CC_Minutes_2007_0122 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The group reviewed data, heard from codes, building, police and fire staff as well as reviewed other ordinances and their effectiveness, particularly the Bumsville Ordinance. Over the course of their meetings, the group agreed that the following were key issues regarding rental housing and housing codes in general. o Lack of accurate data on rental properties o Staff lack of authority to enter properties suspected of overcrowding o Protracted process for resolving complaints o Too many cars and lack of adequate parking o Implementation of the new Property Maintenance Ordinance Based upon the knowledge and observation regarding existing codes and issues associated with rental housing, the Citizen Advisory Group is bringing forth the following recommendation for the Roseville HRA and City Council. Recommendation #1 - Strengthen the administrative ticket tool attached to existing ordinances by: a) creating and escalating fine structure and b) working with Ramsey County tax collection to add unpaid administrative tickets as an assessment on the property tax. Discussion items: o This will address enforcement of property maintenance violations. o This would not address issues of overcrowding, parking, and interior problems. Recommendation #2 - City Council take action to allow code enforcement staffto initiate a court citation process without a public hearing by the City Council, with the understanding that there would be safeguards in place to prevent abuse of the process. Discussion item: o This might still seem to complaining citizens like a long time for response, because there is a 30-day notice period before the City initiates action against the violator. However, staff experience is that once explained, citizens seem to understand and accept this restriction.