The gist
The proposed ordinance would create a high-risk apartment inspection program, which would require properties with 10 or more habitability citations within 12 months to register as a “high-risk rental building.”
Habitability citations or complaints can include electrical hazards, plumbing violations or structural failures, and typically revolve around the living conditions of a property and whether it meets the habitation standards per the city’s code of ordinances.
These properties would undergo mandatory inspections from the city’s Apartment Standards Enforcement Committee and face misdemeanor fines ranging from $250 to $2,000 per violation a day, and possible revocation of the owner’s certificate of occupancy and civil action if violations persist.
“The purpose of this ordinance is straightforward but profound—it is to protect our residents from substandard and dangerous housing conditions,” Plummer said.
Plummer also proposed that landlords with high-risk rental buildings should be required to complete an annual training of the Blue Star Training Program, which covers city and state habitability and best practices for property management.
Lastly, the proposed ordinance includes a special provision for senior living facilities, requiring them to provide a common area with generator power and a refrigerated space for medication storage during extreme weather events, according to the presentation.
As of press time, the ordinance was under legal review and still needed to be approved by City Council.
