CCMinutes - 08/11/04 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mayor Torrey solicited council comments and questions. Ms. Taylor was pleased with the staff materials. She asked why complaints could not be filed by telephone. Ms. Miller said all nuisance and zoning complaints were currently taken in writing. In Corvallis, the tenant must submit information in writing indicating that the landlord had been notified. Ms. Taylor wanted to consider allowing people to file complaints via telephone. Ms. Taylor referred to the penalty section and suggested that, as Eugene's former ordinance called for, landlords found guilty of a violation be prohibited for a year from raising rents on any unit they owned. Ms. Taylor said a $10 annual fee per unit was not large and she did not see a problem having it added to the rents. She wanted to hold a public hearing on the ordinance. Mr. Meisner supported holding a public hearing on the ordinance. Speaking to Ms. Taylor's concern, he suggested staff prepare a simple, straightforward complaint form for residents to complete. Mr. Meisner noted a discrepancy between the ordinance and council packet materials in regard to single rooms inside a house. He indicated some preference for the ordinance language. Mr. Meisner noted a complaint-driven process was anticipated rather than an inspection-driven program. For that reason, he did not believe two FTEs were needed. Ms. Miller indicated the staff estimate of the needed FTEs was based on the Corvallis model. Mr. Meisner wanted to start with one FTE given that the City planned to phase the program in. He said the fee was predicated on the number of FTE, and he doubted that would ever be reduced once established. City Manager Dennis Taylor indicated he was unwilling to begin the program with inadequate resources. Mr. Meisner was not persuaded of the need. Mr. Pap~ discussed the HPB recommendation, noting his surprise at the vote, and speculating that it was based on certain members' belief that while substandard housing was a problem, it was low in price and filled a community need by housing those who would not otherwise be able to find housing. There was fear that rents would be raised when those units were improved to meet new standards. Members had also suggested that a $10 per unit fee could be used to build more low-income housing rather than support a housing standards program. Mr. Pap~ noted that Section 8 housing was inspected regularly and suggested that the council seriously consider the exemptions recommended by the HPB. Mr. Poling thanked the students from the University of Oregon who worked to bring the issue before the council. He concurred with staff regarding the phased implementation. He asked if the funds used to build the program could be returned to the General Fund at a later time from program revenues. City Manager Taylor indicated it depended on the start-up strategy used to fund the program. Mr. Poling asked about appeals past the Hearings Official level. City Attorney Glenn Klein indicated that further appeals would go to the Circuit Court. Mr. Poling wanted that to be clear to the public. Mr. Poling favored a sunset provision, and suggested it was an opportunity to review the potential of scaling back the program and the program staff that was needed, and to work through "bugs" in the ordinance. Mr. Poling supported Mr. Meisner's call for a simple complaint form but believed sufficient written MINUTES--Eugene City Council August 11, 2004 Page 2 Work Session