Your wallet will appreciate the low, all inclusive price with single rooms available for $79 and suites priced at $99. The suites include a full kitchen, living room with fireplace, two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a sleeper sofa. Once you’ve checked in, all you need to do is kick back and have fun.

Eastland Suites will host a youth and adult bags and boards tournament. There will be a Wii Play Zone, games and crafts. And of course their huge pool is available for everyone to enjoy.

Your children can get their groove on while a DJ spins tunes at the kids dance ending with a Cider Toast at Midnight. Adults will enjoy a Champagne Toast and there will be drink specials at the bar. A special New Years Eve menu is available in the restaurant.

On New Years morning you can enjoy the complimentary hot buffet breakfast as you begin 2011 refreshed from a night of fun.

C.I.A.A. members raised $412.00 to give to Friends of Santa – Tom Cain to help needy families for Christmas this year.

Congratulations to Melvin Stevens of Stevens Properties for winning the I Pad! He was very surprised and happy!

A special thank you to our wonderful sponsors for the I Pad.

University Group – Chris Hamelberg
Tuscany Partners – Bryan Snyder
First Community Title – Terry Prillaman
Marine Bank – Anh To

Thank you to all C.I.A.A. members who participated by opening your hearts and wallets to make the I Pad raffle even more fun!

To all of C.I.A.A. members and your families we wish you a warm, happy, safe holiday season!

As a Vendor in C.I.A.A. you have an opportunity to share your services with your fellow C.I.A.A. members, and possibly attain new customers through taking a couple of minutes to speak at the C.I.A.A. general meeting. Don’t forget you would also receive a free ad on the C.I.A.A. blog www.ciaa-live.com C.I.A.A. showcases Vendor of the month 9 different times. As Vendor of the month you may bring a couple of office personnel as well. If you have stagefright never fear, someone will read your notes for you! Call/e-mail Marita today to reserve a spot for 2011! 344-2222.

Dan Setters – Tax information for property owners

Corinne Claypool – “Focus” on the web

March – Russ Taylor, Carol Hickey, Bobbi Gordon – What’s the current real estate climate

April – Mr. Landlord

May – Landlord Locks – Make lock change quick and easy

June – City of Urbana inspection staff

July – City of Champaign inspection staff

September – Sam Churchill – Illinois Lead Paint Program

October – Local Election Candidates

November – Art Mann – What you need in your lease

December – What’s my line Anyway ( Will be tons of fun)

What a great list. We want 2011 to be better. So, don’t miss it. Mark the general meeting down on your 2011 calendar. The third Thursday of every month. See you there!

Come to the December 16th general meeting and have some fun. Who’s line is it Anyway…. You remember the show! A group of your fellow members will be acting out funny rental and vendor scenario’s. And we will be asking for audience ideas too. Just like the show. So, put your most hilarious rental/vendor situation on this blog or write it down so the set of volunteer actors can do their best to act it out.

“I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December
A magical thing
And sweet to remember.

‘We are nearer to Spring
Than we were in September,’
I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December.”
– Oliver Herford, I Heard a Bird Sing

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. ~Roy L. Smith

One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don’t clean it up too quickly. ~Andy Rooney

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love! ~Hamilton Wright Mabie

Remember
This December,
That love weighs more than gold!
~Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon

Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles. ~Author Unknown

Three phrases that sum up Christmas are: Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men, and Batteries not Included. ~Author Unknown

Invoices will be sent out for 2011 Membership Dues, IRPOA Donations, C.I.A.A. Website Button Links and 2011 Advertising.

Please inform Marita if you do not receive yours.

They will be mailed by December 15th. 2010. Please also note if you want to advertise in the Directory, FOCUS or on the Website you will need to have your ads to Marita no later than December 3rd in the form of a PDF. All dues, invoices should be paid no later than January 15th 2011. For questions or comments please call Marita at 217-344-2222 or send her an e-mail at marita_booker@sbcglobal.net

As the holiday season rushes in, the C.I.A.A. wanted to send you a few humorous quips to brighten your day.  If you have any you would like to share, please include them in the comments!

