06-22-2020 Council Work Session Minutes

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION APPROVED 1 CITY OF LINO LAKES 2 MINUTES 3 4 DATE June 22, 2020 5 TIME STARTED 5:30 p.m. 6 TIME ENDED 6:23 p.m. 7 MEMBERS PRESENT Council Member Stoesz, Lyden, RuhIand, 8 Cavegn and Mayor Rafferty 9 MEMBERS ABSENT : None 10 Staff members present: Finance Director Sarah Cotton; City Attorney Jay Squires; 11 Community Development Director Michael Grochala; Deputy Director of Public Safety 12 Police Kyle Liebel; Finance City Engineer Diane Hankee: Human Resources Manager 13 Karissa Bartholomew 14 15 L Nuisance Abatement — Community Development Director Grochala noted that 16 staff would like to update the council on a particular code compliance issue and the 17 nuisance abatement process. As far as code compliance issues, the City responds on a 18 request basis. If complaint is received, normally either the building inspector or the 19 Public Safety CSO will check the site and, if they find a violation, will notify the property 20 owner in writing about the violation and what they need to do to conform and a timeline 21 for completion. A follow up inspection is done. H progress is being made, the City will 22 work with the property owner. Ultimately if the work isn't done, the CSO will issue a 23 citation which goes to the court system and is prosecuted by the City's criminal attorney. 24 The court generally allows for additional time for compliance. The court process would 25 continue if compliance isn't reached. 26 27 Director Grochala then noted the property under discussion (not identified in staff report 28 but information shown in the work session). The property has been an ongoing code 29 enforcement issue mainly dealt with by the Public Safety Department. It was scheduled 30 to go back to court a couple of months ago but that's been delayed due to COVIDI 9. A 31 hearing is now scheduled for July 7 with a jail sentence possible. 32 33 Mayor Rafferty asked how long is given for a property owner to comply? Mr. Grochala. 34 explained that situations are different and, again, if the work is being attempted, the City 35 will work with the property owner and be flexible. 36 37 Director Grochala then noted Chapter 903 of the Lino Lakes Code of Ordinances relating 38 to Nuisance Abatement. Under certain conditions, the code allows the City go onto 39 property and complete necessary work. 40 41 City Attorney Squires explained the legal process of abatement and assessment for costs. 42 The City's code provisions are pretty typical. Staff is presenting a situation that they 43 cannot correct themselves and would like the council to know the options. Under the 44 code there are three options: any violation is a criminal violation and this has been dealt