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Apartment ordinance loosens some rules Aldermen support concept: Accuse landlords of spreading 'propaganda'
STAFF WRITER WAUKEGAN — The controversial apartment inspections ordinance was fine-tuned by the City Council Tuesday night, with aldermen approving amendments that loosen the requirements for newer buildings. But several aldermen voiced continued support for the concept in the face of criticism from area landlords. First Ward Ald. Sam Cunningham was especially vocal, saying that landlords "aren't just putting out propaganda, (they're) flat-out lying to people" about the nature of the residential inspections. "I'm a little more passionate about this (because) I know the impact it has had on my particular area," Cunningham said. "I still think it's going to be a success. We just have to get past the bumps and bruises and all the propaganda going through the city." Sixth Ward Ald. Larry TenPas also said he feels there has been "a lot of false information going out" by "some people who want to make a political issue out of this." "I'm not backing off. This alderman is not backing off," said TenPas, adding that owners of quality property should be working with the city to weed out "the landlords living out of town and feasting on the city of Waukegan" with substandard housing. But 7th Ward Ald. Patrick Needham called on the city and landlords to continue working on the issue, saying Tuesday night's amendments could be a first step. "We can reach a constructive deal with the apartment owners (and) clear this up a little more," Needham said. "Both sides have a little bit of work to do, but we'll get there." The adjustments approved Tuesday essentially excuse new rental housing units from the annual inspections for at least their first year of operation, and also allow all properties that pass the inspections with high marks to be evaluated every other year. Building Commissioner Chuck Perkey said the revisions have been under consideration for some time to make the process easier for his deparment and landlords. "We've found it creates an unnecessary burden on a lot of the property owners who keep their property up to code," said Perkey, adding that "we thought it would be fair" to offer less stringent requirements. Under the city's rental inspection ordinance, which was approved last year, all residential rental units in the city are subject to an annual inspection for building and life safety code violations. City officials have maintained that case law allows such inspections if they are applied to all properties on a systematic, annual basis. Under the revisions, new apartment housing is defined as "those residential rental buildings which have received an occupancy permit from the city of Waukegan within the 12-month period immediately preceding the date of application for the rental unit license." Such structures, the revised ordinance states, "shall not be required to undergo an inspection for the initial annual business license." An inspection would be required for the second and subsequent years after occupancy "unless it is waived by the city based on 100 percent compliance," the ordinance states. Additional provisions state that apartment buildings passing their initial licensing inspection with a 100 percent compliance rate "shall be exempt from the inspection requirement for the following license year." Also, the revised measure states that inspections will be required "only on a biennial basis" for properties that maintain "a 90 percent or better code compliance rate." Cunningham said the adjustments were not made due to the public pressure brought by the Lake County Apartment Owners Assocation (LCAOA) and some apartment dwellers. "This is not just a reaction. This is something that has been in the mix for a long time," said Cunningham, adding later that the overall program will be worth the effort "if we save one life, or if we help one family." LCAOA spokesman Mel Metts said his group has maintained all along that life safety inspections should be conducted by the fire department, not code enforcement inspectors. He called on the city to consider that approach in future negotiations on the subject. Meanwhile, Mayor Richard Hyde said that today would mark the final day of inspections before the first two months of the program are reviewed. Last week, Hyde asked Perkey to suspend the inspections indefinitely, though Perkey said the program would continue in March. City officials also released statistics showing that 2,486 rental units were inspected during January, with 1,150 units failing the inspections and a total of 1,832 violations being cited. Nearly half of the violations centered on such things as inoperable light fixtures, inoperable or damaged electrical outlets, inoperable or damaged smoke detectors and misuse of extension cords. In addition, five illegal units and 10 illegal basement apartments were also uncovered, along with two situations described as "density problems," according to city reports.
02/19/03 |
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