City Council has postponed voting on an ordinance that would change the way the city inspects commercial and industrial businesses.

The ordinance would require commercial and industrial businesses to be inspected annually at the business owner’s expense. Had the ordinance been passed, business owners would have to pay for annual inspections of all property where their business resides. The ordinance requires electrical, structural and fire hazard inspections every year, regardless of the need for them. City Council will vote on the ordinance Nov. 10.

City officials

Some alderman said the ordinance is necessary because the sooner a problem with a building is spotted the sooner it can be fixed.

During the meeting, 1st Ward Alderman David Jacobson said everyone involved in a business — including realtors, carpenters, landlords and lawyers, among others — opposed the ordinance. Jacobson said the annual inspections are unnecessary and will drive business owners away from the city.

DeKalb Police Chief Gene Lowery said public safety must be DeKalb’s No. 1 priority.

“First and foremost, I think we should address public safety,” Lowery said. “ … Getting the stakeholders involved is best.”

Business owners

Some business owners who attended the meeting Monday were not in favor of the ordinance because of the money they would have to spend on inspections.

Matt Duffy, executive director of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, said he attended the meeting to ensure the appropriate amount of time was spent making decisions about the ordinance. Duffy said the ordinance would improve public safety, but he said more time was needed before a decision should be made.

Michael Carpenter, managing broker of RVG Milner Carpenter Commercial Realty, said he agreed with City Council about the ordinance improving public safety by inspecting each building every year; however, he said the council should work one-on-one with the public to create a more efficient ordinance everyone can agree on.