Committee advances vacant building registration ordinance after administration presentation; vote 6–2

Director Kevin Dahlberg presented the administration’s proposed vacant building registration (VBR) approach, describing it as a proactive, data-driven program intended to identify likely vacant buildings earlier in their decline and require semiannual registration and exterior checks to reduce neighborhood blight and emergency calls.

"We're looking at about $9,000,000 in terms of cost," Director Dahlberg said when describing the citywide service costs associated with vacant properties. He also told the committee: "Only 3% of these properties didn't have at least a fire call or a police call to the property," underscoring the public-safety and service-demand implications.

Administration staff described how VBR would use Waterworks data, post office delivery information and field verification to identify potentially vacant buildings, require semiannual registration to keep owner contact information current, and perform regular exterior inspections in alternate months. The stated aim is to start outreach while repair costs are smaller and to encourage re-occupancy rather than later demolition; the presentation noted demolition costs for a single-family dwelling commonly range from $15,000 to $20,000.

Dahlberg presented data showing roughly 4,500 buildings citywide meet some vacancy indicator (water off, VBML or condemned). He said about 60% of the identified properties are owned by individuals and a majority are within Hamilton County. He described tools the city uses now (foreclosed-property registration, the reactive Vacant Building Maintenance License program or VBML, and the public-nuisance legal process) and said VBR is intended to catch properties earlier in the deterioration cycle.

Dahlberg outlined exemptions and director-determination options for the proposed VBR, including government-owned properties, seasonal "snowbird" owners, properties vacant for less than six months, and owners who demonstrate a documented maintenance plan or active renovation timeline. He said staff will try outreach first and use compliance tools such as maintenance plans, civil citations and litigation only when necessary.

Several council members and public commenters urged care on equity and enforcement. Public speakers during the public comment portion earlier in the meeting raised neighborhood concerns about vacant properties, citing long-dated citations and buildings that remain unsecured; Susan ("Sue") Bills urged a special urgent list for chronic vacant-property offenders and more support for seniors and households in hardship. Lindsay Swadner, speaking for Mohawk, described multiple West McMicken properties with long-standing citations and structural hazards.

The committee voted on the ordinance at the end of the meeting. The roll-call recorded votes as: Mark Jeffries (Yes); Victoria Parks (Yes); Councilwoman Owens (Yes); Councilman Johnson (No); Councilman Walsh (No); Kramer Dean (Yes); Anna Albee (Yes); Nolan (Yes). The committee recorded the motion as approved and directed the administration to file the presentation for the record.

Committee members said they will continue to monitor equity impacts and requested more precise geocoding so mailing-address anomalies (for example, regional mailing addresses such as Indian Hill that use a Cincinnati mailing address) do not skew neighborhood targeting.