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action. ~W.J. Cameron

Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds. ~Theodore Roosevelt

Grace isn’t a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal. It’s a way to live. ~Attributed to Jacqueline Winspear

Thanksgiving, man. Not a good day to be my pants. ~Kevin James

None is more impoverished than the one who has no gratitude. Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy. ~Fred De Witt Van Amburgh

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. ~William Arthur Ward

May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!    ~Author Unknown

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say “thank you?” ~William A. Ward

Thanksgiving is an emotional holiday. People travel thousands of miles to be with people they only see once a year. And then discover once a year is way too often. ~Johnny Carson

On November 2, the Champaign City Council approved mandatory “curbside recycling” for all multi-family properties of 5 units or more. Not only is this bad public policy, it is a waste of resources.

We’ve all heard the passionate pronouncements from environmentalists proclaiming the benefits of recycling. And while this rhetoric may make good copy, or make one feel virtuous, it takes no account of the true costs.

To further understand my assertions, google: John Tierney (New York Times reporter) and Daniel K. Benjamin (Professor of Economics-Clemson University), both of whom have extensively researched “curbside recycling” and have listed many independent studies as reference material. The majority of these studies were done by the EPA, Universities, and Municipalities and go into more detail than space permits here. However, a quick summary of some facts may convince you that further reading is in order.

Did you know that of the three most commonly practiced recycling methods used in most municipalities (“mixed use”, “drop-off site”, and “curbside”), that “curbside recycling” is the least efficient, most costly and the most wasteful of resources!

Did you know that of all the materials required to be collected for recycling, very few of them have any market value nor make economic sense to recycle?

While recyclable materials may be “defined” as being 100% recyclable, this does not mean there not environmental tradeoffs. EPA found higher levels and more toxins were created in processing paper from recycled materials than were created from virgin materials. Similar results have been found for steel and aluminum production. Recycling newsprint actually creates more water pollution than making new paper: for each ton of recycled newsprint that’s produced, an extra 5,000 gallons of waste water are discharged.

Los Angles estimates it has had to add 400 additional trucks just to service the “curbside recycling” program at a loss of thousands of dollars each year. New York City estimates it loses $240 for every ton of recyclables it collects.

We live in a Free Market Capitalist society guided by profits and the efficiencies of businesses to provide goods and services. Large waste haulers have been in the recycling business a very long time and have invested millions of dollars in high tech equipment to efficiently process recyclables (see News-Gazette article September 26, 2010). Mandatory “curbside recycling” forces waste haulers to operate less efficiently and requires that more trucks be used to collect the same amount of waste materials. This waste resources, including more iron ore and coal mining, more steel and rubber manufacturing, more oil refined for fuel, wear and tear on our streets and added air pollution. Champaign’s contracted recycling hauler (Allied Waste) will add two addition trucks!

The City of Champaign has a verifiable housing shortage of “affordable housing”. These City mandated fees only increase the rent for all tenants, decreasing affordable housing in Champaign and does nothing to increase compliance of the recycling program. Many tenants live on fixed income, disability, social security, or receive student loans, housing subsidies, or are veterans and cannot afford to pay another rental increase. This new mandated recycling fee affects affordability for everyone, but it is especially hard on those least able to afford it and who are the most vulnerable in our society.

Charging an inanimate object (the apartment unit) which in and of itself creates no garbage, makes no sense because some apartment units are un-rentable, vacant, used as offices, storage or are being remodeled (they produce no garbage), yet they will be charged monthly. There are also disproportionalities in the program too: currently a single person living in a one bedroom apartment will be paying as much as 8 people living in a four bedroom apartment. In both instances, would it not be more equitable to charge by the number of adults (who actually create the garbage)?

