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Ordinance committee approves pilot housing-court division to speed code enforcement
Summary
Committee approved a pilot housing court division of the municipal court designed to accelerate housing and code enforcement. Sponsors called it a trial with part-time staffing and a projected offset from fines; some councilmembers requested more legal clarity and reporting.
The ordinance committee voted to create a pilot housing-court division of the municipal court intended to speed enforcement of housing and code violations.
Sponsors said the pilot would add part-time inspectors and clerical support and rely on fines to offset part of the estimated $32,000 in initial operating costs. Council sponsors and supporters described the division as a tool to help address long-standing vacant and deteriorated properties, citing examples of houses abandoned for seven and 15 years.
Opponents and some councilmembers pressed for additional legal review, clarity around fiscal notes and details about judge appointments and who would bear long-term costs. Legal counsel and the finance director addressed some questions in committee; sponsors said the program is a trial and that monthly and semiannual reporting would be provided to measure outcomes and revenue.
Action: Committee approved the housing-court ordinance as amended and recorded a roll-call vote in committee. The ordinance will move forward toward full council and budgeting discussions during the next budget cycle.
