Mayor vetoes council's verbal moratorium; council proceeds with first reading of revised rental ordinance

Mayor Linda McDonald issued a veto of a council action that she said had not followed the city's agenda and rule requirements, and the City Council did not overturn that veto at its Aug. 18 meeting.

The veto letter, read into the public record by the clerk, said the council's verbal action to extend a moratorium on enforcement of the rental ordinance did not appear on the meeting agenda and that the mayor was exercising her authority under the city charter. "I am vetoing this council action for the following reasons," the mayor said in the letter as read aloud.

Why it matters: the council had earlier tried to pause enforcement of a new ordinance regulating non-owner-occupied dwellings while the ordinance was revised. The mayor's veto prevents an immediate indefinite pause in enforcement; the council can attempt to overturn that veto at a future meeting with the affirmative votes required by charter.

Councilwoman Manuka moved to accept the mayor's veto; Councilman O'Shafi supported the motion. After a roll call and discussion about whether the initial council step had been a motion or a verbal resolution, the council president stated that the council did not reach the votes needed to overturn the veto, and the mayoral veto therefore stood.

Following the vote on the veto, the council conducted the first reading of an ordinance amending Highland Park City Code section 1448 to set registration, inspection and certificate-of-compliance requirements for non-owner-occupied dwellings. Council members read sections of the proposed ordinance into the record, covering definitions, registration and inspection requirements, exemptions for certain immediate-family-occupied units, and enforcement mechanisms tied to certificates of compliance.

The ordinance text presented in the first reading states, among other provisions, that owners of non-owner-occupied units must register and designate a responsible local agent within a 50-mile radius, obtain a certificate of compliance before renting, and pay registration and inspection fees to be set later by city council resolution. The first reading also includes an exemption that allows up to three properties per owner to be registered and exempted from fees and standard inspections if they are occupied by immediate family members, subject to verification.

Council members said the first reading means the ordinance has been placed on the public record and will return for a second reading and a vote at a future meeting. The council president said the document will be read again at the next meeting.

Quotes in context: Mayor Linda McDonald, in the veto letter as read into the record, said the verbal resolution "did not appear on the meeting agenda" and that the city attorney's office had not been provided a written copy for review. Councilwoman Manuka, defending the council's earlier action, said the intent was to place a moratorium "until we fix the ordinance."

What's next: The veto remains in effect; the ordinance is on its first reading and will come back for a second reading and a vote at a subsequent meeting. The council and staff also indicated fees and specific inspection schedules will be set by later council resolution, not in the ordinance text presented during the first reading.

Ending note: Council members and residents at the meeting discussed related concerns including enforcement timing, the scope of exemptions for family-occupied units, and how the city will notify owners and tenants about registration and inspection processes. The council scheduled continued consideration of the ordinance at a future meeting.