Ames Today

The Ames City Council will discuss a proposed exterior property maintenance ordinance at a workshop scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 20, in the City Hall City Council Chambers, 515 Clark Ave. A staff report, which includes the proposed ordinance, will be available on the City’s website by 6 p.m. Friday, June 16, at www.CityOfAmes.org/CCmeetings.

The proposed ordinance incorporates public comments from a website survey, resident emails, and public comments regarding property maintenance code enforcement for all property in Ames.

The staff report is broken down into four categories:

1. Protection of General Public (Traffic and Pedestrian Safety)
2. Public Health (Garbage, Junk, Vermin and Junk Vehicles)
3. Protection of Property Damage and/or Decay (Vegetation, Structural Unoccupied and Unsecured Structures)
4. Other Considerations (Graffiti and Parking)

More than a decade ago, the City of Ames established standards applied to the exterior condition of rental housing in Chapter 13 of the Ames Municipal Code entitled "Rental Housing." However, these ordinances do not apply to owner-occupied residential, industrial, and commercial properties. The lack of standards has created concern from property owners who feel the value of their neighborhood is being diminished because certain conditions continue. Additionally, rental property owners believe owner-occupied units should be held to the same exterior maintenance standards. The proposed exterior property maintenance standards would be complaint driven, and Inspections staff would only investigate when alerted to an issue. 

Original source can be found here.