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UniversalRentalLicensing:WestSt.PaulandBurnsville <br />Threeofthe11citiesinterviewedforthisstudyhavetargetedrentallicensingprogram.Theremaining <br />citiesallhaveuniversalrentallicensing,whichmeanstheylicenseandinspectallrentalunitsequally. <br />ThissectionhighlightstheprogramsofWestSt.PaulandBurnsvillebecausetheyofferaninteresting <br />approachtothecostandstaffingchallengesmentionedearlier.Burnsville,inparticular,hasaminimal <br />programthattheyarelookingatrevamping.Thoughitcurrentlylicensesallrentalunits,theBurnsville <br />rentallicensingprogramdoesnotrequireaninitialinspectionwithapplication.Inspectionsarestrictly <br />conductedonacomplaintbasis.Additionally,onlyexteriorandcommonareasofbuildingsare <br />inspected.Asaresult,theprogramcanoperatewithminimalstaffingandwithoutcosttolandlords.A <br />baseandperunitfeeisonlychargedforlicensesthathavebeenrevokedandthenreinstated.Finesfor <br />noncompliancewithrepairordersarebasedonparticipationintheMinnesotaCrimeFreehousing <br />programs..Ò©“­ÝzŒŒ;x­programhasbeenoperationalsince2006.Duetotheirexperiencessince2006, <br />staffstatedthatBurnsvilleisnowconsideringchangingitsordinancetoincludeaninitialinspectionwith <br />therentallicenseapplicationorrenewalbecausedoingcomplaintbasedinspectionsonlyz­“x·solving <br />theproblemstheyarehavingwithmultifamilyproperties. <br />WestSt.Paulhasamorerobustprogrambutmanagestocutdownoncostsbyusingprivateinspectors. <br />Thecitymaintainsalistofcertifiedhousinginspectorsthatlandlordscancontacttoconducttheyearly <br />inspectionsandcomplaintbasedinspections.Allinspectionsresultinareportfromtheinspectortothe <br />propertyownerandthecity.Inspectorswhoworkwiththecityarerequiredtopaya$25filingfee.City <br />staffthenadministerlicensesandanycitations.AsinBurnsville,WestSaintPaulusesparticipationinthe <br />MinnesotaCrimeFreehousingprogramstodeterminepenaltyfeesfornoncompliance.Asaresultof <br />thisarrangementwithoutsideinspectors,thecitycurrentlyonlyrequiresa.75fulltimeequivalent <br />employeetoadministertheprogramandalsoworkswithproperties.ACrimePreventionAnalystwith <br />thepolicedepartmentworkswithparticipantsinthecrimefreehousingprogramsandholdsmonthly <br />meetingswithrentalpropertyowners.The$25inspectionfilingfeeisarecentadditiontoWestSt. <br />tҌx­program.Additionally,licensefeeswerealsoincreasedin2012becausefeesfrompreviousyears <br />werenotcoveringthecostsoftheprogram.WestSt.Paulalsomaintainsarentaldensitymapthat <br />coincideswithitsrentallicensingprogram.Therearealimitednumberofavailablelicensesinanygiven <br />areaofthecity.Ifarentalpropertyownerloseshisorherlicense,thenheorshemustreapplyfora <br />license.Becauseoftherentaldensitylimitations,thiscanpotentiallymeanthatanotherpropertyinthat <br />area,possibleasinglefamilyresidence,canapplyforalicenseinwhichcasethepropertyownerwitha <br />revokedlicensemustwaituntilanotherlicensebecomesavailabletobeabletorentouthisorher <br />property. <br />17 <br /> <br />