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HRA Meeting Minutes –Tuesday, November 20, 2012 Page 4 1 adopted nuisance ordinance, in an effort to make the City safe and law abiding and provide quality 2 housing in its neighborhoods. 3 4 Mr. Trudgeon briefly highlighted the HRA’ recent strategic planning efforts identifying as one priority 5 the need to create and maintain quality and sustainable housing options; as well as a priority identifying 6 and/or eliminating blight on individual properties and neighborhoods. Mr. Trudgeon advised that it was 7 the HRA’s intent to partner with the City in developing regulations to develop a better understanding of 8 what is actuallyneeded. Mr. Trudgeon assured the public that this was not a random idea, but had been 9 under discussion for over five (5) years in addressing multi-family properties in the community and that 10 those properties remain a good resource for the City. As necessary, Mr. Trudgeon advised that tools 11 were available and some yet to be identified and implemented to address problematic properties. 12 13 HRA Housing Program ManagerJeanne Kelseysummarized the CURA report referenced by Mr. 14 Trudgeon in other first-ring suburbs as well as stand-alone communities, and in rural MN, thirteen (13) 15 communities in all, and compared their best practicesto regulate multi-family housing in a community 16 as potential options.Ms. Kelsey noted that most applicants for licensing were inspected pre-license, 17 usually starting on an annual basis, and thereafter inspections may be based on only a percentage of 18 units annually depending on that initial inspection and conditions found. Ms. Kelsey referenced 19 inspections in Brooklyn Center (basedon the building’s valuation and subsequent rating). Ms. Kelsey 20 noted some use third party inspections versus in-house City staff inspections. However, Ms. Kelsey 21 advised that the most important issue is that penalties were enforced for those properties not kept in 22 order or found in violation of standards, with those penalties dependent on the classification tier, and in 23 conjunction with Police and Fire Departments in coordinated efforts. Ms. Kelsey advised that the HRA 24 and City preferred to emphasis communication and education/outreach efforts with landlords and rental 25 property management to address exterior building code violations, to reduce or eliminate repeat 26 nuisances from criminal activities in those buildings; and potentially through use of a crime-free 27 addendum to lease agreements, providing landlords the ability to evict tenants for that type of violation. 28 29 Mr. Trudgeon concluded staff’s introduction by encouraging input from audience members, or if they 30 preferred, through providing that input via mail, or by e-mail from linking to the City’s website. Mr. 31 Trudgeon stressed the desire to hear all perspectives, and to ensure all have opportunities to share their 32 thoughts, comments, and suggestions. 33 34 Ms. Kelsey reiterated that this discussion is preliminary in nature, and public engagement throughout 35 the process, regardless of the final recommendations. Ms. Kelsey noted that, if attendees signed up on 36 the sheet at the back of the room with their e-mail, staff would include them on future e-mail notices 37 and meetings as the process moved forward to the next step. 38 39 Public Comment 40 Dick Houck, Roseville Resident 41 Mr. Houck referenced his written comments, apparently previously e-mailed, and asked that they be 42 attached hereto and madea part hereof. entered into the record, 43 44 Mr. Houck asked if this was an effort initiated by the HRA or by the City Council. 45 46 Chair Maschka clarified that the City Council would ultimately make the decision on any licensing 47 program; noting that this was an extremely complex issue with multiple and significant alternatives. 48 Chair Maschka noted, from a personal perspective, that his preference was to incentivize positive and 49 responsible rental property ownership and management; and that the intent of the HRA as a body was to 50 continue to glean an understanding of the problem, solutions that work and those that do not, and 51 determine a direction to recommend to the City Council for the community of Roseville. 52 53 Mr. Houck noted that the country had just endured nine (9) months of political rhetoric; and from his 54 perspective, this reeked of another instance of government intruding on private businesses and applying 55 additional fees or taxes from the associated costs of such a program. Mr. Houck stated that “it looks to