City of Lawrence Code Enforcement Manager Brian Jimenez will answer readers’ questions about expanding the
city’s rental registration program.

BJ

But does that decrease justify the expense and isn’t this just another tax on tenants?

Holiday

Hi Brian, currently the code enforcement department inspects any rental unit regardless if it registered or not, if there is a complaint from a tenant or a prospective tenant. The City already knows which properties are zoned for duplexes and multifamily. why not inspect all properties zoned for multifamily regardless of the use owner occupied or being used as rental

Moderator

Hello. This is Cody Howard, today’s chat moderator. Our chat with City of Lawrence Code Enforcement Manager Brian Jiminez will begin in a few minutes.

Brian Jimenez

Good to be here, I’m glad to the have the opportunity to answer questions regarding the program.

Moderator

Thanks for being here today. For starters, please give us some of the basics of the rental inspection proposal Lawrence City Commissioners will consider at their meeting tonight.

Brian Jimenez

Our Department responded to a request by the Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods to collect data regarding the expansion of the rental inspection/licensing program that currently exists for rental units located in single family zoned districts. Tonight, the City Commission will review our report and take comment regarding our findings.

Moderator

For those not completely familiar with the current system, how will this proposal differ from what’s currently in place?

Brian Jimenez

The report submitted is more of an analysis of our findings rather than a proposal. We have identified an approximate number of units, number of staff needed to implement the expansion and the estimated cost of initiating the program. The program could mirror what we currently have in place or there could be modifications for those rental units located in multi-family zoned districts.

hawkperchedatriverfront

Mr. Jimenez, currently the city receives about $142,000 from all licenses and permits. Therefore, how do you propose to fund this massive rental inspection given that the city does not now receive enough money to pay your Department staff? I should point out that if you charge a fee as proposed, and hire more staff, the city is still in the hole financially?

You should encourage a sales tax on all rental units and not inspection, nor licensing. Would you support a sales tax as opposed to rental inspection?

Brian Jimenez

The program is not intended to be self funding as is the case for most City services. When the orginal program was implemented the associated costs for additional staff was factored into the next year’s budget. I am not familiar with a sales tax for rental units.

Moderator

Please break down some of the numbers associated with this. How many additional units would need to be inspected? How much would that cost? How many additional staff members would be needed?

Brian Jimenez

There is an estimated 13,000 additional rental units located in multi-family zoned districts. There has been no discussion to determine if these units would be inspected once every 3 years such as single family. Once the policy was in place, an accurate account of how many units inspected per year could be determined.

An estimate of 3 to 4 additional inspectors would be required.

cowboy

I think the inspection is great but what do you think about a one year period to comply then inspections every five years after compliance is met ?

Brian Jimenez

I have seen many cities inspect every 5 years. The program could be modeled in several different ways.

Moderator

How closely would this policy reflect what other neigbhoring cities do?

Brian Jimenez

There are 2 inspections options that have been included; 1) inspect all units once every 3 years. 2) inspect based on the number of units located on one parcel of property. For example, a large complex may only have a percentage of units inspected every 3 years. This is only a analyis of options and not a proposal so it is hard to say what would actually happen if adopted.

Moderator

If approved by the city, what determinations must be made before staff is ready to implement the policy?

Brian Jimenez

The main item to address would be the above mentioned inspection guidelines. Addressing this issue would help determine the cost of the program which include employee salaries including benefits, vehicles etc…

Moderator

The current rental inspection program in multi-family areas is complaint-driven. How many calls come into the office each year, and how are they dealt with?

Brian Jimenez

We average between 100 to 150 complaint driven housing inspections per year. Approximately 85% of these occur in multi-family zoned districts. In many cases, a complaint in these districts results in twice the number of violations cited compared to those located in single family zoned districts. The compliance process is one that is very similar to a housing inspection in single family zoned districts.

Moderator

Here’s another question along those lines:

BJ

Isn’t this a duplication of city services? Doesn’t the city investage complaints about homes/apartments in poor condition?

Brian Jimenez

Yes, we do investigate tenant complaints frequently. Every tenant has the right to call our Department if he or she believes the rental unit they live in has a housing code violation. The number of complaints in single family zoned districts has declined drastically since the implementation of the program in 2002.

Moderator

We have time for one more question — it also relates to the complaint process:

WWoftheW

Do you think that the rental registration that is now in place works well? Is it complaint driven? Do you think that a complaint driven inspection in multi-family rentals will work as well in this case?

Brian Jimenez

I do believe the program works well. Inspectors often find violations on a property that was inspected 3 years ago. It requires the minimum housing standards which benefit all tenants as well as neighboring property owners. What we have in place is not complaint driven. The program requires an annual license and inspection once every 3 years.

Moderator

That concludes our chat for today. Thanks to Code Enforcement Manager Brian Jimenez for joining us.

Brian Jimenez

Thanks for allowing me the opportunity.