Office Of The Mayor
Thomas M. McMahon
Mayor’s Report
Monday, December 12, 2011
I have a few updates to provide:
- Tonight, Council will consider Bill No. 52-2011, which will strengthen the City’s rental housing ordinances. Adoption of this ordinance will provide a way to work through the backlog of zoning applications, establish a surcharge for illegal rental units, and provide options for denying or revoking rental permits. Passage of this legislation will mark the culmination of two year’s of collaboration by administrative and council staff, and will be complimented by improved City enforcement capacity. I want to thank the staff for their work, and for Council’s support of this ordinance.
- Council will also be asked to introduce a new ordinance that amends the City’s fee schedule. I am pleased that we are able to bring down by a few dollars both the recycling and solid waste fees for next year. Also the fee schedule reflects a shift in how rental owners pay for permit and inspection fees. Previously we included cost recovery for inspections in the annual per-unit registration fee. Beginning in 2012, we will move to a flat-rate annual rental registration fee of $100 per parcel, and bill for inspections as they occur based on the number of units in a rental property. For many property owners, costs will be about the same, or a little less. For example, the owner of a 3-unit property would have paid $1,200 in registration fees over a four-year period. With the new ordinance, the owner will pay $400 in permit fees over that four-year period, plus one inspection fee of $705, for a total of $1,105. The owner of a five-unit property would have paid $2,000 over a four-year period, compared to $1,105 under the new fee structure. Owners who rent single-family homes will see costs go up from $400 to $905 over four years, an increase of $10.50 per month. The new fee structure provides for full cost recovery to taxpayers for the City’s rental housing permitting and inspection program.
- Tonight, in accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, we are asking Council to approve a resolution authorizing the appointment of Craig Peiffer as our new Zoning Administrator.
- I want to thank all of the volunteers with the Hillside Playground Association for again creating a holiday spectacular at the playground at 14th & Green Streets. The display of half-a-million lights and family-friendly events kick off each evening at 6:00 p.m. and will run through New Year’s.
- There are numerous holiday events coming up in the City and I will highlight a few. The Reading High School holiday concert will be held tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. The Nutcracker will be presented at the Sovereign Performing Arts Center this Friday at 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday at 2 p.m. with tickets starting at just $12. And this Sunday, Friends of Camber music presents the Curtis Vocal Gala at the Stirling beginning with cocktails at 5:30 p.m.
- Finally, I’d like to wish everyone safe and happy Holidays.
That’s my report. I will be happy to answer any questions. Thank you.
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