Everyone deserves and has a right to feel safe in their homes and neighborhoods. The City of Madison has a responsibility to support an environment where all can thrive. 

I have dedicated a great deal of time to collaboration with community services staff, the City Attorney and the Madison Police Department to address these problems. Though I have often heard the right words, I have been disappointed by the lack of action and resources that Royal Capital Group have allocated for improving the situation.

In April 2020, the City issued a Chronic Nuisance Premises ("CNP") Declaration to Royal Capital Group.

The CNP ordinance is a tool the City uses to prompt a property owner to meet with the City with a proposed, written nuisance abatement plan. Once a nuisance abatement plan is agreed upon, the plan is put in to place and the property is monitored until the nuisance activity abates and/or substantially declines to a point where there is no longer a negative impact on the property, the property's tenants, and surrounding areas.

In the event the abatement plan is not successful or the property owner does not implement the plan or fails to work in good-faith with the City to reduce the nuisance activity, the City has other enforcement tools available in the CNP ordinance, including a cost recovery provision. These additional enforcement tools are rarely utilized because the vast majority of CNP Declarations result in implementation of effective abatement plans.

The nuisance abatement plan submitted by Royal Capital Group includes the following. They were given time for it to work before the City begins using the tools afforded in the CNP declaration.

• Strictly follow the Wisconsin Management Company Tenant Screening Criteria.

• Provide thorough resident education at lease signing appointments, going through all lease clauses and emphasizing how housing can be lost due to lease violations and those caused by their guests. 

• Evict, and/or non-renew any tenants with lease violations.

• Document all incidents and adhere to good record keeping practices. 

• Ensure that a video camera system is functional and accessible by Management, Madison PD, and Ownership. 

• Review placement of current cameras and work with MPD to determine the appropriate locations for adding 4-7 additional cameras. Cameras to be installed by July 1, 2020. 

• Increase management inspection frequency for units, garages and storage lockers: 

  • (2) times per year for all areas. 

  • Random inspections of a minimum of 25 units to occur quarterly in addition to the bi-annual inspections. 

  • This will begin as soon as the COVID-19 restrictions allow.

• Continue to review Monday police report summary provided by Officer Payne, and document management action taken per incident. 

• Continue monthly call with MPD, Alder, Owner and management company through September 2020. 

• Hire a patrol/security service to begin no later than July 1 to be on site nights and weekends.

• Continue to build relationships and respect with residents. 

• Continue to add on to community programming.

• Community Liaisons have bi-weekly meetings with Management and Ownership 

• Calendar of events will be announced post COVID-19 

• Issue letters of thanks to residents monthly beginning in May for compliance with NO TOLERANCE and tell them we appreciate their help in building a strong and reputable community.

What happens if they don't?

With this legal action, we have specific metrics that Royal Capital Group must follow, or they will face financial consequences.