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<br />Administrative Fines <br /> <br />This process will include discussion with the City Attorney on what is within the purview of the <br />City authority regarding these fines. In addition, Staff will research to see if any other <br />surrounding communities currently issue administrative fines for property code violations, how <br />those programs work, where commonalities between codes exist, and if it is possible to partner <br />with other communities for code development and/or enforcement. <br /> <br />Implementing a program such as this raises several questions that will need to be addressed <br />through the research process and prior to any decisions being made. Questions such as: <br /> <br />1. What would be the penalties for non-compliance? <br />2. What is the legal process for setting up and authorizing administrative fines? <br />3. What are the costs of the program? <br />a. Start up cost, total staff time required for implementation <br />b. Once the program is up and running, is it or can it be self funding? <br />4. If fines are unpaid, can they be assessed to the property? <br />a. Is it in the form of a lien? <br />b. How are the finds paid to the County transferred back to the City of <br />Arden Hills <br />5. How will fines be collected and how will the Finance Department code them? <br />6. What will be considered a violation and what will the fine be for each violation? <br />a. How many offenses can occur before it goes to the County? <br />b. Rather than the County, would the City use a collections agency? <br />7. Would the City be involved with correcting violations and if so how would funds <br />for this be recouped? <br />8. Who would the City hire to correct violations that have gone uncorrected after a <br />fine is issued? <br />9. Who amongst City staff would be able to write a citation? <br />10. What is the appeal process if someone contests a fine? <br /> <br />In order to better guide the research process and to examine the potential options, staff requests <br />that the Council provide any additional questions and concerns regarding this issue. <br /> <br />Work Plan <br /> <br />As noted in the rental licensing memorandum, staff is recommending that the City first focus on <br />the rental licensing program and then follow up with the administrative fine program. While <br />administrative fines and rental licensing are important programs, staff resources are somewhat <br />limited, particularly with the Comprehensive Plan update, the Old City Hall RFP, and the County <br />Road E plan coming in 2008. If an opportunity exists to combine the research and/or <br />implementation of both programs, staffwill make every effort to do so. If the City Council <br />prefers to start with administrative fines, that program can be done first. <br /> <br />\ IMetro-inet.us\ardenhillslAdminlAssistant City AdministratorWoah\121 007 Administrative Fines Memo.doc <br /> <br />2 <br />