Spring Break
City council passes amendment to strengthen U+2
Madeline Novey
Issue date: 5/6/09 Section: News
City council passed an amendment Tuesday that will strengthen enforcement of the city ordinance that prohibits three unrelated people from living in one residence, despite protest from students and community members.
The amendment to the city law Three Unrelated, commonly referred to as U+2, authorizes an enforcement official to administer a citation without first serving a notice of violation. This is a change city staff said is a "tool" for better enforcement, especially against "blatant violators."
"I'm pleased it passed," said Fort Collins House Inspector Derf Green of the amendment, which passed 5-2 after almost two hours of debate and discussion in City Hall. "(The amendment) gives us the tools we need to enforce (the ordinance)."
Members of ASCSU said they were disappointed in the council's decision but were not surprised.
"It broke down how I expected," said ASCSU Intra-University senator Jordan Von Borken. "I think it was passed underhandedly because it was a matter of enforcement and not policy."
Under the new amendment, landlords and city enforcement officers like Green are not required to give violators a notice of violation, allowing residents to correct the situation before they are issued a citation. If ticketed, violators have seven days to move out and both they and the landlords, if they were aware of the violation, must pay a $1000 fine.
Opponents of the amendment argued changing the ordinance five months before its comprehensive council review on Oct. 27 would "skew" the data --Â the number of violations -- that will be presented at that council meeting.
"Shifting the rules of the game in the middle of a study … is shifting the entire study in its whole right," said Blue Hovatter, a community member who provided citizen input.
In 2005, city council decided to study the ordinance and conduct analysis of its effectiveness after being downgraded to a civil offense from a criminal classification. Originally scheduled in January, the comprehensive review was pushed back to October, a decision many stakeholders strongly opposed.
The amendment to the city law Three Unrelated, commonly referred to as U+2, authorizes an enforcement official to administer a citation without first serving a notice of violation. This is a change city staff said is a "tool" for better enforcement, especially against "blatant violators."
"I'm pleased it passed," said Fort Collins House Inspector Derf Green of the amendment, which passed 5-2 after almost two hours of debate and discussion in City Hall. "(The amendment) gives us the tools we need to enforce (the ordinance)."
Members of ASCSU said they were disappointed in the council's decision but were not surprised.
"It broke down how I expected," said ASCSU Intra-University senator Jordan Von Borken. "I think it was passed underhandedly because it was a matter of enforcement and not policy."
Under the new amendment, landlords and city enforcement officers like Green are not required to give violators a notice of violation, allowing residents to correct the situation before they are issued a citation. If ticketed, violators have seven days to move out and both they and the landlords, if they were aware of the violation, must pay a $1000 fine.
Opponents of the amendment argued changing the ordinance five months before its comprehensive council review on Oct. 27 would "skew" the data --Â the number of violations -- that will be presented at that council meeting.
"Shifting the rules of the game in the middle of a study … is shifting the entire study in its whole right," said Blue Hovatter, a community member who provided citizen input.
In 2005, city council decided to study the ordinance and conduct analysis of its effectiveness after being downgraded to a civil offense from a criminal classification. Originally scheduled in January, the comprehensive review was pushed back to October, a decision many stakeholders strongly opposed.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
KEN ANDERSON
posted 5/06/09 @ 9:35 AM MST
I was very pleased at the turnout of the students and their comments. The Council once again has ignored the fact that violations are way down and that the economic conditions of some require living together with lower wages, higher rents, and above all the increased tuition! Once again this is meant for the student yet it affects all in the economic chaos of this time. (Continued…)
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