Quality of Life in Elgin

A member of the Elgin City Council (thanks, Dave!) has sent me this information on the ordinances the city has to enhance and protect the quality of life here.

I applaud the effort.

Some are new; others are not.

But the proof is in the enforcement. Please review the list and don't hesitate to call something to the attention of the city if it is in violation of these ordinances. We need to give them an opportunity to take action on these matters. Let me know how it works out for you.

Here's the memo from the city:
Date: June 23, 2009

To: Mayor and Members of the City Council
Olufemi Folarin, City Manager

From: William A. Cogley, Corporation Counsel

Subject: Quality of Life Programs and Ordinances


This memorandum is in response to a request from the City Council for a listing of various so-called quality of life programs or ordinances adopted with the aim of improving the quality of life in the city’s neighborhoods. The following is a listing of a number of city programs and ordinances:

1. The Residential Conversion Grant Program provided for in Chapter 2.29 of the Elgin Municipal Code. Such program provides grants to owners of multi-family residential properties to convert these properties into their original conforming residential use.

2. The Residential Rehabilitation Program provided for in Chapter 2.30 of the Elgin Municipal Code. Such program provides grant funds for exterior repairs or rehabilitation of owner occupied lawful single family dwellings.

3. The Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program provided for in Chapter 2.31 of the Elgin Municipal Code. Such program provides financial assistance incentives for neighborhood groups and organizations in the development and implementation of projects benefitting the respective neighborhoods.

4. The rental licensing ordinance provided for in Chapter 6.37 of the Elgin Municipal Code. Such ordinance provides for the licensing and inspection of rental residential property and requires rental residential properties be code compliant in order to obtain a license therefore.

5. A graffiti ordinance providing for regulations prohibiting graffiti and providing penalties therefore as provided for in Chapter 9.17 of the Elgin Municipal Code. A comprehensive amendment to these regulations providing for additional regulations and providing for significantly enhanced penalties has been prepared and will be presented to the City Council in the immediate future.

6. The city’s noise regulations have been amended to address the problem of loud stereos being utilized on residential properties. Section 10.30.025 of the Elgin Municipal Code prohibits the operation of any sound amplification device or system from any residential property which can be heard from a distance of 75 feet or more from any property line of such residential property during nighttime hours or which can be heard from 150 feet or more from the property line of any residential property during daytime hours.

7. Title 10 of the Elgin Municipal Code has recently been amended by adding new Chapters 10.33, 10.34 and 10.35 to prohibit public intoxication, panhandling and sitting or lying down on a public sidewalk. The city’s liquor code at Section 6.06.140K has also recently been amended to prohibit the sale by single container of a specified listing of low cost/high alcohol content beer and malt products.

8. The chronic nuisance property ordinance provided for in Chapter 10.44 of the Elgin Municipal Code. Such ordinance provides an additional tool to combat unlawful nuisance behavior in the neighborhoods. A chronic nuisance property is a property upon which three or more instances of specified illegal behavior have occurred during any 120 day period. In addition to other remedies available such as fines, a court may order a chronic nuisance property to be closed and it secured against all use and occupancy for a period of not less than one month and not more than six months. My office recently utilized this chronic nuisance property ordinance against a problem property resulting in the property owner beginning eviction proceedings against the problem tenants.

9. Section 11.40.095 of the Elgin Municipal Code provides for the towing of automobiles used in connection with a variety of offenses including driving with a suspended or revoked driver’s licenses, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving without a driver’s licenses, or operating any car stereo system which can be heard outside the motor vehicle from 75 feet or more.

10. The 2006 edition of the International Property Maintenance Code was adopted by the city with local amendments in January of 2009. The local amendments adopted by the city in Section 16.12.020 of the Elgin Municipal Code include local amendments regarding occupancy limitations and overcrowding of residential properties. The local amendments adopted by the city resulted in more stringent occupancy limitations and represent an approximate 20% average decrease in the occupancy levels of residential properties permitted under the previous edition of the International Property Maintenance Code.

11. The definition of a family in Section 19.90.015 of the city’s zoning ordinance was amended to provide for a legally defensible definition of a family unit so as to allow enforcement of single family residential zoning to further reduce overcrowding in the city’s neighborhoods.

12. The 50/50 Historic/Architectural Rehabilitation Grant Program provided for in Chapter 20.15 of the Elgin Municipal Code. Such program provides grants to owners for the exterior rehabilitation and restoration of historically/architectural significant residential structures located in designated historic districts or designated as a landmark.

13. The 75/25 Historic/Architectural Rehabilitation Grant Program provided for in Chapter 20.16 of the Elgin Municipal Code. Such program provides grants to owners meeting certain income requirements for the exterior rehabilitation and restoration of historically/architecturally significant residential structures located in designated historic districts or designated as a landmark.

14. The odd/even off street parking program was established on a trial basis in four city neighborhoods.

15. The Department of Code Administration has implemented a zero tolerance code enforcement policy for a specified number of nuisance code violations including junk and debris, outdoor storage of household items, unpaved parking, excessive weeds, temporary signs in yards, major auto repair in resident districts and construction without building permits.

16. The city has implemented a problem property acquisition program. Such program provides for the acquisition by the city and subsequent demolition or renovation of particularly blighted or problematic properties in neighborhoods.

17. The city has implemented a number of other home improvement grant programs including the exterior painting program, substitute siding removal program and chain link fence removal program. Such programs provide grant funds for exterior painting, substitute siding removal and chain link fence removal for residential dwellings.

Please contact me if you have any questions or require any additional information on these matters.