going to be what’s under existing city code and existing state law.”

Mayor James Singleton said he intends to hold a town hall to clarify how the amended IPMC, if adopted, would differ from existing ordinances. An exact date has not been set as of press time.

In other news

City Council authorized a contract with Ballast Point Construction, Inc. to oversee the Seattle Street and Singapore Lane Reconstruction Project. Assistant City Manager Robert Basford said the project is funded by a 2023 voter-approved bond.

Of the 11 bids received, Ballast Point Construction submitted the second-lowest quote at approximately $2.58 million, according to city documents. The construction company is also overseeing a separate rehabilitation project on Australia and Solomon streets that is approximately 85% complete, per the agenda item.

The Seattle Street and Singapore Lane project includes new pavement, sidewalks, street lamps, storm sewer and a water line, Community Impact previously reported.

One more thing

Natural gas rates for Jersey Village households will increase by $2.47 per month starting June 2 as a result of CenterPoint Energy’s annual interim adjustments.

CenterPoint files the annual increase as part of its Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program, or GRIP, to recover costs from capital investments made in between full rate cases, per its website.

The rate increase was set to take effect April 18, but Jersey Village City Council voted to push the date by 45 days, as permitted by state law. Cities cannot negotiate or challenge GRIP rate adjustments.