While personally I am an ardent recycler and have spent thousands of dollars upgrading my properties to be more energy efficient, as a concerned citizen and multi-family property owner, I am not in favor of “curbside recycling” or being held responsible for its success, costs, implementation, enforcement, and monitoring of tenants. Hundred’s of cities have already tried similar programs which have failed (the city of Houston states its compliancy rate for “curbside recycling” is a dismal 2.6%). And yet, despite overwhelming documented, credible and verifiable evidence, the City Council has unilaterally decided to implement this program. The implementation of this program simply defies all logic, common sense and completely disregards the established facts. It is a waste of our precious resources and will put an undue burden on our housing market and community.

The IRPOA Political Action Committee has been investigating changes in the law regarding requirements for a mortgage originator license.  Previously the law provided for a number of exempt transactions when private financing is involved before a mortgage originator license was required.  This exemption was removed with the enactment of PA 096-1216.  Here is a link to that legislation.  http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=096-1216 This law was passed to bring Illinois law into compliance with federal requirements.

IRPOA submitted a list of questions to the Department of Professional Regulation in order to determine what types of transactions would be affected.  The questions are in the attached document.  Initially we were told that none of the questions could be answered until the Federal Government provided guidance on their requirements.   After some conversations by IRPOA members with legislators we did received a verbal statement that contracts for deed and lease options would not be effected.  We requested a written statement to document this position to provide to our members but have not received it yet.  We have been told that something is being worked on.  . 

IRPOA VP Jane Garvey provided the information copied below from the National Association of Realtors expressing Congress’ intent that some seller financing should be permitted under the SAFE act.  The SAFE act is the federal legislation driving these changes. The Department of Professional Regulation has stated that they expect when HUD issues guidance on the SAFE act a number of exempt transactions will be permitted in the federal law.  As of January 1, 2011 there are no exempt transactions allowed under Illinois law and that will remain the case until Illinois law is amended.

If you engage in any type of transactions where unconventional financing is involved the IRPOA PAC recommends you contact your state legislators immediately to inform them that your ability to conduct business will be on hold until this issue is resolved.

To find your State Senator and State Representative go to http://www.elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/DistrictOfficialSearchByAddress.aspx

Paul Arena
IRPOA PAC Chairman

Additional support from National Association of Realtors Washington Report  – August 23, 2010

Conventional Residential Lending Report
Frank-Bachus Letter prods HUD to Issue S.A.F.E. Act Final Rule and Clarify Other Issues

In Late July 2010, House Financial Services Committee (HFSC) Chairman, Barney Frank, and Ranking Member, Spencer Bachus, sent a joint letter to HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan addressing their concerns related to the implementation of the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing (S.A.F.E.) Act, as well as to clarify other issues. Their primary concern was that as of July 31st, 2010, states were required to have a system in place to license and register loan originators, yet HUD had not published its final rule addressing the implementation of the S.A.F.E. Act. Therefore, they strongly recommended that “HUD provide prompt and clear guidance for states where there is some debate or uncertainty as to the need for the registration and licensing of certain individuals.”

In the letter, the Chairman and Ranking Member mention that “several states allow for a de minimis standard that exempts seller financed and/or personal investment loan originations where there are five or fewer loans annually.” Reps. Frank and Bachus indicate that, “[they] believe that these types of standards are consistent with S.A.F.E. Act language that requires consideration of the commercial context in which the mortgage loan origination activities are undertaken.” They go further to indicate that such an exemption is in line with the federal banking agencies’ draft final rule implementing the S.A.F.E. Act, (74 FR 27385).

Now, this does not mean that any existing State’s S.A.F.E. Act is immediately amended. The letter submitted by Chairman Frank and Ranking Member Bachus are just an indication to HUD of Congress’ intention. It remains up to HUD what the final S.A.F.E. Rule will be. Once the final rule is published, individual states will need to review their legislation and determine if any changes are necessary. Also, as a point of clarification, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act does not amend the S.A.F.E. Act. However, the seller financing exemption established in Title XIV of that legislation is partially responsible for the Frank-Bachus letter to HUD.

