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 Servi...
Click here for full text