Bill Type and Number: Ordinance 2007 - 286

Sponsor: Council Member Davis

Date of Introduction: March 13, 2007

Committee(s) of Reference: F, TEUS, A

Date of Analysis: March 16, 2007

Type of Action: Amends various sections of Chapter 518, Ordinance Code

Bill Summary: The bill makes a number of changes in Part 2 of Chapter 518 (Property Safety & Maintenance Code) of the City’s Ordinance Code. Major changes are:

• Upgrades the violation from a Class C to a Class E, a new class, and makes the offense a separate offense each day, rather than one per every 15-day period.
• Changes from 15 days to 10 days the period to refer matter to a Board or Special Master.
• If Board or Special Master orders correction, the City will immediately move to clean up the property in violation. Currently, the City has option to do so or refer the case to the Municipal Code Enforcement Board.
• Adds to the City’s possible collection costs such specific costs as attorneys, court fees and collection agency fees.
• Collected funds are to be deposited into a new Nuisance Abatement Lien Special Revenue Fund.
• Creates a new class of offenses, Class E with a fine of $350 and a cost of $5, a total of $355.
• Establishes a Nuisance Abatement Lien Special Revenue Fund as a permanent Housing & Neighborhoods Department fund. Fund use is limited to paying for the abatement of nuisances.

Policy Impact Area: Nuisance Abatement Liens

Fiscal Impact: Undetermined, but the impact of the changes should result in an increased flow of fine payments, both in numbers of payments and in the dollar value of the payment.

Analyst: Weiss