AGENDA #4b

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT:       Charge and Timetable for Rental Licensing Task Force

DATE:             June 12, 2000

On March 27, 2000, the Town Council discussed a process for considering ideas on establishing a Rental Licensing requirement for Chapel Hill.  The Council agreed to convene a Task Force to examine issues that had been brought to the Council’s attention.  The Council asked the Town Manager to prepare a draft charge for the Task Force and possible timetable for meetings, for the Council’s consideration.  The Council also indicated its intent to appoint two Council members to serve on and convene this Task Force.

The Council asked for this draft charge to be brought on April 24.  We regret that other work items (most notably additional work on the Comprehensive Plan) delayed presentation of this memorandum until tonight.

Council Members Brown and Wiggins have volunteered to serve on the Task Force.

CHARGE

We suggest the following language as a charge for the Task Force:

The Rental Licensing Task Force is established to provide the Town Council with recommendations regarding whether or not to enact a system of licensing the rental of dwelling units in Chapel Hill and, if adopted, what form such a system should take.  The Task Force shall:

(1)  Consider the Rental Licensing proposals that have been brought to the Council;

(2)  Identify advantages, disadvantages, and implications associated with these proposals;

(3)  Consider additional alternative Rental Licensing models;  and

(4)  Prepare a recommendation for the Council’s consideration.  

In conducting its work, the Task Force shall:

(1)  Offer opportunities for public comments on this issue;  and

(2)  Consider the perspectives of multiple constituent groups:  homeowners, renters, rental property owners, and rental property managers.

We recommend that the Council formally adopt a charge for this Task Force.  Resolution A offers a model that can be adopted or modified.

TIME FRAME

The Council adopted a schedule that calls for the Task Force to begin meeting in September and to report to the Council in February.  Consistent with that direction, we recommend that applications for appointment to this Task Force be solicited during the summer and early fall, with the objective of making appointments in September.  We suggest that the Task Force meet four times:  October, November, January, and February, with the objective of making a report to the Council during March, 2001.

COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES

We suggest that the Council select two Council members tonight to serve on this Task Force, and to convene the Task Force.

COMPOSITION

In March we recommended that the Task Force include individuals who represent a variety of points of view on this issue, including, for example, a student, a landlord, a real estate professional, a homeowner, a renter, the manager of a large apartment complex, a small apartment owner, and a representative from the University and from the Historic District Commission.  We suggest that membership be limited to 12 appointees, plus the two Council members.

RECOMMENDATION

We recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution, establishing a charge, timetable, and Council representation for a Rental Licensing Task Force.

ATTACHMENTS

  1. March 27 Council Agenda Item

A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A CHARGE, TIMETABLE, AND COUNCIL REPRESENTATION FOR A RENTAL LICENSING WORK GROUP (2000-06-12/R-3)

WHEREAS, the Chapel Hill Town Council has expressed its intent to establish a Rental Licensing Work Group;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the charge of the Work Group will be as follows:

The Rental Licensing Task Force is established to provide the Town Council with recommendations regarding whether or not to enact a system of licensing the rental of dwelling units in Chapel Hill and, if adopted, what form such a system should take.  The Task Force shall:

  1. Consider the Rental Licensing proposals that have been brought to the Council;

  1. Identify advantages, disadvantages, and implications associated with these proposals;

  1. Consider additional alternative Rental Licensing models;  and

  1. Prepare a recommendation for the Council’s consideration.  

In conducting its work, the Task Force shall:

  1. Offer opportunities for public comments on this issue;  and

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

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force is expected to begin meeting in October, 2000, meet four times between October, 2000 and February, 2001, and report its findings and recommendations to the Town Council during March, 2001.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force shall have 12 appointees, plus two Council members.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following Council members are appointed to the Task Force, and to act as convenors of the Task Force:

·        Council Member ______________;  and

·        Council Member ______________.

This the 12th day of June, 2000.