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Meeting date: June 19, 2006 p. 5 of 7 <br />Response: Yes. It is important to work with the colleges on developing an education program <br />for students. <br />Observation: Northwestern College would welc ome the opportunity to wo rk with the City in <br />developing educational strategies and t ools targeted to students and parents. <br />Observation: The building inspection program can be a positive thing, especially since most <br />people want to do things right and will comply. <br /> <br />To wrap-up this portion of the meeting, the advi sory group asked Don what he would like to see <br />happen. He responded by saying the licensing progr am is a good tool and a way for the City to <br />be proactive about the City’s aging housing stock a nd other issues it is conf ronting. It also will <br />free up time for staff to address proble ms with owner-occupied properties. <br /> <br />Survey of Other Cities <br />The group had limited discussion about the survey. One member noted that the survey indicates <br />that 6 cities conduct annual inspections and that this seemed high. Another member noted that <br />owners who fail to show for an inspection are fined. <br /> <br />Proposed Licensing Ordinance <br />The group had several questions about the ordi nance and it implementation and enforcement. <br />Don did his best to field questi on. (As before the questions and answers have been paraphrased <br />and grouped into by topic.) <br /> <br />Licensing Program Design, Implementation, and Enforcement <br />Q: What documentation would be required to pr ove a violation or that a property is rental? <br />A: Eyewitness testimony; evidence from research <br /> <br />Q: Would $30,000 to hire another person to help with enforcement be as effective as another <br />ordinance? <br />A: The City needs another ordinance to a ddress cars and overcrowding. Also, licensing <br />procedures would verify the responsible party. <br /> <br />Q: What are the carrots for the program, especially the small apartments? <br />A: One is to waive an inspection if the property has a clean record. <br />Observation: The program is a good enforcemen t tool, especially when the owner lives out-of- <br />state. <br /> <br />Q: The ordinance seems to have been written for problem properties. For example, page 2-lines <br />6 & 7, why collect the names of the tenant H ead of Household? This could be difficult <br />especially as renters move in and out. Simila rly, page 2-line 43, why no inspection if the owner <br />lives there? <br />A: If the renter calls in a co mplaint, there could be an insp ection. Also, during public hearing <br />process, on-site owners organized to have this provision changed. <br />Observation: This doesn’t seem fair. There could be dangerous conditions in the owner- <br />occupied apartment that would e ndanger others in the building. <br /> <br />Q: Can licenses be pro-rated for “snowbirds” who live in their homes when they are in the state?