Athens City Council met Monday to discuss an ordinance amending housing regulations and the requirement for rental permits in Athens and to discuss mutual aid to the Athens Sheriff’s office.
The housing ordinance would amend title 29 housing regulations and chapter 29.03 rental dwellings short term. It defines when a person would need to acquire a rental permit.
Councilmember Sarah Grace said the issue needs a “more nuanced and creative solution.” She said the city code currently reads that all residential property within the city owned for rental purposes or occupied by a party other than the owner for a period of more than six months shall require a rental dwelling, short-term rental or rooming house permit from the Office of Code Enforcement.
The proposed amendment to the ordinance was to strike the language stating “for a period of more than six months during any single calendar year.”
“I think there are times when there should be exceptions to that,” Grace said. “I think this is overly broad because it doesn’t set any period of time or any stipulations.”
Councilmember Alan Swank, D-4th Ward, said in initial discussions of that ordinance, Council considered waiving the permit for people going on sabbatical and a number of citizens spoke against any exceptions to the rental permit requirement.
Athens Mayor Steve Patterson suggested Council should amend the ordinance to say all residential property within the city owned for rental purposes or occupied by a rent-paying party other than the owner for a period of more than six months shall require a rental dwelling, short-term rental or rooming house permit from the Office of Code Enforcement.
Grace motioned to amend the ordinance and the motion passed.
The body also discussed an ordinance for the mayor and service-safety director to enter into a mutual aid agreement with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office for the participation of Athens police officers in a special response and tactics (SRT) unit.
The ordinance would allow for the city to provide up to seven Athens full-time police officers to participate in the SRT unit and to respond to emergencies within the county of Athens.
The city of Athens would cover payroll costs for the presiding officers as if they were providing service to their own jurisdiction.
Councilmember Micah McCarey, D-At Large, said this would not come at a large expense for the city and would be a huge benefit to the professional development of the city’s police officers.
