Lead-safe rental property proposal on Toledo City Council agenda

​By Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

An ordinance that would approve a new lead-safe program for residential rental properties with one to four units and childcare homes built prior to 1978 is expected to be given first reading at Toledo City Council’s regular meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 6. Ordinance 397-20 would require such properties to obtain a lead-safe certificate by passing a visual lead hazard and dust wipe inspection. The certificate would be valid for five years, but fully-abated properties would be eligible for a 20-year certificate. The ordinance would task the Department of Neighborhoods with coordinating the program, the Division of Code Enforcement with enforcing the program, and the Toledo-Lucas County Health Departments with issuance of certificates. The compliance deadline for properties in high-risk census tracts would be June 30, 2022, and a five-year phase-in schedule would be established for remaining properties.

Also at the meeting, Council is expected to vote on the following: 

• Ordinance 383-20 which would approve a 12-year, 100 percent Community Reinvestment Area property tax exemption to Phoenix Toledo Industrial Investors, LLC to facilitate expanded outdoor operations at 1313 Campbell Street for Brenntag North America’s nearby distribution facility. The exemption would be for the taxes that would otherwise be owed from the increase in assessed valuation resulting from the project. 
• Ordinance 385-20 which would approve $300,000 for three years to Enterprise Fleet Management for leasing of patrol vehicles for the Toledo Police Department. The agreement would extend an existing contract with Enterprise for vehicle and equipment replacement. 
• Ordinance 391-20 which would require that a property that currently does not conform to designated zoning, but did previously, be in operation for a minimum of 30 consecutive days in order to maintain its grandfathered status. The change is meant to address the number of legal but non-conforming property uses in the city and to discourage persistent vacancy. 
• Ordinance 393-20 which would approve committee assignments for the four recently seated council members serving as temporary replacements including: 

1. John Hobbs to the Finance & Debt Oversight; Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform; Streets, Public Services & Utilities; and Zoning & Planning committees 
2. Cerssandra McPherson to the Education, Recreation & Employment; Neighborhoods, Community Development & Health; Regional Growth, Development & Small Business Enterprise; Streets, Public Services & Utilities; and Zoning & Planning committees 
3. Tiffany Whitman to the Budget Oversight; Neighborhoods, Community Development & Health; Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform; Water Quality & Sustainability; and Zoning & Planning committees 
4. Vanice Williams to the Education, Recreation & Employment; Finance & Debt Oversight; Neighborhoods, Community Development & Health; Regional Growth, Development & Small Business Enterprise; Water Quality & Sustainability; and Zoning & Planning committees

​The ordinance would also remove Council President Matt Cherry from the Education, Recreation & Employment Committee and Nick Komives from the Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform Committee.

• Ordinance 406-20 which would approve funding from property assessments for contractual hauling services including $305,300 for leaf collection and $111,400 for snow and ice control. The funding would be for services to be performed from late this month through March 2021.

 
Council is expected to give first reading to Ordinance 396-20 which would require all residential rental properties in the city to be registered with the Department of Neighborhoods and the Lucas County Auditor’s Office. The ordinance also specifies that registration must occur for residential rental properties that are required to be certified as lead-safe. The deadline for registration would be June 30, 2021.
 
The public may watch the Council meeting online by visiting https://toledo.legistar.com and scrolling down to the October 6 city council meeting and clicking on “in progress”.

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​Tim Schneider
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​As Manager for Local Government Advocacy, Tim Schneider advocates for local policies and laws that safeguard and foster a pro-business environment in the Toledo Region. Tim has more than 10 years of legislative and public policy experience with the local, state and federal levels of government.