NAR will continue to communicate to HUD the importance of publishing their final rules for the implementation of the S.A.F.E. Act, as well as to remind them of Congress’ intentions with regard to seller-financing as outlined in the Frank-Bachus letter. Stay tuned, there is more to come.

If you like this suggestion or have other suggestions for improvements to the blog, please let Marita know or use the contact form on the blog itself!

Download Form Here

(note the updated time)

“Your power is proportional to your ability to relax.”

— David Allen: Productivity consultant, author, and lecturer

This season, more than any other, seems to be the season for getting ready for the next season. We’re getting ready for winter at the same time we’re getting ready for Halloween at the same time we’re getting ready for the holidays at the same time we’re making our New Year’s resolutions at the same time we’re getting ready to close out the financial year and file taxes. This doesn’t even include all the things for which we have to prepare as individuals. Maybe a birthday, anniversary, or a child in a school presentation. Makes us tired just thinking about it all.

What’s the alternative? We all know that planning is important. Motivational author Robert Stuberg paints a clear picture when he says, “Goals give you the power to predict your own future.” That sure makes sense. And it’s probably right too. In fact the advice is so powerful it distracts us from two important questions: “Where is the future, and who lives there?” The answers are instructive: “Nowhere,” and “No one.”

So what’s the point? The point is that we are often so concerned about the future that we neglect the present. Sure, we need to plan ahead. That is undeniable. See someone who is not planning ahead and you are looking at a calamity waiting to happen. We just have to stop planning ahead too. We have to do both. At the same time. We need to plan ahead and we need to be fully present all the time, when we’re planning and when we are executing. Otherwise our plan will be incomplete and our execution will suffer. What’s more, we get worn out because in our thoughts we are always working over what we have to do next, never enjoying the task or giving ourselves credit for the accomplishment.

What then, are we to do? Work your plan. Get the gutters cleaned and stock up on de-icer for the walk. Simply put all of your attention into what you are doing. Driving to the store to get batteries for the CO or smoke detectors because turning back the clock is a traditional reminder to replace them? Put your attention into driving to the store, not what type of batteries you are going to purchase. The time to think about batteries is when you are standing in front of the display. Until then, just be in the drivers’ seat devoting your awareness to the task of driving.

And remember too that we need to take breaks. Our bodies and our minds need them. As counterintuitive as it is, we actually are more productive when we include frequent breaks. We don’t just feel like we are doing more, its been proven we actually have more output when we rest for as much as a third of every hour. Can’t take a break for five minutes out of every fifteen? Prepare to set aside real down time when the only thing you are doing, physically and mentally, is being here and now. Investing in your present will ensure a brighter present . . . later on.

All property owners or managers run into common or not so common questions every day. It could be accounting questions

January 2010 – Dan Setters – “Stop Taxes from Depreciating You”

February 2010 – “Bringing Focus to the FOCUS” C.I.A.A. FOCUS Blog is born with Real Design Graphics leading the path

March 2010 – New Property Purchasing – Russ Taylor, Carol Hickey & Bobbi Gordon – Realtors panel

April 2010 – Jeffery Taylor (Mr. Landlord) gave all property owners new and fresh ideas on attracting, and keeping tenants

May 2010 – Landlordlocks.com showed us a new way to solve our age old lock problems.

June & July 2010 – Inspect the Inspectors of Champaign & Urbana – many of your questions were answered. Each city staff attended.

What topic would you like to know more about?

That is the question the Education Committee would like to know! We are asking for your opinion on informative topics for a speaker at the monthly C.I.A.A. Member Meetings.

Education Committee’s current ideas are:

Lead Base Paint – How the new laws pertain to property owners

Champaign Circuit Court Judge – Evictions, Lease information

Attorney – Lease Addendums, Eviction Law

October – Invite local candidates competing in the November Elections

We have more ideas but what you would like to know more about is why we are here. Think of the questions, situations, or problems that you have run across and you might just have a topic. And more than likely your fellow property owners would like to hear about that topic too. Thank you for reading and we look forward to hearing from you.

