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2008 Mounds View Comprehensive Plan <br />________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Housing Condition <br /> <br />The City Council has recognized that as Mounds View continues to mature, there is a need to <br />emphasize the maintenance of the housing stock and to protect the quality of life in the <br />neighborhoods. Initiatives such as an increased code enforcement effort and a rental housing <br />licensing ordinance are specific actions the City has implemented to help achieve this goal. <br /> <br />Most of the property owners in Mounds View maintain their properties according to the City’s codes <br />and standards. For those properties that have significant code violations, the City attempts to work <br />with property owners by setting a timeframe for the correction of the violations. If they need <br />financial assistance, the City will refer the owners to the Housing Resource Center for help. The City <br />will take further code enforcement action if the owner does not make progress to remedy the <br />violation. <br /> <br />The City also administers an annual licensing program for rental housing units to ensure that the <br />owners maintain the units and complexes in accordance with the City’s property maintenance and <br />housing standards. There is a variety of types of rental housing in the city including apartment <br />complexes, senior housing, townhome developments and single-family units. The maintenance of <br />these units is a concern for several reasons, including the age of the housing stock. The majority of <br />the single-family detached and attached housing units have entered the stage of life where they need <br />significant repairs or improvements beyond routine maintenance. Licensing enables the City to <br />ensure these owners maintain these units and properties in a manner that provides decent housing for <br />residents and upholds the property maintenance standards of the City. Other issues associated with <br />rental housing reflects the property owner’s responsibility to assure that residents who occupy these <br />units are able to pursue lifestyles that are safe, secure and do not create nuisances for nearby <br />property owners. <br /> <br />This program includes the review of license applications for outstanding code enforcement issues, <br />conduct violations or concerns and unpaid utility bills. City staff also does property and housing <br />inspections to ensure compliance with the City’s property maintenance and housing standards. City <br />staff inspects all residential rental units to ensure the properties meet Fire Code and life safety <br />standards. The city code also allows the City to abate any nuisance code violations such as weeds <br />and long grass, junk, debris, and nuisance vehicles, and also do emergency abatements when <br />necessary. The City uses weed abatements to address properties with vegetative growth that exceeds <br />city standards. <br />Chapter 4: Housing <br /> <br /> <br />4-11