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HomeMy WebLinkAboutUBI 2009 MARRental Registration Begins March 1 CITY OF COLLEGE STATION pliance with the City’s requirements. The ultimate goal is to keep all neighborhoods safe, clean and peaceful for all inhabitants of the community. The ordinance will help prevent problems and improve communication among all parties, including the neighborhood, the City and property owners. The program will help lend a measure of protection to the character and stability of residential areas as well as help preserve the value of land and buildings in College Station. Inside College Station From the City of College Station • Home of Texas A&M University • College Station, Texas On December 16, 2008, the City Council approved an ordinance requiring the regis- tration of all single-family and duplex rental properties. The ordinance will be in effect on March 1, 2009. Each owner of single- family or duplex residential property that serves as rental property, shall be required to annually register the rental property. The associated annual registration fee is $15 per property. This ordinance has been considered for several years due to the growth of Texas A&M University and the parallel growth of rental properties in College Station. The goal of the program is to identify rental property ownership with a local person who may be contacted in case of health, safety or other code violations that might be detrimental to the individual property, tenants, or surrounding neighborhood. With a large college student population, it is often difficult to locate and make con- tact with those who have actual authority and the responsibility to take action that may be necessary in order to be in com- “Effective communication is critical to maintaining the integrity of our neighbor- hoods,” said Lance Simms, Assistant Direc- tor of Planning and Development Services. “The rental registration program is intend- ed to expedite code enforcement capabili- ties and provide our fire and police crews with the ability to make quick contact in the event of an emergency.” The program will also be an incentive for tenants to be accountable for issues such as respecting the occupancy limit, lawful use of the dwelling, maintaining sanitary conditions, and keeping pets in an appro- priate manner and under control. The City is asking all rental property own- ers that fall under this ordinance to reg- ister with the City between March 1 and May 31, 2009, to be in compliance with the City’s Code of Ordinances. The City will provide an online form for qualifying owners to complete at www.cstx.gov/rent- alregistration which can be mailed, faxed, emailed or brought to the Planning and Development Services Office. More information, as well as a list of fre- quently asked questions, can be found.... Online www.cstx.gov/rentalregistration email -- rentalregistration@cstx.gov In Person Planning and Development Services Office City Hall, 1101 Texas Avenue phone -- 979-764-3570 For more on Rental Registration in College Station, go to: www.cstx.gov/rentalregistration March 2009 “Effective communication is critical to maintaining the integrity of our neighborhoods.” Lance Simms Assistant Director of Planning and Development Services – • – • – • – College Station is offering two Open House meetings to present the proposed plan to the community! Monday, March 23 6:00-8:00 p.m. A&M Consolidated Middle School 105 Holik Street Tuesday, March 24 6:00-8:00 p.m. Grace Bible Church, Southwood Campus 1901 Harvey Mitchell Parkway Read the Comprehensive Plan draft at www.cstx.gov/CompPlanUpdate or contact Jennifer Prochazka at 979-764-3570 or email CompPlan@cstx.gov. Avoid Placing Brush & Bulky Items In Bad Locations When placing your brush or bulky items for collection, remember the following: DO NOT place items closer than four feet from a mailbox, fire hydrant, car or trees. DO NOT place items on sprinkler heads, water or gas meters, and underground cable or electrical boxes. Improper placement could cause severe damage from collection trucks attempting to load your items. AVOID low tree limbs or overhead wires, as the collectors will not be able to reach the brush items. For more information on brush and bulky collection or regular pick-up, call the Public Works Department at 979-764-3690. Check Your Heating and Air Conditioning Systems –––– Regular owner maintenance of heating and air conditioning, such as changing the air filter, can save you significant cash each year. It is also good to have your unit serviced twice annually to ensure it is operating properly. Local air conditioning professionals provide what they call Planned Service Agreements or Planned Maintenance Agreements that provide two system check-ups annually. The air conditioning and heating specialist will check your system’s coolant levels, duct systems, system lubrication, and clean and service the coils in the spring and service your furnace or heat pump in the fall. These agreements are normally priced around $115 to $150 per year for one unit with price breaks for multiple units. Some agreements provide you with preferred customer status during busy months and savings on parts and labor should your system need extra work. For more energy conservation tips, contact College Station Utilities at 979-764-3724. Review the City’s Proposed Comprehensive Plan ––––– The City of College Station is in the final stage of a new Comprehensive Plan! The final plan will help guide decisions about future growth and development in our community. College Station citizens have dedicated many hours toward its development through public meetings, citizens’ advisory committees, focus groups, and a city-wide survey. CITY OF COLLEGE ST A TION INSIDE COLLEGE STATION MARCH 2009 • PAGE 2 Household Hazardous Waste Collection –––––––– Household Hazardous Waste Collection will be held April 25 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the University Services Building (just after Veterans Park on Hwy. 30 East towards Huntsville). Brazos Valley area residents can dispose of unwanted chemicals, paint, pharmaceuticals, computers, gasoline, etc. during this one-day event held rain or shine. For more information, call the Household Hazardous Waste hotline at 979-764-3809. Brazos Valley Earth Day Celebration –––––––––––– The 14th Annual Brazos Valley Earth Day Celebration will be held on Saturday, April 18 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. in Downtown Bryan, Texas. People of all ages are encouraged to attend for an afternoon of entertainment, food, crafts, and activities for all residents of the Brazos Valley. For more on Brazos Valley Earth Day and other environmental or related Earth events, visit www.brazosvalleyearthday.com. Pool Trout Fish-Out In February, local residents participated in Pool Trout Fish-Out at Southwood Hallaran Pool. Residents fished in waters stocked with 1000 pounds of trout. Prizes were awarded for catching tagged fish. For more information on this and other family events in College Station, call the Parks and Recreation Office at 979-764-3540 or go to www.cstx.gov.