By Lynn Zerschling |
SIOUX CITY — City Councilman Brent Hoffman said landlords and neighborhood representatives convinced him there is a need for the city to regulate the types of furniture people keep outside.
Consequently, Hoffman cast the deciding vote Monday night that resulted in first-round approval of the furniture ordinance. The matter will return to the council for two more votes.
Joining Hoffman in approving the proposal were Councilmen Dave Ferris and Aaron Rochester. Mayor Mike Hobart and Councilman Jim Rixner cast the no votes.
The ordinance would make it illegal for residents to keep indoor furniture and appliances on their unenclosed front porches, driveways, patios, roofs or yards.
Bill Himes, an officer of the Neighborhood Network, a coalition of neighborhood groups, said the council often passes laws dealing with aesthetic issues.
“When you came out to my neighborhood (Greenville), you said it was slum and blighted in order to create an urban renewal area,” he said. “These old chairs and sofas sit rotting on front porches. It takes the pride away from the neighborhood.”
Tim Knight, network president, said he has reviewed similar ordinances in Sioux Falls and Ames, which seem to successfully determine what is “outdoor vs. indoor furniture.”
Maynard Porter, a landlord, said the Siouxland Rental Association voted last week to support the proposal, saying, “This will be helpful for me and other landlords to have this legislation.”
Landlord Doug Slechta said state law prohibits them from removing a tenant’s property even if it were sitting in the yard. Landlord Larry Johnson said he thinks the legislation is required, but wondered how it would impact landlords.
As a former prosecutor, Hobart said he didn’t think the city could enforce the law and suggested the city could get tied up in numerous court cases. Hoffman said such lawsuits would be “extraordinarily rare.”
Terry Nelson, inspections services manager, said city inspectors would not go looking for violations, but would act on complaints, give property owners time to remove the furniture and then issue a citation only if the resident did not comply. Rixner said he was concerned with “zealots” who would report perceived violators.
Hobart suggested the neighborhood groups offer to buy a $20 or $30 outdoor chair for people who agree to dump their davenports.
Rochester said, “I don’t like the idea of rewarding people for bad behavior.”
Ferris suggested the city consider picking up furniture at the curb once or twice a year. The Neighborhood Network already has neighborhood cleanups annually.
Source : www.siouxcityjournal.com