You’ve got a friend in Springfield. Like any good friend, you’re always in their thoughts and they’re looking out for your long term best interest. It’s no surprise, I’m talking about the IL Rental Property Owner’s Association (IRPOA). Over the past several legislative sessions, IRPOA has grown into a recognized name at the Capitol. Debbie Broadfield, a lobbyist for IRPOA from Consulting4Biz reports that “Legislative staff now reaches out to IRPOA’s team of lobbyists to ask their position on bills. On your behalf, they have been working on amendments to bills that the Association opposes as well as introducing legislation that is positive for the industry.”

IRPOA’s work is important to protecting your property rights and they shouldn’t be the only voice our elected officials hear. Your voice is essential. In fact, Senator Dale Righter knows IRPOA’s message as a result of hearing from his constituents. He’s quick to add that hearing from individual constituents is “always the best feedback and input I can get.”

CIAA has established a Legislative Committee that works closely with IRPOA and our elected officials. Please consider joining this committee. Chris Hamelberg is the committee chair. Please contact him for more information.

Here are some examples of what IRPOA worked on during the last legislative session:

Tenant Radon Protection Act (HB 5224 – sponsored by Rep.Dan Reitz)

Would have created legislation that required landlords provide tenants with an Illinois Emergency Management Agency radon guide for tenants; a landlord would have had 30 days to obtain a radon test after a tenant’s notification of a test revealing radon; provided that a measurement by a radon contractor would be valid for 5 years; and deleted provisions concerning the termination of a lease. As amended, this bill would have strongly recommended testing and mitigation, but did not mandate it.

This bill passed out of the House and died in the Senate.

Notification of Sex Offenders in Multi-Unit Dwellings (HB5421 – sponsored by Rep. Deborah Mell and opposed by IRPOA)

Required owners, landlords or management of multi-unit dwellings to notify residents that a sex offender resides in the multi-unit dwelling and that, prior to moving in, notify residents that a sex offender intends to reside in a multi-unit dwelling. Also provided that it is the duty of the owner, landlord, or management of the multi-unit dwelling to periodically check the Statewide Sex Offender Database to determine if sex offenders reside within the multi-unit dwelling. Provided that an owner, landlord, or management of a multi-unit dwelling is immune from criminal or civil liability for an act or omission made in good faith in reliance on the information in the Statewide Sex Offender Database.

This bill died in the House.

Amendment to the Code of Civil Procedure (HB5523 – sponsored by Rep. Karen Yarbrough)

Provides that it is an affirmative defense to a forcible entry action if the demand for possession is based on: the status of the tenant, lessee, or household member as a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual violence; an incident of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual violence against a tenant, lessee, or household member; or criminal activity engaged in by a member of a tenant’s or lessee’s household or any guest or other person under the tenant’s, lessee’s, or household member’s control directly relating to domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual violence and against the tenant, lessee, or household member. Provides that the existence of the affirmative defense does not prevent a landlord from seeking possession solely against a tenant, household member, or lessee who perpetrated the violence.

This bill passed both chambers.

Licensing and Regulation of Landlords (HB6257 – sponsored by Rep. Anthony Deluca)

This legislation provided that the corporate authorities of any municipality may license and regulate landlords, as defined by the corporate authorities of the municipality, within that municipality.

This bill passed out of the House and died in the Senate.

IL Bed Bug Task Force (HB6439 – sponsored by Rep. Ken Dunkin)

Created the Illinois Bed Bug Task Force within the Department of Public Health. Provides that the Department shall provide staff and administrative support to the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall make recommendations concerning the prevention and treatment of bed bug infestations; standards for the disposal of infested items; certification of pest management professionals; and the development of public education materials. Provides that the Task Force shall consist of 10 members appointed by the Governor. Sets forth criteria for Task Force membership. Provides that the Task Force shall report its findings to the General Assembly on or before January 1, 2011.

