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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 08/21/2012 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM TUESDAY,AUGUST 21, 2012 CITY CENTER 5:00—6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOMS 6:30—7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens, Council Members Brad Aho, Sherry Butcher Wickstrom, Kathy Nelson, and Ron Case CITY STAFF: City Manager Rick Getschow, Police Chief Rob Reynolds, Fire Chief George Esbensen, Public Works Director Robert Ellis, Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah, Parks and Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer, Communications Manager Joyce Lorenz, City Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Lorene McWaters Workshop - Heritage Room H I. POINT-OF-SALE INSPECTIONS Building Inspections Manager Kevin Schmieg presented a PowerPoint on point-of-sale inspections. Schmieg said the City's policy is to develop property maintenance codes in a proactive rather than reactive manner. He said property maintenance codes serve as a means of decreasing the risk of blight while maintaining property values. Schmieg said the age at which homes begin to rapidly deteriorate is 25 years, and the average single family home in Eden Prairie is 27 years. Eden Prairie currently has three property maintenance codes: • Rental Housing Code • Exterior Maintenance Code • Rental Housing Licensure The next step is point-of-sale inspections. Schmieg said he and Fire Chief Esbensen met with local realtors two years ago to solicit their ideas and opinions regarding implementation of a point of sale program in Eden Prairie. Many of the realtors saw the potential good of such a program; however, they also expressed concern about the timing of such a program due to the distressed market. Concerns realtors voiced about programs in other cities included inconsistent inspections, lack of appeals processes, and inspections not being completed in a timely manner. Cities with programs realtors liked are Minneapolis, Bloomington, Golden Valley and Richfield. They particularly liked that web access was available including permit history and inspection information sheets. Features realtors would like to see included in a point-of-sale inspection program include an appeal process, specific timelines,posting of inspection reports,requirements that banks comply with the process, a cap on the value of repairs, inspections completed before listing, and the ability to negotiate repairs between buyer and seller. City Council Workshop Minutes August 21, 2012 Page 2 Schmieg noted that there are currently 130 foreclosed homes in Eden Prairie, and City staff does not know the condition of many of them. The City currently does not have the tools to get inside those homes once they go on the market, unless there is a violation of the exterior maintenance code or they pose a health risk. Mayor Tyra-Lukens asked how Eden Prairie would address concerns raised by realtors. Schmieg said point-of-sale inspection programs run the gamut from inspection-only programs that do not require repairs be made to communities that have very long, detailed lists of items that must be addressed. Schmieg said he favors a blended approach that would consist of a list of core items that would have to meet certain standards as well as a list of optional items that would be left up to the discretion of the buyer. Most cities use a flat rate fee structure,ranging from$75 to $250 per dwelling. Mayor Tyra-Lukens said now seems like a good time for a point-of-sale inspection program since both sales and values are up. Council Member Nelson said she is concerned about older homeowners who have lived in the same house for 40 years and are not able to keep up with maintenance. She is wondering if a point-of-sale inspection program would prevent them from being able to sell their homes. Schmieg said that is generally not a problem in an up market, since buyers are willing and able to make the required improvements. Nelson said she agrees that this is a good time to look at implementing a program. Chief Esbensen said that a charge of$150 to $175 per inspection would likely allow the City to break even. Case said he likes the idea of an inspection program,but would like the opportunity to further discuss the parameters. II. BAC REPORT ON CITY CENTER City Manager Rick Getschow reviewed the Budget Advisory Commission's report on City Center. C.H. Robinson, which leases 67,000 feet of space,has notified the City that it will not renew its lease and intends to vacate the building in March 2014. The Eden Prairie School District's early childhood education program also occupies a portion of the building. Their current lease gives them use of the building until 2023 with an option to extend for 10 years. Getschow said the School District has indicated they want to stay in the building, and their lease will have to be renegotiated. The Budget Advisory Commission's report recommends that the City conduct a market analysis and market the property to find suitable tenants. Getschow said his recommendation is to retain a broker to look at all of the options, including leasing the space to another commercial tenant. Council Member Nelson asked if C.H. Robinson's training room could converted to use by the City as community room, since it is easily accessible. Butcher Wickstrom said there are other changes the City may want to look at as well. Getschow said based on Council input, staff will interview potential brokers in September or October and will bring a recommendation back to the City Council in November. Open Podium - Council Chamber III. OPEN PODIUM A. JAMES SWEZEY—GEESE City Council Workshop Minutes August 21, 2012 Page 3 Swezey described his goose eradication efforts on his property as well as neighboring properties, including city parkland. He said some of his neighbors allow him to move geese off of their properties, while others do not want the geese disturbed. Swezey said he has been warned by the Police that some of his actions constitute harassment, and that he must stop. Swezey said he disagrees with the definition of harassment, and asked to be able to conduct a goose reduction effort similar to the one the Parks & Recreation Department oversees at Eden Lake. (That program involves off-leash dogs chasing away the geese.) Parks and Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer said the program at Eden Lake is conducted on open parkland, not in a residential setting. He does not recommend expanding the program to residential areas. Lotthammer also noted that the City's goose reduction program has significantly reduced the number of geese over the past decade,but they will never be completely eliminated. IV. ADJOURNMENT