City Council - 07/17/2007 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN FORUM/OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY,JULY 17, 2007 CITY CENTER
5:00—6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOM II
6:30—7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER
CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Phil Young, Council Members Brad Aho, Sherry Butcher, Jon
Duckstad, and Kathy Nelson
CITY STAFF: City Manager Scott Neal, Police Chief Rob Reynolds, Fire Chief George
Esbensen, Public Works Director Eugene Dietz, Community Development Director Janet
Jeremiah, Parks and Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer, Communications Manager Joyce
Lorenz, Assistant to the City Manager Michael Barone, City Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder
Lorene McWaters
Heritage Room H
I. EXTERIOR MAINTENANCE CODE AND RENTAL HOUSING INSPECTION
PROGRAM
A. Property Maintenance Code
Building Inspector Kevin Schmieg presented a PowerPoint update on property
maintenance codes. He said the City has proactively developed its property codes
to decrease the risk of blight and maintain property values. Schmieg said 25 years
is the age at which buildings begin to rapidly deteriorate without proper
maintenance, and the average age of Eden Prairie's single family home is over 20
years.
The exterior building maintenance code requires maintenance of buildings, fences
and other structures so that their physical condition does not detract from the
surrounding neighborhood. Schmieg said there are different types of violators,
from procrastinators to those who do not have the ability (financially and/or
mentally) to make repairs. Schmieg said violators are identified on a complaint
basis; however, many referrals are made by staff members who come into contact
with problems during the course of other City-related work. Once an issue is
identified, an order is issues and owners are informed of available assistance
programs and are given reasonable time to make repairs. Citations are issued to
those who ignore correction orders. Schmieg said the City receives
approximately 20 requests per year, 10 of which involved items covered by the
exterior maintenance code.
Schmieg said he plans to set up an interdepartmental triage process for property
maintenance issues by the end of 2007.
Schmieg said he has received complaints about ongoing siding projects or
dumpsters that have been in place for over a year. He said technically neither is
in violation of the current city code,but more stringent regulations could be
incorporated into the code. Mayor Young said he agrees with concerns about
long term placement of dumpsters and ongoing siding projects.
B. Rental Housing Program
Fire Inspector Rick Hammerschmidt presented a PowerPoint overview of the
Rental Housing Inspection Program. This is a new program that was
implemented in July 2006. The goals of the program include visiting every rental
complex once a year and inspecting every rental unit every four years. The first
step of the program involved identifying rental properties. There are an estimated
500 single family rental dwelling, of which approximately 100 have been
identified. Multi-family dwelling units were estimated, and 5,346 have been
identified. After rental property occupancies were entered into a database,rental
codes, license applications and billing statements were mailed out. Property
managers were contacted to set up inspections.
The first inspections were conducted in July 2006. A total of 932 inspections
were completed in 2006 and 469 units have been conducted to-date in 2007. Five
hundred code violations were identified and corrected in 2006 and approximately
100 to-date in 2007. Common violations include:
• Poorly discarded cigarettes and ashes
• Disconnected or non-operating smoke detectors
• Rated fire doors that were not self-closing and/or latching
• Barbeque grills on apartment balconies
• Electrical extension cords, splitters and holiday lighting
• Candles and incense on combustible surfaces
• Improperly stored flammable liquids
• Emergency lights and exit signs not working
• Excess storage
• Blocked or cluttered exits
• Items hanging on or blocking sprinkler heads
In 2006 five units were condemned for occupancy due to conditions found. Two
units have been condemned for occupancy so far in 2007. In 2006, two tenants
requested assistance due to rental unit conditions, and there have been no requests
for assistance so far this year.
Council Member Aho asked how long an inspection takes. Hammerschmidt said
common areas are inspected first, then he moves on to individual units. An
average inspection takes five to 10 minutes for a unit without any serious
problems. Mayor Young asked how property owners have reacted to the program.
Hammerschmidt said the reaction has generally been positive. He has not heard
any negative comments about the program.
Young asked how single family rentals are identified. Schmieg said staff is still
working on identifying single family rentals. There will be an informational
mailing to homes that are not homesteaded and where the property owner has a
different address.
Council Chamber
II. OPEN FORUM
No one spoke at Open Forum.
III. OPEN PODIUM
No one requested to speak at Open Podium
IV. ADJOURNMENT