Council debates stronger habitability penalties and security exceptions for redevelopment projects

The City Council discussed proposed amendments to the housing code on May 20 that would tighten certificates of habitability requirements and strengthen enforcement through revocation and penalties. One council member proposed a $1,000-per-day fine for buildings without required security, particularly for properties over 100 units.

"There needs to be a connective fine... $1,000 a day that's attached to every day they do not turn in the information," a council member said during the item on ordinance 8E and the companion 8F.

Michelle Austin, first assistant corporation counsel, told the council the law department would seek to make penalties "as strong as we can for our municipality." Michelle Nelson, also identified as a First Assistant Corporation Counsel, explained that 8F creates an exception tied to Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs): where a redevelopment project is subject to a negotiated CBA, security requirements may be negotiated with the Business Administrator, the Public Safety Director and Economic and Housing Development; if negotiations fail, the underlying ordinance's security requirements remain in force.

Why it matters: Council members said several large buildings in the city currently lack required security and argued that stronger, clearly enumerated penalties would better protect residents. The CBA exception would allow project-level negotiation but leaves enforcement authority with the BA and public-safety director.

Next steps: Corporation counsel agreed to return with stronger penalty language; councilmembers indicated they would advance the ordinance with amendments to reflect stiffer fines and clearer enforcement triggers.