Anti-Crime Program

Anti-crime program optional for landlords
By Ames Boykin Daily Herald Staff
Published: 10/15/2007 11:59 PM
Beginning Jan. 1, landlords in Des Plaines will have a choice to make.
Aldermen approved a new program that will allow the city's nearly 600 landlords to decide whether to take part in a program to help crack down on crime in multifamily buildings.
This marks a leaner proposal than the one that stirred debate in late June since it would be voluntary, not mandatory.
A similar program in Mount Prospect is mandatory.
The program approved Monday also backs away from a controversial plan to force landlords to turn over a list of tenants and their addresses. Landlords wouldn't be required to do this.
If landlords choose to participate in the program, they would attend a seminar hosted by police where crime prevention and applicant screening would be discussed, Police Chief James Prandini said.
One of the suggestions includes putting a crime-free addendum in a lease. That would allow a landlord to start eviction proceedings in case of a crime.
Prandini supported making this voluntary since he's faced with a staffing crunch and lacks the officers to enforce a mandatory program.
This also would "let the program build on its own successes," Prandini said.
Those landlords who take part in the city's new program would be rewarded with a 10 percent discount on the city's rental license fee. The city charges $20 for each unit in a multifamily building.
Fifth Ward Alderman Carla Brookman and 3rd Ward Alderman Laura Murphy called the voluntary program a positive change.
Aldermen on Monday also decided to give police more power to crack down on nuisance activity, including unlawful use of weapons and drug possession.
Under the new law that would take effect Jan. 1, police could define a "chronic nuisance property" if they are called to the premises -- including the public way near the property -- at least three times in 180 days. In the case of prostitution and drug charges, a nuisance property would be defined as three police calls in 365 days.
Before, the property could be defined as a nuisance only if police made at least three calls in 60 days.
If a chronic nuisance problem is reported and a landlord refused to take measures to eliminate it, he or she would be required to attend police seminars to renew the rental license.