FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Building Development Services Director Chris Straw brought what he calls a “long overdue” set of clarifications to the City’s Nuisance and Housing Code (City Charter, Chapter 74) to City Council Tuesday, Jan. 17. The workshop was informational only and Council provided direction to Straw, who plans to bring a formal legislative change proposal to City Council for a vote later this year.
The proposed changes allow for a clear explanation of the minimum standards required for safe housing to tenants, landlords and inspectors, and eliminates conflicts, making current language more legally enforceable.
Straw did a comprehensive review of Chapter 74, based on the increased life safety concerns and the City’s inability to enforce a minimum set of standards. Addressing “chronic nuisance properties” was the number one concern brought up by neighbors in the City’s “Community Listen” tour. The changes, in conjunction with the proposed adoption of new language has already been presented to the Development Input Issue Group (DIIG) as well as the Springfield Apartment Housing Association.
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For more information, contact Cora Scott, Director of Public Information & Civic Engagement, at 417-380-3352 or [email protected] or Chris Straw, Director of Building Development Services at [email protected]