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This meeting is open to the public for discussion. The ordinance was drafted with the intent to solve the problem of “proliferation of one-family dwellings being converted into rental dwellings” resulting in “overcrowding, congestion, public nuisances and
blighting.” The main concern with the proposed ordinance is that it does very little to correct the problems for which this legislation was created.
The proposed ordinance does nothing to address the obvious increase in demand for rental property causing houses to be used as rentals. We should consider increasing the supply of new rental units to provide safe and clean apartments for the renters.
In addition, the ordinance fails to address the need to reduce “public nuisances” and improve the neighborhoods. We should be looking at ways to increase citizen involvement, better law enforcement, and prosecuting minor offenses before criminals are emboldened to be involved in greater offenses.
In the proposed ordinance, the provisions require single-family houses used as rental property to be registered by their owners, which is already required by previous legislation. However, the registration of single-family rentals has to be renewed every two years, and the Inspection Department has the ability to revoke the owner’s registration. This ordinance not only fails to solve the cause of the problems, but also serves to create adversaries out of rental property owners instead of their cooperation.
Rental property owners want to improve neighborhoods and reduce crime, too. A better approach to solving the problem with rental houses may be rezoning some areas close to campus and providing some incentive for developers. This could promote the replacement of older houses with newer buildings. We could have new buildings that are safer, cleaner and would help build a larger tax base. With more invested, owners will be more likely to screen for better tenants, help reduce crime, and provide more diligent maintenance.
Some members of the Apartment Association
have been working on a list of recommendations that could help reduce crime and promote community involvement. We would welcome an opportunity to work with the city to help improve our neighborhoods. The experience and knowledge of the professionals in the rental property business should be used in a cooperative effort to improve our city.
There are many other problems with the current draft of the ordinance which are too numerous to mention here. Without contrasting points of view, the city could end up with more rules, more work for public officials, more money spent but no real solution to improving our neighborhoods. We hope the Common Council sees the need and benefits of setting up a committee that includes representatives of the Apartment Association to attain common goals.
Thomas J. Miller is on the Board of the Apartment Association of La Crosse Inc.
