[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: City of Columbia seeks public input on rental fees and occupancy disclosures

[Press Releases]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Leigh Britt
Neighborhood Services Manager
(573) 874-7504


City of Columbia seeks public input on rental fees and occupancy disclosures

COLUMBIA, MO (July 9, 2012) - The City of Columbia Community Development Department is seeking public input to changes in fees associated with enforcement of the Rental Unit Conservation Law as proposed for the 2013 fiscal year budget. An increase in the fees is being proposed to cover a larger percent of the cost to conduct the program.

Public meetings on the fee changes are scheduled for Tuesday, July 17, at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. at City Hall, 701 E. Broadway, Conference Room 1A. City staff will present changes to the fee structure and invite attendees to share comments that will be shared with City Council as part of the budget process. 

No changes are being proposed to the fees for rental applications, renewals or complaint inspections. Inspections fees are proposed to increase from $7 to $15 per unit, reinspection fees from $20 to $25 per unit and failure to meet the inspector from $15 to $20 per incident.

Rental fees were last increased in 2000. The city is currently recovering approximately 75 percent of the cost to carry out the Rental Unit Conservation Law; these changes will allow the city to recover a greater amount of the expense of the program.

Also on the agenda is review of the idea of an occupancy disclosure system. City Council received a report on over-occupancy at the June 18 meeting that included the idea of an occupancy disclosure form that all rental property owners would be required to complete with information on their tenants. A disclosure would assist the city in investigating zoning over-occupancy cases and nuisance violations where the tenant is responsible. The form would be maintained by the property owner or manager and be available to city staff upon request. Similar disclosures from Ft. Collins, Colo., and West Lafayette, Ind., are available to view on the city's website. The public will also be invited to comment on this idea.

Information on the fee changes and an opportunity for public comment will be available on the city's website at www.GoColumbiaMo.com through the end of July. For additional information on the changes, please contact the Office of Neighborhood Services at (573) 817-5050.


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