Council reups with Granicus

Does Granicus really work in tracking permitted existing short term rentals in Niagara Falls and identifying those that need the attention of code enforcement.

The best answer is it depends who you ask but the city will have 3 more years to find out at a cost of $36,907 per year after the common council agreed to extend its agreement with the technical service provider.

The city council was granted an audience with City Administrator Robert Restaino and acting Deputy Corporate Council Neil Reddien in a work session before the regular city council meeting Wednesday night.

Reddien was present as the in--house expert on the software and said it provides the needed information for code enforcement to bring properties into compliance.

What is missing is sufficient staff in the Code Enforcement Department to bring violators into compliance with the code. Restaino said there are two open positions for housing code inspectors who would be able to assist if they were filled.

In the meantime, when Granicus identifies a property in violation, by combing VRBO, AirBnb and other services for unlisted addresses, it generates an automatic letter to the property owner.

Reddien said issues with the Granicus system reported by STR owners trying to register or renew listings are matters of user error.

The Express spoke Wednesday to 3 different business people who have had difficulty with the system. One operator said it took multiple phone calls to resolve an issue.

Another said there are owners operating illegally in the city who have attempted to comply with the registration process and then given up because it is a hassle and the common public opinion is the city is poorly staffed so it’s easier to take the risk of operating illegally than comply with a code the city lacks the workers to enforce.

There has been no reporting to the council on how many illegal operators have been identified or what enforcement actions have been taken. Ultimately, the council voted 4-1 to pass the contract extension with the no vote coming from Vincent Cauley.

A motion by Cauley to postpone the vote failed for a lack of a 2nd.

In other action, the council delayed entering a two-year service contract for utility poles with Power and Construction Group after Steelworkers Union President Timothy Huether, speaking on the agenda item, questioned whether the city considered using its union workforce to take the task in house.

Councilperson James Perry moved the contract with a second from David Zajac. Zajac then moved to postpone the decision with a 2nd from Cauley and Archie joining them to delay a decision until the union question can be answered.

Acting Corporation Counsel Thomas DeBoy noted that the city’s workforce has no experience with the new lighting system. Maintenance of the system was included in the budget for the switchover from incandescent to LED streetlights.

The council also agreed to approve an agreement for night gyms to return to 3 schools in the city with the assistance of the school district and police department and the allocation of GIVE grant funds. The plan was initiated by councilperson Bridgette Myles.