On Wednesday, December 29th, the City of Dallas hosted a meeting to review with the Housing & Neighborhood Development Committee the Department of Code Compliance Multifamily Inspection Program procedures and recommendations.

Representatives were present from neighborhood groups, multifamily property owners/ managers, City Manager's office, City Attorney's office, Code Compliance, and the Apartment Association of Greater Dallas. City Council Member Lois Finkleman also attended.

The mission of the program is to
1) protect the health, safety and welfare of the general public and to prevent neighborhood blight,
2) keep neighborhoods stable through the improvement and revitalization of multifamily housing stock by inspecting and licensing all properties that are more than five years old, and have not undergone a major rehab within the previous two years, and
3) inspect all public and semi-public swimming pools.

First Assistant City Manager Mary Suhm headed the meeting, seeking feedback regarding concerns and support of the recommendations.

Concerns included properties not having on-site management, master meter notices not being posted on-site, the need for code compliance classes for apartment managers, dumpster screening, early notification to neighboring property owners for upcoming court cases, stiffer fines for repeat code violators, enforcement of fines, better writing of related City Ordinance so that lawsuits can be upheld, and internet listing of properties that fail reinspection.

The final draft of the recommended enhancements is expected to be presented to City Council in February.



By Linda Neel