It’s registration without tons of new staff or inspection ordinances of dubious constitutionality.
Right now, the only thing between the city and a new landlord registry is the right software, said Paul Arena, president of the Rockford Apartment Association.
The property managers want the database to link to the city’s police and code enforcement reporting tools so they can receive an e-mail when something happens at one of their properties.
Arena said he’s confident that it can be done through a program that won’t put additional demands on city staff.
Let’s compare in our signature DeKalb-centric way.
The City of DeKalb put together what observers can now conclude was supposed to be a puppet task force to promote its rental inspection ambitions. The task force ended up not being a puppet, thereby forcing the administration to a) try an end run around its work by contracting with rental inspection “experts,” b) introduce (and re-introduce) and advocate its own ordinances at council though they ran counter to task force recommendations, and c) ensure victory by waiting until a key council member went on vacation to hold the final vote.
The City of Rockford negotiated directly — and, it appears, sometimes fiercely — with its landlords, and will soon bring to its council an ordinance that has the support of both parties.
Which city would you rather deal with?
Related: Licensing & Inspection Program Could Help Turn a TIF Blueprint into Reality