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93 <br /> <br />RESOLUTION: OPPOSING ADOPTION O~ STATEWIDE HOUSING COD~ WHICH <br />SUPERCEDES LOCAL ~ODE <br /> <br /> Mr. Hendrix stated that the General Assembly had passed <br />legislation creating a State Housing Board which has been <br />appointed by the Governor. Mr. Hendrix stated that the Board <br />has been meeting to revise the State Housing Code and recommenda- <br />tions were being considered which would supercede the local code, <br />and a vote by the State Board was possible on August 19th. <br /> <br /> Mr.-Barnes questioned whether Council had sufficient <br />information~to make a decision. <br /> <br /> Mr. Wiley stated that a public hearing had been held by <br />the State Housing Board two years ago and that the proposed plan <br />was highly criticized. Mr. Wiley added that since that time, <br />staff had learned through an article in the Washington Post <br />that a vote on the adoption of the plan was to be held in late <br />August. Mr. Wiley added that the changes, which would allow <br />such conditions as leaded paint, were being pushed by a state <br />landlord group. <br /> <br /> Mrs. Gleason noted that the Legislative Committee of the <br />Virginia Municipal League had unanimously opposed the adoption <br />of the proposed State Building Code. <br /> <br /> Mr. Hendrix stated that it was staff's recommendation <br />that the proposed changes to the Housing Code be vigorously <br />opposed. <br /> <br /> On motion by Mfrs. Gleason, seconded by Dr. Gunter, the <br />resolution opposing the adoption of the proposed State Code <br />was unanimously approved by Council. <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, the Virginia Board of Housing and Community <br />Development is expected to vote August 19, 1985 on whether to <br />adopt a proposed statewide Building Maintenance Code; and <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, adoption of such code would preclude Charlottes- <br />ville from enforcing its Own housing code; and <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, the proposed code, although based on the BOCA <br />Basic/National Existing Structures Code (1984 Edition), has <br />been substantially amended and significantly weakened; and <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, the proposed code omits many important provisions <br />now covered in Charlottesville's housing code, and would render <br />our efforts to protect residents from unsafe and unsanitary <br />housing difficult, if not impossible; <br /> <br /> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of <br />the City of Charlottesville, that the following urgent message <br />be transmitted by the Clerk of Council to the Virginia Board <br />of Housing and Community Development as well as to the Governor <br />of Virginia: <br /> <br /> The City Council of the City of Charlottesville <br /> opposes the adoption of any statewide Building <br /> Maintenance Code which would preclude Charlottes- <br /> ville from enforcing its housing code. We have <br /> no objection to adoption of a model code which <br /> localities~could choose to enforce, but <br /> Charlottesville and other localities should not <br /> be precluded from continued enforcement of local <br /> housing codes. Ail communities have unique needs. <br /> <br /> The proposed Code fails as an attempt to strike <br /> a reasonable compromi.se between urban and rural <br /> needs. The proposed Code omits provisions' <br /> relating to lead-based paint, safety and cleanliness <br /> of yards, rat infestation, space requirements per <br /> person, to cite but a few examples. It also <br /> weakens responsibility and panelty provisions, <br /> deletes specifics and generalizes many requirements <br /> <br /> <br />