2019.10.22 WS Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilmember Jacobsen stated he liked the direction CPY was heading and he fully supported the City continuing to support this organization. He explained he was pleased by the partnership CPY had with JMA and believed this was really promising. Councilmember Dunsworth agreed. Mayor Johnson stated she would like to see more businesses in the community being approached by CPY for long-term financial support. Ms. Stewart reported JMA would be assisting CPY with this. Ms. Stewart invited the Councilmembers to consider participating in the Girls Expo in the spring of 2020. Councilmember Jacobsen suggested the Council discuss a policy that would allow for the City to place a link with information about CPY on the City's website, given the fact the City had a partnership with CPY. Renter's Ordinance Discussion Lotter summarized the discussion the Council previously had regarding this topic. He explained the City had a total of 52 rental properties with a total of 3,086 dwelling units. He indicated 71% of the rental units were locally owned. He reviewed several renter ordinances with the Council and requested feedback. Councilmember Dunsworth stated she would like the unit information broke down further to understand the ownership for each apartment complex. Councilmember Jacobsen questioned if the mobile home park should also be included in this data. Lotter discussed the State laws in place that protected mobile home parks from displacement. He noted he could find out if the manufactured home park was rental and what the monthly rates were. Councilmember Allen commented on how rental rates in the metro area have increased and how this has brought about attention from national buyers. Lotter indicated he could scrub the data further for the Council. He asked if the Council was concerned with addressing a change in ownership for rental properties in New Brighton and how this may displace residents. Mayor Johnson stated this was a tough situation and discussed how such an Ordinance may impact the property owners right to sell. She questioned if it was the City's role to get involved in this type of regulation. Councilmember Burg indicated she had the same concerns. She explained she was looking to buy a building herself and reported she has had a hard time finding a building that was well-maintained. She believed the City had regulations in place that protected tenants from having to live in poor conditions. She stated she also did not want to penalize property owners for wanting to update and maintain their properties. Mayor Johnson commented she wanted to protect her residents, but asked if it was the role of City government to be this far over-reaching. She questioned if this should be a County or State role. Councilmember Allen explained that there were cities that believed this issue was important enough to pass an Ordinance. Mayor Johnson understood this to be the case, but noted New Brighton did not have a lot in common with Richfield. Lotter asked if staff should find out more about the City of Hopkins rental program. He explained Hopkins had a great deal of rental property that was doing well in the market. The Council supported seeing this data.