An Ordinance Gets Adopted

The Piqua City Commission approves a contentious ordinance by a 3-2 vote.

In a pivotal April meeting, the dedicated staff of the City of Piqua presented the City Commission with alarming data from the American Community Survey, shedding light on the precarious state of rental housing in the community. This revelation prompted the city to embark on a journey to craft one of the most sweeping ordinances for regulating rental housing in years. Our publication has closely tracked the progression of the Rental Registration Program, chronicling the twists and turns of this significant civic endeavor.

This publication has chronicled the journey of the Rental Registration Program multiple times as you can see below.

Fast forward to the August 2nd meeting of the City Commission, where the ordinance faced a temporary setback as it was tabled. In response, the City Commission committed to conducting a series of critical listening sessions with various stakeholders, aiming to formulate a compromise that could propel the community forward. While these listening sessions took place, the extent of the compromises made to render the ordinance agreeable to all parties remains somewhat opaque. The 3-2 vote of the commission hinted at the possibility of further refinements that could have led to a more widely accepted ordinance.

Changes that were made

Contrary to some misconceptions, the ordinance underwent substantial revisions from its original form in April. The final draft, endorsed on September 5th, introduced several pivotal changes. Property owners were relieved of the obligation to notify the city when tenants changed. Furthermore, an appeals process was incorporated, entrusting the Board of Zoning Appeals with the responsibility of adjudicating disagreements between Code Officials and property owners. Notably, a provision was added stipulating that if a landlord applies for a rental property license and no code violations are reported, the property is presumed to be compliant with the city's property maintenance code.

Process is Important

A Resident Speaks to the City Commission

One often underappreciated facet of local government work is the profound significance of the process. A recent resident's address to the City Commission made this point resoundingly clear.

I just don't think that you're listening to us, you had Town Hall meetings okay, and I thought we had something worked out. I thought we were working on something to, so here's what we had all ready to go for you guys and so now you're you're not listening to us. You guys already put the ordinance into place that's not listening to us, so here was here was our suggestions you didn't even get a chance to look at them.

- Statement of Piqua Resident during City Commission meeting

Effective communication during the decision-making process is not merely desirable but imperative. When individuals voice concerns or ideas, they rightfully expect acknowledgment and, when necessary, action. This fundamental principle applies universally. Think about times we are in a restaraunt, when we place our order with the waiter or waitress, they always state back our order to not only ensure accuracy but also to build the bonds of communication. Good waiters and waitresses know that through friendly two-way communication, a good evening can be had by patrons which will hopefully lead to a good tip.

Better Communication, Better Outcomes

While commendable for their diligence in refining the contentious ordinance, the City of Piqua could have significantly improved its communication efforts. While posting the ordinance on the city's website represented a positive step forward, it should have marked just the beginning. A public statement, articulating the recommended changes stemming from valuable feedback gathered during listening sessions, would have ushered in a new era of transparency and gained public trust.

Regrettably, the ordinance's swift amendment and adoption in a mere one minute and forty-five seconds, by a 3-2 vote, during the commission meeting left scant room for discussion or public input. This blink-and-you-miss-it decision-making process hardly aligned with the principles of effective governance.

As a curious aside, such a move could not happen in the City of Troy. Under the Rules for Procedure for Troy’s City Council, an ordinance may be amended, but it may not be adopted at the same meeting in which it is amended. Rather, the amended ordinance is held over for another reading for approval at the subsequent meeting of the council.

In his final comments of the evening, City Commissioner Kris Lee, summed up the relationship between the city and the community pretty well.

Commissioner Kris Lee addressing the Commission

I voted against it (the Rental Registration Ordinance) not because I didn't believe that we didn't need it, I just didn't think a registration is where we should start kind of like Sidney, and then work our way towards the inspection part. Lots of other reasons I had, and uh, we just, you know I wanted to build some trust with the citizens, because we don't have that, you know.

-Piqua City Commissioner Kris Lee at the September 5th Commission Meeting

Commissioner Lee's poignant remarks highlighted the precarious nature of trust within the city. Effective communication lies at the core of building and nurturing trust between public officials and their constituents. Without robust and transparent communication, a chasm inevitably widens.

The Lessons to be Learned

The intricate debate surrounding Piqua's Rental Registration Ordinance transcends the subject matter itself. It serves as a compelling case study, not merely for its content but also for the intricate process and crucial role of communication involved. To the city's credit, they displayed commendable deliberation, presenting compelling data and a persuasive case for the ordinance. The City Commission took the additional step of extending the ordinance to three readings, followed by a temporary tabling to gather more public input.

However, both the City Commission and city staff could have markedly improved the way they communicated the changes made to the ordinance, especially as the ordinance was nearing adoption. Acknowledging and appreciating the contributions of those who engaged with the ordinance before voting would have demonstrated transparency and community engagement.

In summary, the journey of Piqua's Rental Registration Ordinance underscores the significance of process, the role of clear communication, and the crucial importance of building and preserving trust within a community.