City staff presented a proposed vacant-property registration ordinance to the Planning and Development Committee intended to encourage owners to re-occupy usable rental units and deter long-term vacancy of residential and commercial buildings.

Assistant Service Safety Director Andrew Chicky described the policy as a registration and escalation-fee program for properties that meet the code definition of vacant. He said the proposal is modeled on practices in other Ohio municipalities and would be administered by the Code Office.

Chicky outlined enforcement and detection methods: complaints from neighbors, records of utility disconnection from the utility-billing office, and routine code inspections could trigger investigations. If a property is found vacant, the owner would be required to register it and could face escalating annual fees if the vacancy continues.

Councilmembers asked for clarity on exemption timeframes (for example, sabbaticals or temporary military service). Chicky said such exemptions could be specified and that the ordinance can include evidence thresholds showing re-occupancy (a signed lease or realtor contract, for example).

Committee members and a public speaker who represents the Affordable Housing Commission told the committee the measure could help recover housing stock, curb neighborhood decline and return usable units to the market. Staff and council noted the ordinance is not intended as a "land grab"; rather it creates an incentive structure and fees to encourage re-occupation or rehabilitation.

Committee members asked staff to refine language on exemptions, the definition of re-occupation and procedures for investigation. The item will proceed through the scheduled readings and public hearing process.