CCWS 05-15-2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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May 15, 2006 4 , City staff s concerns with adopting a proactive or hybrid system is that code enforcement will entail additional staffto handle the effective enforcement of housing maintenance violations. Community Development Director Barton said that the City currently utilizes section 600 of the City Code, and portions of several other sections. In order to be more proactive and effective in our enforcement program, City staff recommends that the City adopt a housing maintenance code or property maintenance program. Building Official Dave Scherbel noted that the Cities of Roseville and Blaine have recently adopted the International Property Maintenance Code. Councilmember Grant said that his concern with the reactive form of code enforcement is that residents don't complain about the neighborhood problems and the property values in Arden Hills begin to decrease. The City's goal should be to maintain our current housing stock. Councilmember Grant proposed that the City Council should allow City staff to concentrate on a few major clean-up issues each year. Building Official Dave Scherbel said that the City of Roseville recently passed the International Housing Maintenance Code to prioritize housing issues for the City and to protect the City's housing stock from deteriorating. e Councilmember Grant asked if the adoption of a housing maintenance code would increase the building department's work load. Mr. Scherbel said that the proposed change would result in more work for staff, but it would also give the City another tool to enforce maintenance code violations. Councilmember Larson said that a housing maintenance code will be necessary for the City to resolve on-going housing maintenance code issues in the City. A housing maintenance code would be a tool for to allow staff to do their job more efficiently and effectively. Councilmember Pellegrin said that he was in favor of a hybrid plan. He would like to see a more proactive system to deal with code enforcement issues. It should be staff s professional discretion whether or not a violation is dealt with quickly even though it has not been reported to City hall. Members of the City Council were in agreement that City staff should take a more proactive stance in regards to code enforcement violations. It is important for the City to begin protecting the market value of the City's housing stock. A sub-committee including Mayor Aplikowksi, Councilmember Grant, members of the Planning Commission, and residents was recommended to review the possibility of implementing a property maintenance code and perhaps a "Point of Sale" housing program for the City. , Councilmember Pellegrin was excused from the meeting at 6:45 PM.