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Holsten asked Teague about roomers and boarders. The ordinance would still allow roomers and boarders. <br />Teague responded affirmatively. Thomsen pointed out it only allowed two roomers or boarders. The City <br />Attorney’s interpretation of that was that roomers or boarders are typically considered to those who are <br />paying room or board. Holsten stated that, assuming the people are paying rent, are they part of the four <br />unrelated people or are they part of two roomers or boarders. Under the family definition, they could stay. <br />Under roomers or boarders, that would be too many people. <br /> <br />Baker stated in the example, there would be eight people in the house, which would be in violation. Holsten <br />said, if one mother had two children and there were seven people living in the house, would that be <br />complying? Baker said that would not comply with the ordinance. Holsten said the City Attorney could come <br />in then and say there are too many people in the house. <br /> <br />Zisla stated we could go on and on with this. There could be two sisters and their children and that would <br />comply. We could get into a morass. Zisla said he would like the record to reflect that his decision would have <br />nothing to do with the comment about the race of the battered women in the shelter. Zisla stated he certainly <br />would not want that issue to come up in litigation that this Planning Commission or City Council did <br />anything but on the record say it was an inappropriate comment and absolutely irrelevant. O’Brien concurred <br />with Zisla’s remarks. <br /> <br />Holsten said her issue was how do these two sides of things interact. How do the primary use and the <br />accessory use interact? It is not clear. Baker stated, as he interprets the ordinance, there are two ways to <br />qualify in the ordinance. The household is related by blood, marriage, adoption, or foster care living <br />arrangements or four or more unrelated people living in the same household. The two cannot be combined; it <br />is either one or the other. Holsten responded that Ms. Thomsen said they could be combined. Baker stated he <br />believes it is either one or the other. Holsten said she would suggest that point be made more clear. The <br />question of roomers and boarders living in a house should be more clear also. Holsten thanked the <br />Commission for its time. <br /> <br />Thomsen stated she wanted to make sure she understands. The intent would then be that, any number of <br />persons, all of whom are related by blood or marriage would be permissible. But, in any situation where not <br />all of the persons are related by blood or marriage, the maximum number allowed would be four. Baker stated <br />that would be the case in a family unit. Baker stated there could be more than four when there are boarders, <br />which could be two more. Thomsen answered affirmatively. Baker asked if the commissioners agreed with <br />this interpretation. Schiferl stated his original thought had been for the wording to be and/or as relates to four <br />persons; however, that wording may not be the tenor of the group. Baker responded that the wording should <br />not be combined. Baker stated there should be a semi-colon inserted to separate the items. <br />Schiferl drew the Commission’s attention to the Ms. Holsten’s letter on roomers and boarders. Is the <br />stipulation of compensation in the present ordinance? Thomsen responded the current ordinance does not <br />include the language, “whether for compensation or not for compensation.” The ordinance simply says that a <br />permitted accessory use is the keeping of not more than a total of two boarders and/or roomers. Schiferl <br />stated that Holsten’s language would begin to address some issues of unrelated people, but would get around <br />the issue of narrowly defining a boarder as someone who lives there for compensation. A family and a couple <br />of other unrelated folks would be part of the household. <br /> <br />Baker stated he had no problem with the language presented by Thomsen. The addition of a semi-colon after <br />household use would make it clearer. Thomsen proposed new language that would answer the Commission’s <br />concerns. The addition of a semi-colon after the word “individual” and striking the word or and the next <br />clause would be: “Two or more persons, all of whom are,” and inserting a semi-colon after “housekeeping <br />unit.” The new language defining family would be: <br /> <br />A. An individual. <br /> <br />I:\COMMISSIONS\PLANNING\MINUTES\1999\12-21-99.WPD <br />5 <br /> <br />