University Heights council overrides mayor's rental property veto

The University Heights City Council has voted 7-0 to override a veto from Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan regarding rental property regulations. This decision was made on March 18, following the mayor’s veto of a council ordinance from March 3. The ordinance set fees for registering rental properties and established an inspection schedule. Mayor Brennan argued that the registration fee for commercial apartment buildings was set too low compared to the fees for one- and two-family homes. He highlighted that landlords of single-family homes pay $150 or $250 per year, while apartment buildings only pay $500, regardless of size. Brennan also expressed concern about the inspection schedule, suggesting that all units in larger apartment complexes should be inspected this year, not spread out over three years. He pointed out that only a small number of units have been inspected so far. In response, Vice Mayor Michele Weiss and Councilwoman Win Weizer defended the council’s decision. They argued that the registration and inspection fees are correctly structured and that the staggered inspection plan was based on the availability of city inspectors. The council has previously overridden another veto from the mayor earlier this year. In addition to the rental property legislation, the council approved a special use permit for a home to operate as the Heichal Hakadosh Synagogue, despite concerns about parking. This approval has now made its operation legal after services have been conducted there since late 2023.