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HRA Meeting
<br />Minutes – Tuesday, November 20, 2012
<br />Page 5
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<br />e one more step of ‘b ig daddy’ taking care of all the issues that private citizens can and should take care 1
<br />of for themselves.” 2
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<br />Mr. Houck suggested that multi -tenant buildings should have their building standards clearly posted; 4
<br />and if discrepancies are found in those buildin gs, it should be the responsibility of those tenants in their 5
<br />own way to report it and take care of it. Mr. Houck opined that the government certainly didn’t need to 6
<br />step into private homes and keep a watchful eye on everything going on around them. Mr. Houck 7
<br />opined that some multi -unit buildings may need that kind of attention; however, he didn’t see a need for 8
<br />government to be involved in people’s private lives and taking care of everything for them. Mr. Houck 9
<br />further opined that society was already so dependent on government that they didn’t’ do anything for 10
<br />themselves. Mr. Houck stated that the only rationale for considering this appeared to be because other 11
<br />cities are doing it; and from his perspective, opined that this should be the last reason to do so. Mr. 12
<br />Houck noted that Roseville was a leader and stood alone, and didn’t need to become a follower. 13
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<br />Mr. Houck, as a duplex owner (and occupying one of the units), advised that he didn’t need to be 15
<br />inspected by the City. Mr. Houck stated that while there were different types of multi -living properties, 16
<br />there needed to be different categories of licenses if this program was implemented. Mr. Houck opined 17
<br />that this looked like a tax to him, and “guess who” paid for the inspections. Mr. Houck stated t hat 18
<br />businesses don’t pay taxes, people do, and any inspection fee would increase their rents. Mr. Houck 19
<br />noted that managing/owning rental properties was a competitive business, just like others, and they 20
<br />didn’t’ need government adding more costs for rente rs to pay. Mr. Houck opined that it was frustrating 21
<br />to see people in government decide to take action to protect people in their own environment whey they 22
<br />should do so themselves. Mr. Houck further opined that, in this country, people had the freedom to take 23
<br />care of their own doings. 24
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<br />While mentioned in his introductory statement, Mr. Trudgeon clarified that this program would 26
<br />implemented, if that was the recommendation, for those rental properties of five (5) units or more; but 27
<br />that duplexes, triplexes, quads, or single family rentals would be exempt. Mr. Trudgeon noted that 28
<br />those smaller rentals would still need to register with the City, but no inspections were intended to be 29
<br />associated with those smaller units. 30
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<br />Mr. Houck advised that he lived adjacen t to several multi -family buildings, and when he observed an 32
<br />issue, he called their management office to take care of it, which they typically did and took care of 33
<br />their properties as necessary. 34
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<br />Don B rohman , Non -Roseville Resident owning/managing Rosevill e Multi -Tenant Properties 36
<br />Mr. Brohman offered his credentials as a Certified property manager with the Association of Property 37
<br />Management; member of the Multi -Family Housing Association for almost three (3) decades; former 38
<br />(now retired) manager of housing for Washington County HRA for eight (8) years leaving those 39
<br />properties better than he found them; and after his retirement in 2007 manager of other rental units, 40
<br />including 150 units throughout the seven (7) metropolitan county area owned by the Metropolita n 41
<br />Council. Mr. Brohman advised that, during that time, he had seen many changes, with something new 42
<br />happening every day in the rental industry. 43
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<br />Mr. Brohman opined that, if a rental and housing license program was managed correctly, it could be a 45
<br />good thi ng. However, Mr. Brohman advised that, as a rental property owner, he wanted to be t reated 46
<br />the same as any single -family home owner. Mr. Brohman noted that, as a multi -family rental property 47
<br />owner, he paid significantly higher taxes due to those multiple units, and if the City planned to inspect 48
<br />those properties, they should also inspect single -family homes. 49
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<br />Mr. Brohman noted that, based on his experience, most landlords start out with good intentions, and 51
<br />makes a sizable investment in their properties. Having done a lot of work, as a commercially property 52
<br />receiver for the court system, Mr. Brohman noted the experiences faced by a number of multi -tenant 53
<br />properties, as well as single -family homeowners, who had gotten under water on their properties in the 54
<br />previous lending market. Mr. Brohman noted this had impacted mortgages across the board for housing 55
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