HomeMy WebLinkAboutA023 - Email from Jane and Bart Dupuis dated July 14, 2018 (3602 Woodland) RE: Concern over permanent LOCs weakening rental cap ordinance
Jane and Bart Dupuis to: AmesCityCouncil@city.ames.ia.us 07/14/2018 09:12 AM
Dear Mayor Haila & Members of the Ames City Council:
We again are concerned about the potential weakening of the rental cap
ordinance's effectiveness if certain LOCs are made never-ending by allowing them
to pass on to subsequent owners.
Certainly the extensive language of the property sale hardship exceptions is
sufficient to aid those surrounded by rentals and struggling to sell properties. The
language in Sec. 10 seems designed to skirt the guiding intent of the rental cap and
reduce its integrity considerably.
You may disagree, but it seems there are similarities between the Ames City
Council's admirable leadership in passing its smoking restriction ordinance more
than ten years ago. The intent then seemed aimed at protecting the rights of
non-smokers—just as we wish our rights as property owners to be protected from
infringement by irresponsible renters & landlords (as we have experienced
personally in our neighborhood for several years already).
Then, it seemed shocking to consider limiting the rights of people to smoke in
public places; now, it is state law in the form of the Smokefree Air Act. Can you
imagine if certain bars and restaurants were allowed to pass along smoking
privileges to future owners simply because they were "grandfathered" in?
I hope that this time again, in the words of then Ames city attorney John Klaus,
Ames will be on the "right side of history" by passing the strongest, most coherent
rental ban ordinance possible.
Thank you for your efforts.
Sincerely,
Bart & Jane Dupuis
Old Edwards Neighborhood
3602 Woodland St.
Ames, IA 50014