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