Item 4: Ordinance on Rental Housing Code

Home Browse Search

ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Action: An Ordinance Concerning Rental Housing Standards; Amending Section 8.425 of the Eugene Code, 1971; and Repealing Section 5 of Ordinance No. 20239 Meeting Date: May 27, 2008 Agenda Item Number: 4 Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Rachelle Nicholas www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5495 ISSUE STATEMENT The City Council is scheduled to take action on a proposed ordinance that would add security and smoke detectors to the rental housing standards and remove the program sunset provision. BACKGROUND The Eugene Rental Housing Code was adopted by the City Council in 2004. The purpose of the Rental Housing Code is to provide minimum habitability criteria to safeguard the health, property and public well-being of the owners, occupants and users of rental housing. The Rental Housing Code currently addresses four areas of habitability: structural integrity, plumbing, heating and weather-proofing. At the October 8, 2007, work session, council provided direction to add mold, security, and smoke detectors to the ordinance and remove the sunset provision. The ordinance is currently scheduled to sunset December 31, 2008. A public hearing was held on the proposed ordinance on May 19, 2008. A motion was passed to remove the mold provision from the ordinance and take it for consideration to a work session, and bring the remainder of the ordinance back for council action on the scheduled date. RELATED CITY POLICIES Chapter III, Existing Housing Supply and Neighborhoods, Policy A.25 of the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan 2004 update: Conserve the metropolitan area’s supply of existing affordable housing and increase the stability and quality of older residential neighborhoods, through measures such as revitalization, code enforcement, appropriate zoning, rehabilitation programs, relocation of existing structures, traffic calming, parking requirements or public considerations. These actions should support planned densities in these areas. COUNCIL OPTIONS The City Council may consider the following options: 1.Approve the proposed ordinance. 2.Approve the proposed ordinance with modifications. 3.Take no action, allowing the program to end December 31, 2008. Z:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M080527\S0805274.doc