The Landlord and Tenant Subcommittee voted Thursday in favor of requiring owners of multi-family dwellings to provide contact information for at least two responsible parties.
The new requirement would make it easier for tenants and regulatory agencies, such as Building Inspection and the MPD, to access landlords or caretakers.
""This doesn't always seem necessary,"" said Ald. Julia Kerr, District 13, who is one of the new section's proponents. ""But it's urgent when you really need it.""
Such instances of necessity range from fires and broken water pipes to issues of residential noise violations and nuisances, all of which require the caretaker or landlord to be available and easily accessible.
Ald. Bridget Maniaci, District 2, said this increased accountability would make it easier for residents to address neighborhood issues, such as noise violations and other nuisances.
""It would encourage calling because I'd know that there's a line to direct action,"" said Maniaci.
Attached to the new requirement is a 10-dollar registration fee for landlords.
This presents the ""biggest concern,"" said executive director for the Apartment Association of South Central Wisconsin Nancy Jensen, who probed the possibility of a non-fee-based system.
""Once a fee starts, a fee increases,"" Jensen said, ""Ten dollars, 20 dollars, 25. … [This fee] is not going to share the cost with the landlord, it's going to be shared with the resident.""
Joel Plant, spokesperson for Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and one of the section's proponents, said he is committed ""to explore all feasible options for reducing this cost.""
Following further discussion, the ordinance alteration was approved unanimously, passing it up to the full Housing Committee for potential approval in June.
