05-25-05 Council Workshop Minutes

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MAY 25, 2005 However, since the County's and St. Paul's health departments have combined, it is more difficult to geC the needed attention from the County. The Administrator reported that he has reviewed a number of multi-family housing licensing and maintenance ordinances adopted by cities, and included the Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park ordinances for the Council review. Brooklyn Park's ordinance has an extensive inspection program to ensure that rental units are maintained in good condition. They also have a "disorderly premise" provision which establishes a correction process to address problems and puts the multi-family license in jeopardy for not resolving problems. The Administrator reported that the Brooklyn Center ordinance is similar to Brooklyn Park's, however; it establishes a "provisional license" for a complex that does not meet the appropriate standards. The provisional license requires that a complex submit a "mitigation plan" for resolving problems which must be reviewed and approved by the city council. If a complex does not comply with the approved mitigation plan, its license can be suspended, revoked or declined to be renewed. The Administrator reported that the City of New Brighton has had a housing maintenance standard ordinance on the books since the 1970's and have indicated that it has made a big difference in improving housing maintenance in their city. New BrighCOn added a provisional licensing provision to this ordinance within Che last two years, which has also helped get all their multi-family properties in compliance. LaValle asked if the City could adopt a fee that is based on calls per service similar to what was done for the ALC. The City Administrator replied that the provisional license does this. He noted that Brooklyn Park initially adopted a tiered sysCem, and the higher the calls per service, the higher the license fee. However, it has since been removed from their ordinance after a legal challenge. Allan noted the information provided by the Administrator which indicates Chat the City cannot factor in domestic calls and child endangerment calls in relaCion to amulti-family licensing fee. The City Administrator pointed out that even factoring out Chose types of calls, the calls for service at Montreal Courts and The Provinces exceed an acceptable level. Ruettimann noted that in looking at the number of serious calls at these complexes, the fact that there are typically two squads responding as well as other supplemental resources must also be factored in. RueCYimann felt that the number of calls for service could be significantly reduced if these complexes would put in place the recommendations of the Crime-Free