This bill passed both chambers.

Amendment to the Elevator Safety and Regulation Act (HB4766 – sponsored by Rep. Jim Sacia)

Would have amended the Elevator Safety and Regulation Act. The legislation provided that the Act, with the exception of a new provision, shall not apply to any county in the State other than the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will. Provides that any county other than the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will, and any municipality that lies within any county other than the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will, may set up its own inspection system for elevators and lifts by local ordinance.

This bill died in the House.

Amendment to the Code of Civil Procedure (SB3614 – sponsored by Sen. Duffy / companion bill HB 6207 sponsored by Rep. Ron Wait)

This legislation would have amended the Code of Civil Procedure and provided that a person entitled to possession of land or a building may be restored under several identified circumstances, including: when a forcible entry is made, entry and restoration of possession may be made under the supervision of a law enforcement officer or an employee of a private security agency certified under the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor and Locksmith Act of 2004 (instead of when a forcible entry is made).

At the request of IRPOA, Senator Duffy and Representative Wait both held the bill in order for IRPOA to meet with the opponents; meetings are still taking place and we are hopeful that we seek resolution to some of these issues without legislative action.

Limit Restrictions of Private Process Servers (HB5290 – supported by IRPOA and sponsored by Rep. Franco Coladipietro)

Some counties in Illinois restrict the use of private process servers. This bill will limit that restriction and establishes a system for service to individuals detained in a correctional facility.

This bill is currently in the House on the order of concurrence for Senate Amendments 1 and 2.

Amendment to the IL Municipal Code (SB 3564 – Introduced on behalf of IRPOA by Sen. Bill Haine)

In provisions concerning sanitation code violations, this legislation provided that a violation notice and report form shall state that if compliance cannot be completed prior to the hearing date, then the respondent shall provide to the sanitation inspector a proposed date by which the violations will be corrected. Provided that, if a municipality gives notice of a sanitation violation by mail, then the municipality shall send a copy of the violation notice and report form to the address appearing on the property tax records. Provided that it is an affirmative defense to a sanitation code violation if the property or portion of the property where the violation occurred is under the control of a lessee or contract buyer responsible for maintaining the property and the leasehold interest or agreement for deed is being terminated. In provisions concerning nuisance liens for (i) cutting and removing neglected weeds, grass, trees, and bushes, (ii) controlling pests, (iii) removing infected trees, and (iv) removing garbage and refuse, it defined “reasonable notice” of a nuisance violation. Included refuse in the provisions concerning the removal of garbage from private property located within the municipality. In provisions authorizing municipalities to provide pest-control activities on private property located within the municipality, removes undesirable arthropods and mice from the definition of “pests”.

Due to opposition the bill was held in the Senate; IRPOA will continue to work on this issue and plans to reintroduce this again next spring.

Crime-Free Rental Housing Ordinance (SB 3075 – sponsored by Sen. Maggie Cotty and opposed by IRPOA)

Provided that the corporate authorities of a non-home rule municipality may adopt a crime-free rental housing ordinance for the purpose of deterring crime in residential areas. The crime-free rental housing ordinance may require a property owner to obtain a valid residential rental license from the municipality and attend a training program or seminar concerning crime prevention before he or she may obtain a residential rental license. The language provided that an ordinance may require that any lease entered into for residential property located in the municipality include a provision or an addendum that prohibits a tenant, a tenant’s family member, or a guest of the tenant from engaging in, facilitating, or permitting any quasi-criminal or criminal activity as defined by federal, State, or local law.

This bill died in the Senate.

The University will hold its official move-in on Thursday August 19, 2010. In order to provide the best service and least congestion for our Illinois students and their families, we would like to ask for your cooperation as you create your leases and confirm your early arrival policies. Not only will our customers be better served but our employees will have a more positive experience.

