Councilwoman urges policy session after residents report safety, security breakdowns at rental property
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Summary
Councilwoman Jackson described chronic safety and code complaints at Schlarman House and asked the city to consider strengthening nuisance enforcement; corporation counsel said current ordinance requires three predicate violations within 180 days and noted prior settlement changes limited enforcement options.
Councilwoman Jackson raised extended concerns about safety and habitability at the Schlarman House and other rental properties, recounting resident reports of broken entry locks, trespassers sleeping in the building, fights and an incident in a stairwell involving an officer. She said former on‑site management and security once mitigated the problems but that the current owner is not providing comparable management.
Jackson urged the council to hold a policy session to explore stronger enforcement tools. Corporation Counsel Hayes responded that, under the city’s nuisance ordinance, staff generally needs three predicate violations within 180 days to declare a chronic nuisance and that prior settlement modifications had constricted enforcement parameters; Hayes said staff could present options but cautioned state legislation could affect local authority in this arena.
Council directed staff to add a limited policy discussion to a future meeting to review options and possible ordinance changes, with staff and legal preparing background and possible approaches.
