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<br /> <br /> <br />ECC <br />UGENE ITY OUNCIL <br />AIS <br />GENDA TEM UMMARY <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Public Hearing: An Ordinance Concerning Rental Housing Standards; Amending <br />Section 8.425 of the Eugene Code, 1971 <br /> <br /> <br />Meeting Date: April 20, 2009 Agenda Item Number: 1 <br />Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Rachelle Nicholas <br />www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5495 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />ISSUE STATEMENT <br /> <br />The proposed code amendment adds language to existing code to address the source of mold in rental <br />housing. <br /> <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />In October 2007, the City Council directed staff to draft code language to address mold, security and <br />smoke detectors in rental housing. Subsequent council action removed mold language from the <br />ordinance to allow time for further review and public input. <br /> <br />Following council direction, the Planning and Development Department formed a six-member advisory <br />committee to discuss the topic and obtain public input. The following committee members represent <br />various interest areas: <br />Norton Cabell (rental owner/co-chair) <br /> <br />? <br />John VanLandingham (legal representative/co-chair) <br /> <br />? <br />Tony Mecum (University of Oregon student) <br /> <br />? <br />Jeff Lang (public health advocate) <br /> <br />? <br />Hugh Massengill (tenant advocate) <br /> <br />? <br />Jami Sterling-Counard (property manager). <br /> <br />? <br /> <br />There are no recognized standards by which mold violations are measured either at a state or national <br />level. In addition, there are no agencies locally or at the state level consistently tracking the number of <br />mold complaints to evaluate the significance of the problem. <br /> <br />The advisory committee met seven times and held three public forums. Three guest speakers with <br />expertise in the field of mold provided educational presentations to the committee: Susan Busler, OSU <br />Extension Office, Professor George Carrol, University of Oregon Department of Biology, and Mark <br />Losco, Magnum Environmental. All sessions were open to the public. <br /> <br />The committee looked for best practices at other jurisdictions in various states including the following: <br />California, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, and Vermont. Specifically, the committee <br />looked at code language, fees, and practices. This information was used to support discussion around <br />various issues. <br /> <br /> Z:\CMO\2009 Council Agendas\M090420\S0904201.doc <br /> <br />