HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3: Ordinance Extending Sunset Date for Rental Housing Code
ECC
UGENE ITY OUNCIL
AIS
GENDA TEM UMMARY
Action: An Ordinance Extending the Sunset Date for the Rental Housing Code
Meeting Date: November 28, 2011 Agenda Item Number: 3
Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Stuart Ramsing
www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-6801
ISSUE STATEMENT
The City Council is scheduled to take action on a proposed ordinance that would extend the
Rental Housing Code’s sunset date to September 30, 2012, providing time for further evaluation
of the program.
BACKGROUND
Rental housing accounts for nearly half the housing in the community and is dispersed across the
City. The Rental Housing Code was adopted in 2005, to set habitability standards that safeguard
the health, property and public wellbeing of owners, occupants and users of rental housing. The
current code covers structural integrity, plumbing, heating, weatherproofing, security, smoke
detectors and mold. The program was adopted with a sunset date of three years. In 2008, the
sunset date was extended for three years to the December 31, 2011.
The Rental Housing Code Program provides a local option to address habitability concerns that
is not dependent on knowledge of the legal systems and statutes. It was designed to ensure
owners hear about problems from their tenant first and have an opportunity to resolve any issues
before the City becomes formally involved. The program also reaches out to renters to inform
them of their rights and responsibilities.
RELATED CITY POLICIES
The Rental Housing Program connects with four of the five council goals, including: Safe
Community, Sustainable Development, Effective, Accountable Municipal Government and Fair,
Stable and Adequate Financial Resources. Rental housing has also been mentioned in several
current plans including Envision Eugene and the Climate and Energy Action Plan.
OPTIONS FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
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 sunset on December 31, 2011.
S:\CMO\2011 Council Agendas\M111128\S1111283.doc
CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager recommends extending the sunset date nine months to September 30, 2012.
SUGGESTED MOTION
Move to adopt Council Bill 5056 extending the sunset date nine months to September 30, 2012.
ATTACHMENTS
A.Ordinance Extending Sunset Date to September 30, 2012
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Staff Contact: Stuart Ramsing
Telephone: 541-682-6801
Staff E-Mail: stuart.g.ramsing@ci.eugene.or.us
S:\CMO\2011 Council Agendas\M111128\S1111283.doc
ATTACHMENT A
ORDINANCE NO. _______
AN ORDINANCE EXTENDING THE SUNSET DATE FOR THE RENTAL
HOUSING CODE.
The City Council of the City of Eugene finds as follows:
A.
Sections 8.400 through 8.440, and 8.995 of the Eugene Code, 1971, (“the
rental housing code”) were adopted by Ordinance No. 20329 on November 22, 2004.
Ordinance No. 20329 also provided that the Ordinance and the rental housing code be
repealed effective December 31, 2008.
B.
On May 27, 2008, Ordinance No. 20408 extended the sunset date to
December 31, 2011.
C.
The Council has determined that the December 31, 2011 repeal date of the
rental housing code should be extended.
THE CITY OF EUGENE DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1.
The sunset date and repeal of Ordinance Nos. 20329 and 20408 are
hereby extended to September 30, 2012.
Section 2.
Copies of this Ordinance shall be appended to Ordinance Nos. 20329
and 20408.
Section 3
. Notwithstanding Section 1 of this Ordinance, any enforcement actions
commenced to enforce the rental housing code provisions prior to September 30, 2012,
may continue to be pursued, and the provisions related to such enforcement actions
shall remain in effect with respect to those actions. In addition, any fees owed to the
City under the provisions of the rental housing code remain due and owing, and all
provisions related to those fees and their collection shall remain in effect with respect to
those fees.
Passed by the City Council this Approved by the Mayor this
_____ day of __________, 2011. _____ day of __________, 2011.
City Recorder Mayor
Ordinance - Page 1 of 1