From
Katherine Garcia-Thomson
Title
Ordinance amending Chapter 28 Housing Enforcement, of the Code of Ordinances, establishing Section 28-2, Crime Free Multi-Housing, and amending Sections 28-27 (a) and (e), Multi-family Housing Inspection Fee Schedule
Presenter
William A. Hills, Housing and Neighborhood Services Director
Recommended Action
Approve
Analysis
Staff is recommending that Chapter 28 of the Code of Ordinances be amended adding Section 28-2(c) Crime free Multi-Housing (exhibit A); and Section 28-27 (a)(e) (exhibit B). Section 28-2(c) provides for the Crime Free Multi-family Housing Program, as administered by the Grand Prairie Police Department which is required in various sections of the chapter. This section will provide a detailed description of the program and guidance relating to its multiple phases. Additionally, the existing ordinance, Section 28-27 (a) (e), only allows billing of fees after the inspection and tier assessment. However, now that initial tier assessments have been made of all properties, this amendment allows for the billing of established fees to be assessed based on the previous year's rating at the same time annually.
Financial Consideration
None
Body
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, AMENDING CHAPTER 28, HOUSING ENFORCEMENT, ESTABLISHING 28-2(c) CRIME FREE MULTI-HOUSING; AND AMENDING SECTION 28-27(a) AND 28-27(e), PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AFTER PASSAGE AND PUBLICATION
WHEREAS, establishing Section 28-2(c) Crime Free Multi-Housing (CFMH) provides a detailed decription of the program its enforcement and guidance relating to its multiple phases; and
WHEREAS, amending Section.28-27 (a) (e), allows for the billing of established fees based on the previous year's tier rating at the same time annually.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 28-2(c) Crime Free Multi-Housing (CFMH) is established as follows:
Sec. 28-2 (c) Crime Free Multi Housing Program
The Grand Prairie Police Department Crime Free Multi-Housing Program, (GPPD CFMH), is a program that was implemented to help in reducing crime in the multi-family housing communities in Grand Prairie. GPPD CFMH is comprised of three phases. All three phases of the program must be completed for a multi-family community to become certified in the program.
Phase 1 of the program is an eight-hour class given at the Grand Prairie Police Department. The class is intended for apartment managers, owners, leasing agents, and lead maintenance personnel from each community. In Phase 1, the training will cover how to implement the program in each community, including how to complete the Public Information Request Form (PIR), The Addendum to Rental Application, and the Adverse Reporting Addendum and Notification Form. In addition, the method of using the PIR to obtain background information, including Warrants and Criminal History, will be explained. If an individual has warrants or has a criminal history that meet certain criteria, that individual should be denied the opportunity to sign a lease with that community.
Phase 1 will also include instruction on Crime Prevention within the communities, as well as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED).
Phase 2 will be the inspections of the communities, which will include approximately 10 percent of the apartment units, the grounds, common areas, such as laundry rooms, workout facilities, parking lots, swimming pools, etc. The following items are what will be inspected during the Phase 2 inspections. There will be a daytime inspection, as well as a nighttime inspection.
PHASE 2: C.P.T.E.D. Compliance Survey
1. Building address signs must be clearly visible and readable from the parking lot day or night.
2. Apartment numbers must be easily seen and have a contrasting background.
3. Entry doors must be solid core or metal doors. This includes rear entrance/patio doors (where applicable).
4. Entry doors must have a single cylinder and privacy deadbolts with a minimum 1 inch throw. This includes rear entrance/patio doors.
5. Screws in the deadbolt strike plates must be a minimum of 3" in length. Steel screws are required.
6. Entry doors must have a 180-190 degree eye-viewer.
7. Sliding glass doors must have both an anti-lift and anti-slide device.
8. Entry door frame is in good condition, not split from previous damage and screwed together. This includes entrance/patio doors.
9. All outside accessible windows must have secondary locks.
10. Tree canopies should be trimmed to a height of 7ft or higher.
11. Shrubs and bushes should be trimmed to a height of 3ft or lower.
12. Parking lots have adequate lighting.
13. Breezeways/Stairs are illuminated.
14. Sidewalks/Walking paths have adequate lighting.
15. Common areas (playground, picnic, etc.) are illuminated.
16. Landscaping and lighting do not conflict (should not block lighting).
17. Proper applicant screening procedures are followed.
18. CFMH Certificates are visible when applicable.
19. CFMH lease addendum is presented.
20. Staff has completed CFMH training.
21. Laundry rooms are well lighted.
22. Carport structures next to buildings must have the building number posted on the structure adjacent to fire lane.
23. Graffiti is not visible.
Phase 3 will be a Safety/Crime Prevention Social at the community. This is a Social to invite the tenants to a community event and discuss the GPPD CFMH program and how it can be a very helpful tool in reducing crime in the community and the benefits to the tenants.
Note: There is no format for the Social and the Social can be tailored to fit each community.
SECTION 2. Sec. 28-27 Multifamily housing inspection fee schedule shall be amended as follows:
(a) A fee shall be authorized to be charged to the responsible party to provide for inspections to insure compliance with the requirements of this chapter. The fee shall be twelve dollars and sixty cents ($12.60) per unit per year, for Tier 1, and shall be charged to the ownership of each apartment community.
(e) Upon notification by the Housing and Neighborhood Services Director, in March, each apartment complex will be billed the inspection fees associated with previous year's Tier Rating.
SECTION 3. All provisions of the Grand Prairie City Code not specifically amended herein remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 4. This ordinance will be effective immediately upon passage and publication.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, ON THIS THE 3RD DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2015.