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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />MAY 22, 1996 <br />will arise with other apartment complexes in the City. <br />Boss pointed out that putting $50,000 into sprinkling <br />of an apartment building will increase the value of the <br />property with no increase in property taxes. Boss <br />urged the Mayor and Council to look at the issue again. <br />Morelan stated that a number of communities across the <br />country have enacted ordinances requiring commercial <br />buildings to be sprinkled within a certain timeframe. <br />This way the business owner has some warning and can <br />plan for the expense. <br />The Administrator suggested that the City can require <br />sprinkler systems as a condition of issuing housing <br />revenue bonds and could dedicate its 1% fee toward the <br />expense. The Administrator pointed out that with The <br />Providences, the City did not have time to deal with <br />the issue effectively. If the Council felt it an <br />important issue, we could qet a policy in place and <br />have this issue identified early in the process so <br />negotiations between buyer and seller contemplate this <br />change. <br />Fahey was concerned that requiring installation of a <br />sprinkler system would deter property owners from <br />rehabing a property. <br />Morelan pointed out that a fire similar to the Grand <br />Pre' fire will happen again in the City. It was very <br />fortunate that no one was seriously injured in that <br />fire. Morelan stated sprinkler systems save lives. <br />Morelan suggested that either the City adopt an <br />ordinance settinq a time limit for retrofitting of <br />apartment buildings or require retrofitting as a <br />condition of issuance of housing bonds. <br />Scalze felt if sprinkler systems were a necessity, the <br />City should adopt an ordinance requiring retrofitting <br />within a certain time limit. Scalze stated, however, <br />that she would not want to force retrofitting unless it <br />was in conjunction with a renovation. <br />Pedersen pointed out that the renovation at The <br />Provinces did not involve enough structural changes to <br />require retrofitting. The Provinces rehab only <br />involved new appliances and carpeting. <br />Morelan agreed tying retrofitting to the issuance of <br />revenue bonds could deter a property owner from <br />rehabing a building. Morelan felt if retrofitting was <br />important enough, it would be required within a certain <br />4 <br />