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HRA Meeting Minutes –Tuesday, November 20, 2012 Page 7 1 are not in your units, you couldn’t know what was going on, and small problems could become big. 2 Mr. Brohman opined that requirements for a report of unit inspections was a good idea; as it was 3 possible for things to get out of hand depending on how much cash flow was available. Mr. Brohman 4 encouraged working together with landlords/owners to provide assistance in repairing or rehabilitating 5 buildings. While recognizing that a few landlords may be simply milking properties, Mr. Brohman 6 suggested that they may started out with good intentions, and usually their reason for not protecting 7 their investment may be directly tied to a lack or limited cash flow. 8 9 Chair Maschkaasked Mr. Brohman for suggestions on training assistance by the City for first-time 10 multi-family building owners or managers. 11 12 Mr. Brohman opined that the best resource for that training from various perspectives would be found 13 through the Minnesota Multi-family Housing Association, noting that Ms. Peilen was present at 14 tonight’s meeting. Mr. Brohman noted his involvement with the Association and their assistanceand 15 training, as well as for those first-time investors in rental housing and how to get started. Mr. Brohman 16 noted that first timers quickly found out it wasn’t easy, and while multi-family housing was a great idea 17 and some owners in the market continued to do well, they were probably those involved in such an 18 association. Mr. Brohman suggested that through opportunities such as this listening session, and 19 through working closely with such associations would be a good route for the HRA. 20 21 Chair Maschka opined that bringing the expertise of those various associations made sense. 22 23 Mr. Brohman noted that, if you didn’t get a good return on your investment, it made it difficult to put 24 more money back into the property, and the housing stock then continued to deteriorate. Mr. Brohman 25 reiterated the need for the HRA to help landlords work through that process. Mr. Brohman advised 26 that, to-date, Roseville had been very good to work with, and he had been managing properties in the 27 community since 1985. 28 29 Chair Maschka questioned if it would be of any help for landlords to have a written statement from the 30 City saying they had been inspected and approved, or if that helped them in leasing situations; and 31 whether the HRA could be of any advantage to them from that perspective. 32 33 Mr. Brohman responded that it might prove of benefit; however, suggested that Mr. Peilen could speak 34 to that better than him. Mr. Brohman advised that, as a personal practice, he made sure every unit when 35 turning over had been painted and refurbished as needed; and he felt strongly that if he wouldn’t want 36 to live in a unit, no one else should be expected to rent it. 37 38 Chair Maschka thanked Mr. Brohman for his helpful input; and in response, Mr. Brohman offered his 39 assistance –as well as thatof his peers –as requested by the HRA. 40 41 Chair Maschka noted that it was the City’s interest in providing good, livable housing; and this process 42 was to determine how best to get there. 43 Mr. Brohman noted that, in his work with the Metropolitan Council, this was a goal shared by 44 everyone: affordable housing. Mr. Brohman opined that, overall, Roseville had good rental housing 45 stock. 46 47 Brian Jones, Rental Proper Owner in Roseville; Member of MN Multi-Family Housing 48 Association 49 Mr. Jones advised that his situation was unique, as an owner of forty (40) townhome units on the west 50 side of Roseville, adjacent to the Village of St. Anthony. In reviewing the CURA report, Mr. Jones 51 expressed his concern, as well as many of those owners attending tonight, in potentiallicensing fees. 52 Mr. Jones stated that, as good property owners, they were not concerned about inspections, since they 53 felt their properties were solid with good management, it didn’t really matter, and any violations found 54 would most likely be minor in nature, or no violations would be found at all. 55