AGENDA #4b

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:       Charge and Timetable for the 2005 Rental Licensing Committee

 

DATE:             February 14, 2005

 

 

The purpose of this memorandum is to recommend a charge and timetable for the 2005 Rental Licensing Committee. 

 

BACKGROUND

 

·         On June 12, 2000, the Council established a Rental Licensing Task Force and charged the Committee to provide the Council with recommendations about whether to enact a system of rental licensing for residential dwelling units in Chapel Hill, and what form such a system would take.

 

·         On March 26, 2001, the Rental Licensing Task Force presented recommendations for the Council’s consideration. 

 

·         On April 8, 2002, the Council adopted an ordinance to establish a program for the licensing of residential rental properties.  The Council stated its intent to review the Program within three years, and that the program would expire June 30, 2005, barring further action.

 

·         On January 24, 2005, the Council adopted a resolution directing the Town Manager to solicit applications for appointment to a Rental Licensing Committee, and to bring a proposed charge and timetable for this Committee to the Town Council on February 14, so that the charge could be adopted and appointments could be made in a timely manner.

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

We recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution to establish a charge and timetable for the 2005 Rental Licensing Committee.  The Council would have an opportunity to make appointments to this committee on February 28.  Persons who have indicated an interest in this topic, including members of the group that developed the ordinance, would be invited to apply.  The charge to the Committee would be to report to Council in May 2005, with their recommendation as to whether the program should continue, be modified, or be abolished. 

 

 

 

A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A CHARGE AND TIMETABLE FOR THE 2005 RENTAL LICENSING COMMITTEE (2005-02-14/R-3)

 

WHEREAS, on January 24, 2005, the Town Council resolved that the Town Manager is directed to solicit applications for appointment to a Rental Licensing Committee; and

 

WHEREAS, the same resolution established that the Committee begins meeting in March 2005, and is requested to report to the Council in May 2005;

 

NOW; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the charge of the 2005 Rental Licensing Committee be as follows:

 

  1. The Rental Licensing Committee is established to provide the Town Council with recommendations as to the effectiveness of the Rental Licensing Program, and

 

  1. To recommend whether to continue, modify, or abolish the Rental Licensing Program beyond the now established expiration date of June 30, 2005.

 

  1. The Rental Licensing Committee Shall:

 

    1. Consider the perspectives of multiple constituent groups including: homeowners, renters, rental property owners, and rental property managers, and

 

    1. Identify any objectives that the program may have accomplished, and whether those objectives could be accomplished if the licensing program was abolished, and

 

    1. Present recommendations for the Council’s consideration.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Rental Licensing Committee is expected to begin meeting in March 2005, and report its findings and recommendations to the Town Council in May 2005.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Rental Licensing Committee shall have 12 appointees, plus the following Council members to act as conveners of the Committee:

 

 

This the 14th day of February, 2005.