The agenda for tomorrow’s city council meetings is here. Now, it finally becomes apparent* that the $6 million they’ve got stockpiled in the TIF 2 fund is mostly going to go into the Municipal Building. Of course, the use of TIF money for this purpose will bring in all kinds of new private development and…
Tag: housing
Two Poodles Bring Zombie Housing Ordinance to Council
DeKalb’s Committee of the Whole agenda for Monday includes a zombie ordinance. Enclosed is an old draft of an ordinance prepared by Klein Thorpe, and Jenkins in which property maintenance items were at one time included in a former draft of the Chronic Nuisance ordinance. The Housing Task Force rejected the ordinance, and Council already…
Special Meeting Tonight on Proposed Rental Inspection Staffing
DeKalb city staff want to hire five people and buy four vehicles in their quest to a) ignore recommendations of the Safe/Quality Housing Task Force and b) implement the rental housing licensing and inspection program they’ve wanted all along. According to the agenda backup, start-up costs would come to $135,000 and the annual outlay would…
Licensing & Inspection Program Could Help Turn a TIF Blueprint into Reality
The Daily Chronicle lays out today the arguments for and against licensing and inspection of rental properties. There are four proposed laws before the council, but it’s the issue of licensing that has garnered the most attention and debate from aldermen, city officials, and landlords. City Manager Mark Biernacki has previously described it as being…
Public Hearing on Housing Ordinances Coming Up Wednesday
There’s a special meeting of the DeKalb city council on Wednesday, September 19, concerning the Safe/Quality Housing Task Force vs. city staff recommendations. Last time, staff made its case while everybody else listened. This time there’s a public hearing. The items under consideration are as follows: 1. SAFE AND QUALITY HOUSING ISSUES a. Crime-free Lease…
Rental Association Positions on Proposed Housing Ordinances
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…
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…
DeKalb County Online: Rental Inspection Manager Hired Last Year
Surprise! The City of DeKalb has been paying the “proposed” Rental Inspection Program Manager for the better part of a year now: According to records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, filed by DeKalb County Online, the City hired an independent contractor, retired DeKalb Police Lt. James Kayes, to perform the duties…