Title
Crime Free/Rental Housing Code - Approval
History
Timeline and Public Input Process
On December 15th, the Village Board of Trustees continued this agenda item to the January 19, 2009 meeting. Since this time, staff has continued to meet with interested parties to further discuss and refine the proposed crime free rental housing code.
On November 24th, the Development Services committee recommended approval of the proposed crime free rental housing code. At the October and November meetings, the Committee allowed public input and discussion regarding the proposed regulations. At the October Development Services committee meeting, this item was deferred to allow staff to review requested changes to the proposed ordinance from a lobbyist for the Illinois Association of Realtors. A comparison of his request and the Village’s response is also attached for the Village Board’s review. All acceptable changes have been incorporated into the proposed and attached Crime Free Rental Housing code.
In January of 2008, the Development Services committee first reviewed the proposed crime-free rental housing code (Title 5, Chapter 8). The proposed code was also forwarded to the Police committee for comment. On September 10th, an informational public meeting was also held, with over 100 people in attendance. In addition to these meetings, staff has also met with a representative from the Illinois Association of Realtors (as noted above) to discuss the proposed program. As a result of this public input, a number of changes have been incorporated into the code, including but not limited to:
• Tri-annual inspections instead of annual.
• Reduction in the registration fee from $50 to $25.
• An initial fee waiver for registration, if the rental housing owner registers within 60 days from the effective date.
• Reduction in inspection fees for multi-unit buildings.
• Waiver given for class attendance to landlords who can provide verification they attended crime-free seminar in another community.
• Clarified hearing/court process.
• Added language regarding process in the event of denial of access.
• Added sunset provision for January 2015, which will require the Village Board to uphold/renew the program or it will expire.
Purpose and Intent
Currently, the Village of Orland Park does not regulate rental housing. Staff is recommending revising the existing Village Code, Title 5, Chapter 8 in its entirety and replacing with the insertion of a new “Rental Housing Code” that will authorize the Village to require the licensing and registration of land owners who rent or lease residential units within the corporate limits of Orland Park, Illinois.
The principle purpose of the proposed code is to require a minimum property maintenance standard and a means to detour crime through “Crime Free Rental Housing” standards for housing units that are not occupied by the land owner. A summary of the proposed regulations is attached for review.
The local creation and/or changes in this new code edition have been limited, as much as possible, so as not to create an unequal burden on existing land owners. The local revisions are intended to create rules for maintaining existing rental buildings and surrounding properties to their originally planned character within the Village. Additionally, it is appropriate and within the legal right of the Village, to ensure that such housing is safe, decent and crime-free.
The Crime Free component of the proposed code is based upon crime prevention methods designed to help keep illegal activity off rental property. The proposed Crime Free Program was originally developed by the Mesa Arizona Police Department in 1992. This program has now spread to nearly 2,000 cities in 44 states, as well as internationally. There are a number of Illinois communities that mandate this program. Village staff, from both the Development Services and Police Departments, has worked very closely with the Village of Schaumburg in the development of this program.
On November 24, 2008 the Development Services and Planning Committee moved to recommend to the Board of Trustees approval of the Crime-Free Rental Housing Code, Title 5, Chapter 8, as outlined.
This is now before the Village Board for consideration.
Recommended Action/Motion
I move to approve the Crime-Free Rental Housing Code, Title 5, Chapter 8, as outlined.