HUNTINGTON -- For the first time, a proposed ordinance before City Council will go to a fourth reading before council votes on it.
Generally, proposed ordinances are voted on after a third reading, but at Monday's regular meeting, council members voted 6-4 in favor of a fourth reading for the vacant property fee ordinance. Council was expected to vote after the third reading Monday night, but decided to "re-advertise" the ordinance so that residents will have ample opportunity to learn about the proposed changes before council votes.
Just as some council members were ready to adopt the ordinance Monday, councilman Jim Ritter questioned a rule in the city's rule of council and wondered whether the ordinance should be advertised after a second reading.
"When you do a material change, it has to be advertised," he said.
But City Attorney Scott McClure said the ordinance was advertised after the first reading and he didn't see anything in the rule of council where an ordinance should be re-advertised after the second reading.
The newly proposed ordinance states that a fee would be charged to property owners if they did not maintain their vacant buildings. It is modeled after an existing law in Wlimington, Del., which requires property owners to register their property with the city if it has been vacant for more than 45 days. If the property sits vacant for more than a year, the owner has to pay a $500 fee. The fee increases to $1,000 after two years, $2,000 after three years, and $3,500 after four years. Then soaring up to $5,000 annually if it is vacant for more than 10 years. One-time wavers are granted to property owners who can show they are in the process of selling, renovating or demolishing their property.
Revenue generated from the fee would be placed in an account separate from the city's general fund and used exclusively for property maintenance and rehabilitation. Councilman Jim Insco, the ordinance's sponsor, said Friday the initiative will motivate property owners to do something positive with their property rather than let it collect weeds and become a haven for drugs or prostitution.
The city Fire Marshal's Office has identified 513 homes since 2003 that are substandard, meaning they have multiple code violations and are in need of repairs, with dozens of more homes that are in disrepair and haven't been identified by the city yet because it has only one housing inspector.
In other business Monday, council voted 8-2 to adopt the second reading of an ordinance vacating and abandoning a portion of the 80-foot right-of-way owned by the City of Huntington along 12th Street at its intersection with 7th Avenue, including a nearby 10-foot public alley.
An ordinance was already passed for the General Laborer's Union, Local 543, to negotiate with and have Karen Nance, secretary of the Carter G. Woodson Foundation, purchase properties located at 1701 to 1717 10th Avenue in Fairfield West. The properties once belonged to Memphis Tennessee Garrison, the school teacher, NAACP national leader, labor organizer and Girl Scout leader who retired to Huntington more than 50 years ago. The Foundation plans to save and restore the buildings. The renovated apartments will be rented out and part of the house will become a museum memorial to Garrison.
Industrial businesses near the foundation's purchased property such as Imperial Bedding and Refrigerated Express said they were concerned that the new project might hurt their business revenue and suggested to have the project moved elsewhere. But other community members said it would be a great tourist attraction and draw many visitors to the area.
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