Number
061334
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. MCGEE
Title
Resolution establishing a Reinspection Fee Task Force.
Analysis
This resolution establishes a Reinspection Fee Task Force to evaluate the current procedure for assessing reinspection fees, evaluate the extent to which reinspection fees may be burdensome to many city residents, recommend adjustments to the reinspection fee schedule, identify and evaluate alternative means for encouraging compliance with building code provisions and make recommendations to the Common Council relating to its findings. The task force shall present its findings and recommendations to the Common Council within 6 months of adoption of this resolution, and shall thereafter be dissolved.
Body
Whereas, Reinspection fees are used as an enforcement mechanism to encourage timely compliance with building code provisions, and section 200-33-48 of the code states reinstatement fees may be levied to the tax bill to recover inspectional and administrative costs; and
Whereas, The Department of Neighborhood Services collects more than $2 million annually in reinspection fee revenue to recover expenses associated with performing reinspections; and
Whereas, Many of the residential and commercial property owners who are charged reinspection fees for noncompliance of building code provisions are habitual offenders, and assessing reinspection fees is a valuable tool to encourage eventual compliance and recover city expenditures associated with reinspection activities; and
Whereas, However there are many people within the city who are charged reinspection fees who are not habitual offenders, and many of these are poor or elderly or others who do not have the physical, financial or other means to comply with orders; and
Whereas, Reinspection fees effectively become punitive and burdensome to individuals who do not have the means to comply with orders according to the time specified by the Department of Neighborhood Services, and are too high to impose on many city residents who have limited means; and
Whereas, If encouraging compliance with the building code is the city’s primary objective, then the city should identify and evaluate alternative means for encouraging compliance, so that individuals are not unfairly burdened beyond their means; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that a Reinspection Fee Task Force is created and shall consist of:
1. The Mayor or the Mayor’s designee.
2. One Common Council member, appointed by the Common Council President.
3. One member from the Department of Neighborhood Services, appointed by the Commissioner.
4. One residential property owner, appointed by the Common Council President.
5. One commercial property owner, appointed by the Common Council President.
6. One member from the Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council, appointed by the Executive Director.
7. One member from the Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors, appointed by the Executive Director.
; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Common Council President shall designate the Chair and Vice Chair; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the task force is directed to evaluate the current procedure for assessing reinspection fees; evaluate the extent to which reinspection fees may be burdensome to many city residents; recommend adjustments to the reinspection fee schedule; identify and evaluate alternative means for encouraging compliance with building code provisions; and make recommendations to the Common Council relating to its findings; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City Clerk’s Office shall provide staff support to the task force; and, be it
Further Resolved, That all City departments are authorized and directed to cooperate with and assist the task force in carrying out its mission; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the task force may request assistance from non-city entities in carrying out its mission; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the task force shall submit its findings and recommendations to the Common Council within 6 months of adoption of this resolution and shall thereafter be dissolved.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB07026-1
LCS
2/5/07