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REPORT TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION PREPARED ON OCTOBER 9, 2013 "El 1JUJUX Regarding Karen Initiative October 16, 2013 Item 6.b.b Karen Initiative HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETING OF OCTOBER 16, 2013 Karen Meeting with City Officials: As was discussed at our September 5th meeting with the Karen Organization of Minnesota (KOM), the HRC chair organized a second meeting for the purpose of the Karen leadership directly communicating their concerns to city officials about housing issues, specifically the impact of the HRA- proposed Rental Licensing ordinance. (See attached Summary of Meeting.) That meeting was held on October 2nd at the St. Paul KOM offices. Present were Human Rights Commissioners Grefenberg, Groff, and Thao, HRC staff liaison Carolyn Curti, and Housing and Redevelopment Agency's Executive Director, Jeannie Kelsey and Interim City Manager Pat Trudgeon. In my opinion it was a productive meeting. KOM Executive Director, Chong Vang, fully articulated his organization's concerns about possible unintended consequences of this proposed city ordinance. The HRA's Director Jeannie Kelsey and Interim City Manager Pat Trudgeon explained their objectives in bringing this ordinance to the Council and the context of its origination in 2006. Their intent was to ensure that muti family rental property owners provide and maintain safe and healthy living conditions. (Reference is to lines 37 -38 of September 16, 2013, Recommendation for Council Action prepared by Kelsey and approved by Trudgeon.) From my perspective the dialogue was honest and healthy, and hopefully clarified the real issues and concerns of the Karen. The onus of reporting difficiencies and problems in rental housing will fall upon the City, specifically its Building Inspections Division, and thus Karen renters should not fear retribution from landlords because of complaints they raise. While significant progress seems to have been made on this issue, there remains the concerns of many Karen that City Code limits on the number of residents in individual appartments would pose an undue hardship on many large Karen families. These refugee families often include extended family members and others. The admirable goals of limiting apartment overcrowding and keeping families together should be mutually compatible. These code regulations are not in the currently - proposed legislation, as Kelsey pointed out. They, however, are found in the current City Building Code, and thus Karen concerns in this area need to be addressed. Consequently believe that the HRC should first pursue a mutual understanding of the impact of these occupancy limits with KOM and the City Building Inspections office. Recommendation: For this reason I recommend that the Commission request the Building Inspections office of the Community Development Department to develop an understandable and complete explanation of the meaning and impact of current rental apartment occupancy limits, such effort to be undertaken in collaboration with the KOM and the HRC's Karen Initiative group, and to continue to provide their expertise to resolve any misunderstandings and explore mutually - acceptable alternatives if necessary. Respectfully submitted, Gary Grefenberg, HRC Chair Attachment: Summary of Meeting with KOM, City Staff, and HRC Commissioners