Landlord Proposes New Code Enforcement Strategy

If a local landlord could have his wish, his plan to help code enforcement and in turn help keep Gulfport clean would become a reality.

In a Gulfport City Council Workshop on Aug. 9, Gulfport resident and landlord Doug Hudson was one of many who wanted stronger code enforcement within the city.

Hudson was quick to point out that his comments were disparaging to the city, but he said things could be better. He was opposed to what is termed "soft" code enforcement, meaning that codes are not rigidly enforced unless there is a glaring issue or multiple complaints.

"What I have a problem with is the city's ... complaint-driven enforcement," Hudson said.

Hudson would like to see a more consistent, orderly way of enforcing codes, probably with an addition to city staff.

In a time when the economy is choking municipalities, with many towns, including Gulfport, forced to consider layoffs and cutting services to make ends meet, adding staff members may be a hard sell.

But Hudson has a plan that would both bring a better code enforcement and pay for additional staff. It would be a landlord or tenant annual registration fee and Hudson, an eight-year resident of Gulfport, understands he would be one of those getting pinched.

"We have appoximately 2,000 rentals in Gulfport," Hudson said. "If we charge $30 to $40 a year, it would pay for a full-time code enforcement officer."

"If you have rental property, you do business in the city, and I don't see why you wouldn't pay a business fee," he said.

That way, Hudson reasons, Gulfport would be like other cities that have more consistent, if not stricter, enforcement procedures. In the end, it would make Gulfport a more beautiful city and help out the city both in tourism and real estate value.

The main thing Hudson wants with his rental registration plan is that all the money generated go to the proper department.

"I would want to make sure that money is earmarked for our codes," Hudson said.

"Right now, the enforcement is discretionary. That's the problem," Hudson said. "The city makes no secret we have passive enforcement. That creates inequity and creates friction among neighbors."

Currently, Hudson said, some residents fear filing a complaint about a neighbor because it could create uncomfortable backlash.

But Bruce Earling, a one-man code enforcement team for Gulfport, noted that residents can file anonymous complaints.

"They can call, they can call anonymously, and they can e-mail," Earling explained of the process to file complaints. "They don't have to identify themselves."