Item 5: Ordinance Concerning Condominium Conversion

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Uniform Relocation Act. The Federal Uniform Relocation Act provides that reimbursement for residential moving costs be based on the number of rooms of furniture to be moved. For example, in 2005 for Oregon, the allowance was $400/one-room, $550/two-rooms, $750/three-rooms, and $950/four-rooms. The amended definition of “moving expenses” defines moving expenses as a fixed sum of money based on the number of rooms of furniture to be moved. Additionally, a new Section 5 has been added to the proposed ordinance clarifying that the administrative rules adopted by the City Manager shall establish that the condominium conversion developer must pay the moving expenses of all special category tenants in an amount no less than the Federal Uniform Relocation Assistance Real Property Acquisition Policies Act, as amended, Fixed Residential Moving Cost Schedule. 3. Amend the code to delete the Building Code references and required inspections by the City. Common elements will be covered and disclosed in the reserve specialist report. This code provision needs to be deleted since Eugene building inspectors are neither expert nor staffed adequately to provide inspections of completed structures which are necessary with the current condominium conversion process. There is, however, a pool of qualified individuals regulated and licensed by the State specializing in pre-sale inspection services of completed buildings. The regulations will require that individual purchasers be informed about the importance of a pre- purchase inspection and encouraged to obtain one. 4. Amend the code to clarify that the tenant’s right-to-stay period is 120 days after issuance of the permit. 5. Allow moving expenses to be paid to a Special Category Tenant moving to another location within the UGB (the current definition of “moving expenses” limits relocation to another location in Eugene only). RELATED CITY POLICIES The tenant protections for condominium conversions and the closure of manufactured dwellings parks are combined in the administrative rules. They offer similar, but different, tenant protections. This combining of the rules has caused some confusion. The intergovernmental Housing Policy Board has formed a subcommittee to address the manufactured dwelling park closure issue and possibly propose revisions to the manufactured dwelling park code provisions. The work of the subcommittee is scheduled to conclude by December 2006. Amendments to these code provisions, including uncoupling them from the park closure rules, may be proposed at that time. COUNCIL OPTIONS The City Council may adopt or decline to adopt the proposed ordinance. CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION The City Manager recommends that the proposed ordinance be adopted. L:\CMO\2006 Council Agendas\M060710\S0607105.doc