Council to study vacant-building fee and third-ward revitalization after state blocks renters' "right of first refusal" ordinances

City Manager Gregory Rose told council staff are preparing a white paper on a vacant-building fee and targeting a May 2026 work session to present pros and cons. "Establish a vacant building fee. That's something that we are preparing a white paper on. We'll need to have a work session with you. Looks like we're targeting May 2026," Rose said.

The session also covered the Third Ward revitalization program: staff have hired a coordinator and are advancing programs that include home repair and stakeholder outreach. Rose told council that the city had looked at an ordinance to provide renters with a first right of refusal if an owner sold the property, but "the state passed legislation at the last session that prohibits jurisdictions from creating those types of ordinances." Staff proposed a January study session to present program details and seek council direction.

Councilors discussed whether the vacant-building fee should apply broadly (residential and commercial) and asked staff to evaluate combining landlord/property-registration improvements with any new fee. Staff said an existing residential vacancy registration program is in place and that expanding or supplementing it for commercial offices and loop office buildings is under study.

What happens next: staff will prepare a white paper and schedule a May 2026 work session on vacant-building fees and a January 2026 study session on third-ward housing programs; they will also return with details on existing vacancy-registration programs and options for integrating commercial and residential measures.