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<br />June 28. 2005 <br /> <br />05 - 287 - Adoption of an ordinance establishing a Rental Inspection Program in the <br />City of Portsmouth, applicable to rental dwelling units located in certain rental <br />inspection districts, pursuant to the Code of Virginia. Vision Principle: Neighborhood <br />and Community Transformation. <br /> <br />Background: <br />. The existing Rental Inspection Program has been in place since 1972, <br />encompassing the entire City of Portsmouth, requiring a rental inspection each time a <br />rental property changes occupants (unless it is within six months of the last <br />inspection). There are no exemptions available from rental inspections. <br />. House Bill 828 was approved in April of 2004, and will take effect on July 1,2005. <br />The City Code changes have been made to comply with the new State Code with <br />regard to rental inspections. <br /> <br />Discussion: <br />. The House Bill and subsequent Code Changes have required that changes be <br />made <br />to Rental Inspections Programs in jurisdictions across the State. The only two options <br />available are to comply with these changes or to curtail rental inspections completely. <br />. The proposed new Rental Inspection Program includes the following changes: <br />"Y Rental districts (map attached); <br />"Y Rental inspections cannot be done less than annually on any property provided <br />that no valid complaints are received or violations have been observed by the <br />environmental inspector since the issuance of a certificate of compliance or during an <br />approved four-year exemption period; <br /> <br />"Y Permits owners to apply for a four-year exemption; <br />"Y Requires owners to notify Environmental Inspections if the property is sold; <br />"Y Requires a property identification form be submitted by property owner; and <br />"Y A Public Hearing must be held by the governing body any time changes are <br />proposed to the Rental Inspection Program. <br /> <br />Staff Recommends: <br />Adoption of an ordinance establishing a Rental Inspection Program in the City of <br />Portsmouth, applicable to rental dwelling units located in certain rental inspection <br />districts, pursuant to the Code of Virginia. Vision Principle: Neighborhood and <br />Community Transformation. <br /> <br />Next Steps Following Council Action: None <br /> <br />Motion by Mr. Heretick, and seconded by Mr. Whitehurst, to adopt the following <br />ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: <br /> <br />"AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTERS 11.1 AND 17 OF THE CODE OF THE <br />CITY OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA (1988) BY REPEALING SECTIONS 17-71 <br />THROUGH 17-76, BY ADOPTING NEW SECTIONS 17-81 THROUGH 17-92, AND BY <br />ADOPTING A NEW SECTION 11.1-4 PERTAINING TO THE INSPECTION OF <br />RESIDENTIAL RENTAL DWELLING UNITS." <br /> <br />Ayes: Heretick, Moody, Psi mas, Randall, Smith, Whitehurst, Holley <br />Nays: None <br /> <br />05 - 288 - Adoption of an ordinance requesting City Code amendments that will allow <br />the Portsmouth City Council to impose a penalty for the delinquent remittance of <br />excise taxes on meals, lodging and admissions collected from consumers, not to <br />exceed ten percent for the first month the taxes are past due, and five percent each <br />month thereafter, not to exceed 25 percent of the taxes not remitted. Vision Principle: <br />A Robust and Prospering Economy. <br />