Politics & Government

Registration or Inspection? Solon Leaders Debate Rental Property Regulations

After discussing the pros and cons of a rental registration program, planning commission decides to hold it back for another round of talks

Draft legislation that would require landlords to register their rental properties came under fire from a councilwoman who called it pointless without inspections.

Ward 3 Councilwoman Toni Richmond, who supports a previous version of the plan that would require inspections, said during Tuesday's planning commission meeting that "this piece of legislation without an inspections component is not worth the paper it's written on."

But other planning commission members said the legislation is a first step to confront the larger, more difficult issue of rental properties in Solon.

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Solon officials have spent more than a year grappling with it: How do you regulate rental properties, often described as magnets for trouble, without infringing on the privacy of the residents?

The debate has gone back and forth between city council and the planning commission, who have not been able to come up with a program that goes far enough to curb the perceived problems without going too far. The debate has sparked racial and class discussions, making a politically sensitive issue even more controversial.

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Some feel the problem is exacerbated in Solon because there's a large number of homes sitting vacant or for sale, which makes them attractive as rental properties, especially since Solon has one of the best school systems in the state.

City Council had an ordinance that would have required inspections of rental properties, but too many council members did not support it because they felt inspections infringed on privacy rights.

So Planning Director Rob Frankland came back with a watered-down version that requires .Β 

Under the draft ordinance, owners would be required to register their units between Sept. 1 and the end of the year, at a fee of $15. Rental properties would have to be renewed on a regular basis. The original proposal called for every five years, but Solon officials have asked to require more-frequent registration, perhaps every three years or even annually.Β 

An owner or owner's agent who violates the permit would be guilty of a second-degree misdemeanor.

Richmond said she has been accused of being a racist for supporting a proposal that "targets minorities."

"I don't think it's racist at all," she said. "It doesn't target a particular minority. It targets people who don't take care of property and who impact neighborhood safety."

Commission member Roger Newberry took exception to Richmond's comments. He said they were politically motivated.

"Election season is in full swing in Solon," he said.

Newberry agreed that the proposal didn't accomplish everything, but it's a first step on an important issue that has been delayed time and time again by politics.

"We've been doing this for 12 months," Newberry said. "I think the reason council did nothing with it is there was too much on the plate."

He described the registration proposal as a "first bite" into a larger issue.

Mayor Susan Drucker said she also supports inspections, but does not see it as politically viable right now.

"I can see the writing on the wall with council," she said. "It won't pass."

She said she also supports the registration plan as a first step, but said she would like to see registration done on an annual basis.

"I'd rather get something started in the city rather than have nothing at all," she said.

A handful of residents spoke Tuesday. All of them supported a beefed-up registration program with inspections. One resident described Solon as "open season" for rental properties because there is no regulation to ensure that properties remain in good repair and don't have too many people living in one unit.

Resident Chris Bryant said a program that supplies rental residents with some sort of occupancy permit would help the schools enforce residency requirements.

"It's not a racial issue," Bryant said. "It's who's here, who's paying and who's services."

The matter will be discussed at the planning commission meeting March 15, and then likely forwarded on to city council for its consideration. City council is expected to hold a public hearing on the matter, probably in April.


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