Last year, we had several Greek letter organizations, student leaders, private certified residents and living learning community residents request to arrive early. These students totaled well over 4000 residents. We allow those students living with University Housing and Private Certified Housing to pay an early arrival fee and move in between Sunday and Wednesday. Students living in Greek Chapter Houses have contract dates that begin on the Sunday prior to move-in. This opportunity allows the traffic to disperse over several days and allows our student staff to help with the remainder of official move-in.

Many of our Greek Letter students, band members and student leaders do not live in on-campus housing, they live in apartments. These students will have the same obligations and need to arrive early. Ideally, we would hope you could structure your contracts to allow for students who need to be on campus prior to August 19th. If you are unable to structure your contract to begin between August 16th and August 19th we would kindly ask that you allow students who need to arrive early an option for doing so. There are some official student organizations like Illini Guides, Dining Workers, etc. that we have rosters for and confirm your residents’ need to be on campus early.

If you have further questions please contact Mari Anne Brocker or Herb Jones

You probably can’t keep up with them by yourself. The proposals come fast and furious: Vacant Structure Ordinance, Nuisance Ordinance, Rental Registry, Section 8, Criminal Background Checks, etc.. People who have never met you are trying to have a say in your business. If you want to affect the outcome of potential government regulations by yourself, you’re likely to feel like the bug. The good news is that the Central IL Apartment Association and the IL Rental Property Owners Association (I.R.P.O.A.) (http://bit.ly/c2trL9) are working together and with other interest groups to monitor government ordinances and advocate for and with you.

In some cases, the issue a governmental body is trying to solve has merit. However, the language being proposed is either too broad or in application could be too restrictive to effective business practices. For example, the Champaign City Council is considering an ordinance to address vacant buildings (http://bit.ly/a1z9XX) whose owners are ignoring city notices that their buildings are in violation of city property codes. Some of these buildings pose fire risks, are a blight to the city and can be a center for criminal activity. The concern is understandable. City officials report current enforcement rules to be insufficient and cumbersome.

The trouble is that the ordinance as submitted to the City Council for study could conceivably ensnare all private property in the city limits. In the last version of this ordinance a consequence of being named a nuisance property was that it must be brought up to full compliance with all codes before it can be removed from the list. The C.I.A.A., in cooperation with Champaign County Chamber of Commerce (C.C.C.C.) (http://bit.ly/a9m5xW) and the Champaign County Association of REALTORS® (http://bit.ly/9yXfI5) successfully lobbied to send this back to staff so language could be clarified. “Working with the Central Illinois Apartment Association was a great partnership,” says Andrew Proctor, Public Policy Manager for the C.C.C.C.. “Their knowledge base about residential matters was very helpful in crafting our message to lawmakers.”

In many cases, the legislation shows little regard for our industry. Recently a State Senator began advancing legislation requiring property owners and managers in Cook County to identify to the court the number and ages of children and seniors, as well as any disabled individuals, at time of eviction proceedings (http://bit.ly/byKGk3). According to Paul Arena, Political Action Committee Chair for I.R.P.O.A., Rockford Apartment Association president (http://bit.ly/8Z8jGP) as well as property owner and manager for over 20 years, “There are other people out there who are active and moving their agendas forward and unless we are active the legislators aren’t going to know about our concerns and how we are impacted.” Many citizens outside of our business don’t stop to think that we must respect and be sensible about protecting our clients’ personal information. Arena and others managed to have this bill pushed back for consideration in the fall session.

We’ve had successes on your behalf, and we need your help. Arena says effectiveness comes from making our voices heard. “Our group is based on grassroots participation of the members. It is very important they make contact with the people they vote for so that when an issue arises they can make a phone call and be recognized.” Proctor adds “If you just want to sit back and let the next guy worry about it, probably nothing is going to happen.”

When it comes to regulation, we have some choices. If we decide we want our businesses to be more like the windshield than the bug we can behave like professionals, lessening the need for outside intervention. After that, we can be engaged in the process so that laws that are passed have purpose and are best for us and our residents.

Don’t forget to RSVP for this event no later than June 1st!