11-24-08 Council Workshop Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE WORKSHOP MEETING CITY COUNCIL LITTLE CANADA, MINNESOTA NOVEMBER 24, 2008 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a workshop meeting of the City Council of Little Canada, Minnesota was convened on the 24th day of November, 2008 in the Council Chambers of the City Center located at 515 Little Canada Road in said City. Mayor Bill Blesener called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and the following members of the City Council were present at roll call: CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Mr. Bill Blesener Council Member Ms. Barbara Allan Council Member Ms. Shelly Boss Council Member Mr. John Keis Council Member Mr. Rick Montour ALSO PRESENT: City Administrator Mr. Joel R. Hanson Council Mem. Elect Mr. Mike McGraw City Clerk Ms. Kathy Glanzer RENTAL The City Administrator reviewed in detail his report dated November HOUSING 21, 2008 on the proposed rental housing licensing ordinance. He LICENSING indicated that the previous version was based on the Burnsville Ordinance developed in conjunction with the Minnesota Multi-Family Housing Association. However, after reviewing a recently updated South St. Paul Ordinance, the Administrator noted that this ordinance most closely mirrors what the City is trying to do. Therefore, the South St. Paul Ordinance is now being used as the basis for Little Canada's rental housing licensing ordinance. The Administrator then reviewed the major changes included in the proposed ordinance. The first is an expanded definition section. Next the ordinance provides for inspections to be done on a contract basis, as is done in the Cities of South St. Paul and West St. Paul. This method takes the inspection burden of training, time, and costs off the City. Another option would be to allow for alternative inspections meeting certain criteria, such as HUD or mortgage required inspections. The Administrator indicated that a good approach may be to require an independent inspection for the initial license and then allow alternate inspections for subsequent license periods if that first inspection exceeds certain standards. He also noted that South St. Paul may not allow these alternative inspections in the future as they are not as detailed as what is required by the city's guidelines.