After months of deliberation, City Council members unanimously approved raising the city's business license fee on apartment buildings with three units or more. Sixty-two percent of the population rents rather than owns their home here.
In January, the council bumped that per-unit fee from $25 to $64 after a study showed rentals average 4.2 police calls per unit compared to 3 per owner-occupied family homes.
Then, in mid-March, the council raised the fee to $100 per unit.
Wednesday, the council passed an ordinance to give apartment owners a break - rolling back the charge to $24 per unit - if they get certified in the city's Good Landlord program every two years.
The new program requires written leases for each unit, and background checks on every prospective adult tenant.
Under the new law, on-site criminal activity by tenants or their guests, as well as nuisance behavior, will be cause for prompt eviction. Also, the city can revoke certification for noncompliance.
"It is unfair for the residents of this city to bear the extraordinary costs exacted on them by negligent landlords, especially those who don't live in the city," said Councilman Bill Anderson.
"If they're not going to be responsible, they must help pay the extra costs they incur."
In other action, the City Council voted to get rid of the Board of Adjustments and replace it with an administrative law judge who performs the same duties.
The judge, appointed for a two-year term, would be law-trained or well-versed in land-use issues.
The three-member Board of Adjustments handled appeals from land owners who received denials from the Planning Commission or city staff.
By replacing that board with a trained judge, the appeal process can be trimmed from 30 days to 15, said Community Development Director Larry Gardner.
City Attorney David Carlson said that board members were often untrained and controversial decisions have led to litigation in some cities.
Provo also has done away with its Board of Adjustments. South Salt Lake is the second Utah city to take such action, Carlson said.
cmckitrick@sltrib.com
