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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, July 27, 2009 Page 6 Discussion included multi-family housing realities that were dictating the need for a rental licensing inspection program, similar to many other suburban communi- ties, while recognizing the numerous issues related to implementation and en- forcement of such a program; and providing demonstrable energy efficiencies for homeowners to realize economic paybacks in pursuing green initiatives. Chair Maschka noted the upcoming groundbreaking at the Har Mar Apartment Complex setting the stage for a model for public/private partnership. Chair Maschka noted that the HRA, as originally charged by the City Council, contin- ued to seek the most cost-effective and productive methods to address the com- munity's ever-changing housing needs and issues. Further discussion included deterioration ofmulti-family housing and the need for a community-wide solution, with the HRA and City Council finding consensus; and potential funding resources to address issues before they became more prob- lematic. Chair Maschka noted a recent meeting he'd hosted with interested parties, includ- ing representatives of the School District, City's Police Department, Northwest Youth & Family Services (NYFS), Councilmember Pust and others to discuss a specific multi-family property on Rice Street and potential remedies; anticipation of upcoming results of the multi-family housing study to provide a sense of the condition of multi-family units in the community. Chair Maschka opined that there was no question that there was deterioration of several large, multi-family units in the community; and that a solution would need to be implemented, since failure to do so would only create more problems aesthetically as well as in safety and crime-related areas. Additional discussion included tl~e complexities in, and approaches used by other communities (i.e., City of New Brighton) in dealing with issues at multi-family complexes, some successful and some failures; financing options similar to that used by the City of St. Louis Park in additional revenues realized through a min- ute fee placed on requests for conduit financing and providing an annual revenue stream to address housing issues. Councilmember Roe opined that there seemed to be a need to first identify the problems and then determine the resources that will work with those particular is- sues and circumstances, as'well as in line with community standards for financ- ing. Councilmember Johnson thanked the HRA for their time and efforts, and ex- pressed appreciation for the job they performed. Councilmember Roe addressed his observations from attending the second portion of the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee and related to redevelopment of housing stock sold by senior citizens within the next 10-15 years. Councilmember Johnson asked HRA mem-