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Regular City Council Meeting <br />Monday, August 22, 2016 <br />Page 30 <br />b. Community Development Department Request for Approval of a Resolution <br />Authorizing Abatement Action for Unresolved Violations of Minnesota State <br />Building Code and City Code, 2814 Cleveland Avenue N <br />Interim Community Development Director Kari Collins, Fire Chief Tim O'Neil <br />and Codes Coordinator/Building Official David Englund were present for this re- <br />quest as detailed in the RCA and attachments. <br />Interim Community Development Director Collins provided a brief overview <br />of the request for abatement action, advising other staff was available to provide <br />additional information and respond to any questions of the City Council. Ms. <br />Collins noted the abatement request was prompted by and focused on the severity <br />of life safety issues found by staff in this building. <br />Fire Chief Tim O'Neill explained that staff had taken on a pro-active inspection program after a <br />fire on this site over the winter months, at which time two trailers had burned and firefighters had <br />a difficult time accessing them on the site, prompting further safety inspections by the city. Up- <br />on conducting that inspection, with authorization given by the property and business owners, <br />Chief O'Neill noted forty different code violations, and numerous additional violations under <br />those broader categories. At that time, Chief O'Neill advised that the owners were given a time- <br />line to bring the property into compliance, with the focus on life safety issues as a priority (e.g. <br />egress/ingress exits far employees or visitors to the site, addressing other emergency situations, <br />and reactivation of the building's sprinkler system). Chief O'Neill advised that staff had been <br />working with Mr. Dorso and his representatives since then, but the violations remained undone <br />to-date, even though the owner was apparently working toward compliance. Chief O'Neill ad- <br />vised that once these major life safety issues had been addressed, it was staff's intent to then ad- <br />dress and work with the owners toward compliance for the remaining thirty-nine unresolved city <br />and building code violations. <br />Given the current condition of the building, Chief O'Neill advised that a technical <br />audit was required for assessment under the State of Minnesota Fire Code, with <br />that report received late last Friday afternoon (August 19, 2016) and under review <br />by city staff. Chief O'Neill noted staff had only had time for a summary review <br />of the assessment at this point; and advised they would make a determination <br />within the next few weeks as various departments determine whether or not it ad- <br />dressed the immediate life safety concerns. <br />As evidenced in attachments to the RCA, Chief O'Neill noted the staff time in- <br />vested to-date in site visits, conversations, and correspondence with Mr. Dorso <br />and his representatives. <br />Codes Coordinator/Building Official David Englund noted most code viola- <br />tions involved mechanical and plumbing systems, mirroring those of the Fire De- <br />partment, with the electrical system found in a complete state of disrepair. Mr. <br />Englund referenced ceiling tiles with apparent water damage, impacting the fire <br />code aspect and sprinkler system reactivation. Mr. Englund stated it was staff's <br />