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Human Rights Commission Minutes September 18, 2013 —Draft Minutes Page 5 of 10 185 the Karen community standards were to live in extended families in close proximity to other 186 Karen. 187 188 Ms. Curti stated the City would be assisting to assure that standard human rights were being met 189 with housing. 190 191 Commissioner Thao reported h she understood that bed bugs and head lice were 192 also concerns that needed to be addressed with the housing issues. 193 194 Commissioner Singleton commented some of these issues were the responsibility of the property 195 owners, and questioned what the HRC's role in these issues was. Chair Grefenberg responded 196 that the Karen Community was both unfamiliar with the democratic process and the roles of 197 local, county, and federal government, and that the HRC' s role could be that of teaching and 198 sharing with this new immigrant community on how to become engaged in their new home 199 communities, including civic governance. 200 201 Commissioner Becker understood this to be the case; however, the Karen community was 202 in fear of retaliation when voicing concerns regarding their rental units. In addition, 203 Commissioner Groff noted, the new immigrants did not understand the City's Ordinances. 204 Further discussion ensued regarding the housing concerns for the Karen community. 205 206 Chair Grefenberg f:enomrm °mod -said the HRC could play a useful role in assisting the Karen 207 community and its leaders -to bring these housing concerns bo. to the HRA and the City 208 Council to assure that the immigrants' issues were clearly voiced. 209 210 Public Comment: Chair Grefenberg asked if there was anyone in the audience who would like 211 to comment on this agenda item. 212 213 City Councilmember Bob , Willmus- introduced himself as a city council member and a 214 member of the Roseville Housing and Redevelopment Authority te. tlh%el He 215 emphasized the 216 proposal currently being discussed was not a registration program but a multi -unit rental 217 licensing ordinance which would affect every n 1? *4 f"mi? v rental building of more than four 218 units and would ' ' require these properties to be inspected. The intent was to assure the 219 multi - family properties were complying with City Code, in addition to being safe and secure for 220 Roseville citizens. 221 222 14e Council member Willmus indicated was pleased the Karen community eaffle had come 223 forward and voiced their concerns about units occupied by more than the number of persons 224 currently allowed by the code, in other words possible unintended consequences. He noted the 225 proposed program would go into effect in 2015, thus allowing time to work with some of these 226 groups and address their concerns. He encouraged the HRC to continue to work with the 227 Karen in assessing the draft code 1��. 228