Faith Coalition and residents urge council to place landlord licensing, registration on ballot

Residents, tenant advocates and several council members pressed the Springfield City Council on Oct. 21 to advance a landlord licensing and registration program and to place a binding referendum before voters.

Alderman Williams told the council she will submit an ordinance titled the “residential rental inspection and landlord licensing program” and asked for colleagues’ support as the ordinance moves through Murdoch’s office and the city’s ordinance process. She described prior committee delays and said the proposal aims to reduce barriers and improve housing outcomes for renters.

Multiple public speakers, many representing the Faith Coalition for the Common Good, described chronic problems that they said would be addressed by licensing and registration: incomplete repairs and maintenance, delayed or ignored service requests, threatened evictions for tenants who speak up, and increases in rent. Dr. Roxanne Casey, identified in remarks as a Faith Coalition member, said landlords “are not neglectful regarding their properties” universally but that some out-of-state corporate owners neglect buildings and tenants suffer. Alicia Deal (identified in the meeting as a Faith Coalition housing ambassador) described an experience at Madison Park Place, saying Barron Development Company “began reservations in our property with little to no transparency” and that residents faced incomplete repairs and rent increases of about $300 in at least one example.

Speakers described displacement events: Tosha Robertson said recent displacement of approximately 150 residents from Old Town apartments uprooted families, seniors and students; others recounted mold, pest infestations and plumbing failures. Anne Logue urged a preventive, annual inspection program and said licensing fees for other city businesses commonly range from $25 to $100 per year. Several speakers urged the council to allow voters to decide the issue in 2026 via a binding referendum.

Council members and staff responded that work remains to draft the ordinance and to clarify program details. Corporation Counsel and city staff said they will revisit the intent of the TIF program and other funding questions raised by council members during new business; Alderman Williams and staff agreed to continue discussions and community outreach, including neighborhood open houses and workshops that the Office of Planning and Economic Development (OPED) has run previously.

Ending: Alderman Williams said she will submit the formal ordinance for consideration; the council did not take final action or vote on a licensing ordinance at this meeting. Several public commenters asked that any program include commercial landlords and LLC owners; speakers also urged clear enforcement mechanisms, accessible tenant resources and financial supports (loan or repair programs) to help responsible landlords meet standards.