§ 5-410. Requirements for multi-family dwelling community mandatory participants; premises requirements; trespass affidavits; crime watch meetings; apartment manager meetings; background checks; seminar; survey.

(a)

Within thirty (30) days after receiving notice of being a designated multi-family dwelling, the designated multi-family dwelling must meet all of the requirements of this section, except subsections (f) and (g) (entry doors and fencing). Subsections (f) and (g) (entry doors and fencing) must be met within sixty (60) days after receiving notice of being a designated multi-family dwelling. The police chief may extend the deadlines of this subsection, in increments not exceeding thirty (30) days each, upon a showing that the work cannot be performed within the required time period because of its scope and complexity.

(b)

Lighting.

(1)

Security lighting must be provided, maintained, and operated so that it adequately illuminates all parking areas, walkways, stairs, steps, doorways, and garbage storage areas of the multi-family dwelling to such a degree that the facial features of a person at least five (5) feet tall are distinguishable from a distance of thirty-five (35) feet.

(2)

Security lighting must be in compliance with all applicable city ordinances and state law. If there is any conflict between subsection (b)(1) of this section and another city ordinance or state law, the other law will prevail.

(c)

Landscaping.

(1)

No bush or shrub on the premises of the multi-family dwelling may be taller than three (3) feet, except as follows:

a.

The police chief may allow the owner or manager to maintain a shrub or bush taller than three (3) feet if the owner or manager cuts the foliage three (3) feet from the ground and a person on one (1) side of the shrub or bush has a clear view of the feet and lower leg of a person on the other side of the shrub or bush;

b.

In order to request such a modification, the owner or manager must make a written request to the police chief within fifteen (15) days of the first inspection of the property pursuant to section 5-407(a)(1);

c.

Within fifteen (15) days of receiving a written request from the owner or manager of the multi-family dwelling for a modification, the police chief shall grant or deny the request in writing and deliver it to the owner or manager; and

d.

A copy of the request by the owner or manager for a modification and the approval by the police chief must be maintained by the police chief while the multi-family dwelling remains in the mandatory crime reduction program.

(2)

No tree on the premises of the multi-family dwelling may have a canopy lower than seven (7) feet above the ground.

(3)

All trees, shrubs, bushes, and other landscaping must be maintained in compliance with all applicable city ordinances and state law. If there is any conflict between subsection (c)(1) or (c)(2) of this section and another city ordinance or state law, the other law will prevail.

(d)

Locked common areas. All enclosed common areas of the multi-family dwelling (including, but not limited to, laundry rooms, club rooms, and fitness rooms) must be kept locked and may only be accessed with a key, key card, key pad, or similar device.

(e)

Key control plan. A description of the plan and procedures for storing and assessing keys, key cards, and key codes to dwelling units, enclosed common areas, and other facilities of the multi-family dwelling must be filed with the police chief.

(f)

Entry doors. Each entry door must be solid core or metal.

(g)

Fencing.

(1)

The perimeter of the premises of a designated multi-family dwelling must be enclosed with a fence that is at least six (6) feet high, except that if a lower height is required by another ordinance, the fence must be the maximum height allowed under the other city ordinance.

(2)

Notwithstanding subsection (g)(1) of this section, vehicular driveways and pedestrian walkways are not required to be fenced or gated, except that the combined width of openings in the fence of vehicular driveways and pedestrian walkways may not exceed fifteen (15) percent of the perimeter of the area of the property required to be fenced.

(3)

All fencing must be maintained in compliance with applicable city ordinances and state law. If there is any conflict between subsection (g)(1) or (g)(2) of this section and another city ordinance or state law, the other law will prevail.

(h)

Pay phones. All pay phones on the premises of the multi-family dwelling must be blocked to incoming calls or removed from the multi-family dwelling.

(i)

Trespass affidavits.

(1)

An owner or manager of the multi-family dwelling willingly executes a trespass affidavit, on a form provided by the police chief for that purpose that authorizes the police department to enforce, on behalf of the multi-family dwelling, all applicable trespass laws on the premises of the multi-family dwelling.

(2)

A true and correct copy of the trespass affidavit must be posted at the multi- family dwelling in a manner and location so that it is clearly visible to the public at all times.

(j)

Background checks.

(1)

A current official criminal history report (issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety within the preceding twelve (12) months) must be obtained on all current and prospective employees of the multi-family dwelling.

(2)

A current official criminal history report (issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety within the preceding twelve (12) months) must be obtained on all prospective tenants seventeen (17) years of age or older who apply for occupancy in the multi-family dwelling.

(3)

A current credit report must be obtained on all prospective tenants eighteen (18) years of age or older who apply for occupancy in the multi-family dwelling.

(4)

All records maintained on an employee or tenant in compliance with this subsection must be retained at the multi-family dwelling for at least ninety (90) days following the date of any termination of the employee's employment or the tenant's occupancy at the multi-family dwelling.

(5)

The owner or manager of the multi-family dwelling shall make all records maintained under this subsection available for inspection by a police officer at reasonable times upon request.

(k)

Crime watch meetings.

(1)

Crime watch meetings at the multi-family dwelling.

a.

At least one (1) crime watch meeting must be held every six (6) weeks at the multi-family dwelling.

b.

The owner or manager must post notice in the common areas of the multi-family dwelling in English and Spanish notifying the tenants of the crime watch meetings at least fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting.

c.

The police chief must be given at least fifteen (15) days advance, written notice of the meeting.

(2)

Apartment manager meetings. The owner or manager of the multi-family dwelling each calendar year shall attend at least seven (7) Hurst Police Department apartment manager meetings.

(3)

Multi-family crime free management seminar. The owner or manager and maintenance supervisor shall attend training provided by the City of Hurst Police Department within ninety (90) calendar days of being designated.

(l)

Residential security survey.

(1)

An owner or manager of the multi-family dwelling shall distribute a residential security survey, on a form provided by the police chief, to each tenant of the multi-family dwelling who is eighteen (18) years of age or older.

(2)

The owner or manager of the multi-family dwelling shall file all returned surveys with the police chief within thirty (30) days after distribution.

(Ord. No. 2194, § 3, 2-28-12)