RIO DELL — The City Council on Jan. 6 voted 4-1 to direct staff to immediately implement the city’s Rental Housing Inspection Program, reversing an earlier staff recommendation to suspend the effort.
According to the council minutes, Community Development Director Caldwell told council members the city could carry out the program with the Building Inspector and two Community Services Officers after staff reviewed the inspection checklist with the city manager and police chief. The minutes say the council heard there are 150 parcels and 219 registered rental units, and that non-registrants would receive follow-up letters.
The program drew public comment from Supervisor Michelle Bushnell, who criticized it as unfair because it targets rentals rather than all substandard homes, according to the minutes.
Councilmember Orr voted no on the motion. The minutes do not spell out whether the program will be modified further, how inspections will be scheduled, or whether additional funding or fees will be needed.
The rental housing vote was one of several actions taken that night. The council also adopted a sign ordinance change and gave first reading to a building code update, while staff said the city’s planned solid waste universal collection rollout had been pushed back to July 1, 2026.
