The Rio Dell City Council voted to continue discussion of its rental housing inspection program after hearing from staff that complaints about rental housing have declined and that current staffing and other priorities could limit enforcement capacity.

Community development director Kevin Caldwell told the council the staff recommendation was to suspend — not repeal — the ordinance so it would remain available to reactivate if complaints increased. Caldwell said staff mailed registration notices to roughly 465 rental properties and received only about 85 registrations. He added that some post-earthquake repairs likely reduced complaints and that the city's upcoming housing element update will consume significant staff time; he said a PlaceWorks quote to assist with the housing element was about $88,000.

Those figures and the staffing trade-offs prompted questions and objections from several council members. One council member said residents had been frightened to report problems in the past and argued the program was intended to protect tenants who fear retaliation. Others said fewer complaints do not necessarily mean problems are resolved, and some expressed discomfort suspending the program without a longer trial and data showing it is unnecessary.

Caldwell said inspections could be handled through a team approach between city staff and community service officers (CSOs), but noted CSOs generally handle exterior issues (trash, abandoned vehicles) and lack the licensed building, electrical and plumbing expertise of building inspectors. He warned that enforcing a comprehensive inspection program would require resources — either contracting for inspections or shifting staff time away from the housing-element update.

The council agreed to continue the item to a future meeting so staff could present the inspection checklist, provide cost and contracting options for completing the housing element, and return with details about fines, enforcement authority and resource needs. The motion to continue was recorded as carrying (4-0-1). The item will be scheduled for a subsequent council meeting for further consideration.

What happens next: Staff will return with the inspection checklist, contractor quotes for the housing element update and clarifications on enforcement tools and any fines associated with nonregistration. No suspension, repeal or enforcement action was finalized.