09-28-2016 Workshop Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP SEPTEMBER 28, 2016 The Associate Planner stated that some building maintenance standards were added, but staff chose not to use International Building Code standards because the whole code must be adopted, and it includes more than staff feels is necessary. She stated that for all code enforcement notices, other than for grass, people are given a chance with the first notification to fix the problem without the threat of abatement, although the second notice will state that the City will abate if not corrected. The Associate Planner stated that the current process for abatement procedures is a notice mailed to the property owner and posted on the property with a fair amount of time given to comply. She stated that if there is no compliance by the deadline, it will be put on the next City Council agenda to authorize abatement. She noted that this process takes at least a few weeks before the problem gets taken care of. She explained that the new standard would give the property owner the option to appeal the abatement within a short amount of time, and the appeal would go to Council, otherwise staff will directly proceed with the abatement. She stated there is a new summary abatement process for when there is a threat or immediate need to resolve an issue. She noted that a major abatement is when costs could exceed $5,000, and this would go to Council first for authorization. The Associate Planner stated that vegetation abatements will have no Council action, and the notice will give three days for removal and then abatement. She explained that if a property receives a vegetation notice once, it will then be in force all season, and the next time there is an issue the owner will be given only two days to comply before a contractor is sent out. She noted that the cost recovery process is the same, but more administration fees will be added for multiple instances. She stated that if abatement costs need to be assessed, the property owner will be mailed a notice of the charges, the City Council will authorize the assessment and then it will be sent to Ramsey County to certify on the next year's property taxes. The Associate Planner stated that language is being added for graffiti into the nuisance code. She explained that this puts what the City has already been doing into an ordinance. There was Council consensus to move forward with the proposed amendments to better address code enforcement and abatement actions. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:27 p.m. `'Jolns . Keis, Mayor Attest: Joel 4nson, City Administrator