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124 <br /> <br /> Ms. Mary Hill Caperton, representing the Venable <br />Neighborhood Association, supported the proposed ordinance, <br />and stated that she thought residents have more rights than <br />landlords who do not live on the property. <br /> <br /> Mr. Otis Lee opposed the proposed ordinance and <br />requested that the Council employ good common sense and good <br />judgment. Mr. Lee stated that he thought the Council was <br />trying to destroy landlords. <br /> <br /> Mr. Jim Brock, a resident of University Circle, stated <br />that he felt the police are not being instructed to enforce <br />existing laws~and felt that something should be done to those <br />who are causing problems. <br /> <br /> Mr. Wade Tremblay~ representing Wade Apartments,~opposed <br />the proposed ordinance as he felt it was unnecessary. .Mr. <br />Tremblay recommended that existing ordinances be strengthened <br />and enforced. <br /> <br /> As there were no further speakers,~the public hearing <br />was closed. · <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Toscano, Mr. Gouldman <br />stated that the State Code includes a general nuisance <br />provisions which allows five or more persons to bring charges <br />against an offending party. ~ <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Ms. Waters, Mr. Gouldman <br />stated that the violations referred to in the proposed <br />ordinance would require a court conviction in the case of <br />noise violations and a citation from the City for trash and <br />weed violations. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter expressed concern that the ordinance would <br />not be effective since problems with enforcement of current <br />ordinances exist. Ms. Slaughter added that she felt there <br />would be a period of adjustment with the new trash <br />regulations due to go into effect July 1. Ms. Slaughter <br />stated that she would like to have more information on <br />enforcement records. <br /> <br /> Ms. Waters expressed concern that the police are <br />apparently not responding to noise complaints with noise <br />meters. Ms. Waters recommended that Council consider, in <br />lieu of adopting the proposed ordinance, passing a policy <br />which would provide notice to landlords of three violations <br />by renters in a six month period in the hope that landlords <br />would voluntarily cooperate with the City. Ms. Waters added <br />that she would like to have help from landlords on how best <br />to strengthen existing ordinance. <br /> <br /> Mr. Vandever stated that he felt the police need to <br />address noise problems and requested that staff prepare a <br />report on enforcement issues. Mr. Vandever stated that <br />he felt the City ultimately will be faced with landlords who <br />do not care about the actions of their tenants. Mr. Vandever <br />expressed concern that the State nuisance law makes citizens <br />responsible for taking offenders to court when he felt that <br />should be the City's role. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano stated that he felt the City can assist in <br />the process of taking nuisance offenders to court. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter stated that she wanted more information on <br />the City's inability to enforce laws as expressed by several <br />speakers. <br /> <br /> Council agreed to table the proposed ordinance and <br />requested that information on enforcement of the noise <br />ordinance be provided at the~next Council meeting along with <br />a schedule for providing additional information to Council <br />regarding enforcement of trash and week ordinances. <br /> <br /> <br />