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Housing committee recommends use of injunctive relief, in-rem repair orders and mold-testing pilot
Summary
The Housing Committee reported recommendations to direct staff to advance new processes including in-rem repair orders and greater use of injunctive relief for code enforcement, plus a pilot for mold testing. The committee said staff will return with budget numbers and procurement steps and noted about $3,000,000 in pay-go funds are available.
The council's Housing Committee reported to the full council that members recommend directing staff to pursue new tools for code enforcement, including increased use of injunctive relief and in-rem repair orders when lawful and appropriate.
Committee members said the city has legal authority for injunctive relief but has not used it consistently, and recommended staff work with the city attorney’s office and procurement to develop interim processes and the necessary services contracts. "We have had the ability of legal action through injunctive relief but it has not been utilized," a committee speaker said.
The committee also discussed a pilot for mold testing and asked staff to return with implementation details, procurement options and specific budget figures. Committee members said staff would report back with exact dollar amounts tied to upstream rental assistance, CDBG funds and available relocation-contract funds when displacement occurs. One committee speaker noted about $3,000,000 in pay-go funds total available for related housing activities.
The committee's next steps include drafting procurement for remediation and related services and preparing in-rem repair orders for potential council action. No formal council vote on code changes or new ordinances was recorded in the transcript; the item was described as a committee recommendation and direction to staff.
