DeKalb’s city council will hold a special workshop meeting August 22, 6 p.m. in council chambers, to discuss proposals related to the work of the Safe/Quality Housing Task Force. The agenda and backup materials (a 109-page PDF) are here. If you’ve been following the work of the task force, especially lately, you know that its…
Tag: code enforcement
No Task Force, No Public Input Allowed at Council’s Special Meetings on Housing Issues
[Updated with link 5:30 p.m.] The DeKalb City Council is planning three special meetings on housing issues, scheduled as follows: Wednesday, Aug 22 at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept 19 at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct 10 at 6 p.m. The meetings will not include Safe/Quality Housing Task Force members except as members of the audience who…
Safe/Quality Housing Recommendations: A Matter of Trust
Soon the DeKalb city council will be deciding what steps to take, if any, in response to recommendations made by the Safe/Quality Housing Task Force and by its own staff. They include proposals for a “disorderly house” ordinance, issuance of Crime Free Lease addenda, and regulations for the registration, licensing and inspection of rental properties.…
Joint Meeting of City Council & Housing Task Force
The meeting is Tuesday, June 26, 6 p.m. in DeKalb council chambers. The joint meeting is a signal that the work of the Safe/Quality Housing Task Force is almost done and that proposals will come up for votes at council soon. The city’s agenda does not list specific items, so I got mine from the…
Alderman Baker’s Signs
On a tip, I sought and found these signs displayed May 11 at The Copy Service, Dollar Video, Lukulos, and Mason Properties. Information in the lower right corner identifies the business as The Copy Service, part of the local business empire of Alderman Dave Baker. We know from a previous post that temporary signs in…
Advance Auto
Photo taken May 10. Watch for more soon, along with a sign permit update.
Code Enforcement & the Sign Ordinance
The City of DeKalb’s Safe/Quality Housing Task Force met Tuesday. Greek Row safety was a popular topic of discussion, and so were code enforcement issues. The Quality Subcommittee had several suggestions about the latter, including: Condense and summarize housing codes for public consumption where possible. Institute a tracking system for code complaints, preferably an online…
First 5 Things the Housing Task Force Should Do
1. Ask the City to find a little space on the front page of its website to advertise upcoming meetings. 2. Review the codes. 3. Request the City conduct public hearings to start a comprehensive evaluation of the fairness and effectiveness of code enforcement activities. 4. Direct the crafting of an electronic survey to incorporate…
Housing Task Force?
The Daily Chronicle reports on the mayor’s formation of a housing task force: The Task Force for Safe and Quality Housing will ensure that housing units in the area are up to code and safe to occupy, Povlsen said. It is important that the city make public safety a high priority, he said during a…
Calling Fowl in Batavia
The Daily Herald reports that the City of Batavia’s Community Development Committee is researching the possibility of allowing residents to house chickens. This Kane County development seems kind of fitting in view of Garfield Farm’s efforts to save the Black Java breed. I’ve done some homework on keeping chickens in the city, and I know…