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EnforcingCodesfortheInteriorofUnits <br />Inspectorsstatedthattheycurrentlyusetherepeatpublicnuisancecodetodealwithpropertiesthat <br />haveongoingpropertymaintenanceproblems.Thiscodeappliestoexteriorareasofabuildingonlyand <br />includespublicsafetyconcernssuchashavingexcessivelitteronthecommonareasofaproperty,not <br />havingfunctioningorlockingexteriordoorstothebuildings,andstructureproblems.Inspectorsstated <br />thatthebuildingswiththeworstexteriorproblemsarealsolikelytobeonesthathavesignificant <br />interiorpropertymaintenancecodeviolationsaswell.TheydoreceivereportsfromotherCitystaff, <br />includingpolice,fire,andschoolsocialworkers,aboutconditionsintheapartmentunits,butinspectors <br />areallowedtoactoncomplaintsabouttheinteriorofunitsonlyifthetenantmakesthecomplaint. <br />TenantComplaints <br />Anotherconcernisthatsometenantsareafraidofretaliationfromtheirlandlordssothey7š“x·make <br />complaintsaboutbuildingconditionsandthenthesegetworseovertime.Wheninterviewed,inspectors <br />feltthatthisisaparticularlysalientissueinRosevillebecauseoftherelativelylargepopulationof <br />refugeesresidinginpropertiesthatareknowntohavetheworstpropertymaintenanceissues.Fearof <br />retaliationismorepronouncedinthiscommunity.Additionally,tenantsarelikelytobeunfamiliarwith <br />the/z·äx­propertymaintenancestandardsand/orwiththeirrightsastenantstofileacomplaint. <br />Inspectorsexpressedthatconductingrentalinspectionsonayearlybasiswouldaddressthisbecause <br />theywouldhaveaccesstotheinteriorunitsofthebuildingsatthetimeofinspectionandcouldthen <br />orderrepairs.Theyalsofeltthatprovidingtenantswithinformationintheirunitswouldhelpmake <br />themmoreawareoftheCitystandardsandletthemknowhowtocontacttheCitywhenaviolation <br />remainsuncorrected. <br />Enforcement <br />Inspectorsproactivelypatrolnotoriouslyproblempropertiestomonitorprogressonproperty <br />maintenanceissues.Onceaproblemisdetected,theinspectorsprovideareporttothepropertyowner <br />whoseresponsibilityitistocomplywiththeCitycode.Propertyownersgettwonoticestocomply.Ifno <br />progressismadeoncorrectingtheproblem,theCitymayissueafine,andatthispointtypicallyashort <br />termrepairismade.Iftheproblemisnotcorrectedafterathirdnotice,theCitycaninitiatean <br />abatementprocessinwhichitfixestheproblemandaddsthecostofdoingsotothepropertyšÞ“;©x­ <br />propertytaxes.Becauseinspectionsarefreetothepropertyowner,thereisnoincentivetothe <br />propertyownertohavefewerinspections,buteachinspectiondoesrequirethetimeandresourcesof <br />theinspectionsdepartment. <br />Ifinspectorsdetermineabatementisneeded,theprocessrequiresCityCouncilapproval.Thisisalong <br />processthatinvolvessendingthelandlordnoticeofthecouncilhearing.Atthispoint,inspectorsfind <br />thatthepropertyownersusuallyaddressthebuildingissueinthedaysleadinguptothehearing. <br />AlthoughthisrequiresinspectorsandotherCitystafftoexpendconsiderabletimeandresources,the <br />citycannotimposeafinebecausethepropertymaintenanceissuehasbeenaddressed. <br />4 <br /> <br />