Many Butler City landlords stopped by a recent gathering to give feedback about a plan that would establish a Rental Inspection Ordinance and Program within the city.
Three current members of Butler City Council were joined by around 30 local property owners at a stakeholders meeting to discuss a draft of the proposal Thursday afternoon.
The program was overwhelmingly unpopular among attendees with many stating that they felt the ordinance unfairly discriminated against landlords. Councilman Don Shearer stressed that the purpose of the ordinance is the safety and protection of tenants against a very small percentage of delinquent landlords.
The ordinance would only trigger a required inspection when a new tenant moves into a property or if the property has been formally identified as a nuisance. The city would incur costs administering the program but those would be paid for using the fees from the inspections. The City will not make money from this program.
There is no date planned for a Council vote on the proposal at this time but it is not expected to take place until sometime early next year. If passed, an effective date of at least six months after that will be set to allow property owners a chance to address possible issues.
