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<br /> <br />Councilmember Abdulle cautioned the City from making this process too difficult because it may discourage <br />homeowners from renting their homes. He questioned if federal fair housing guidelines had to be followed for <br />rentals in the City. Gozola reported this language was included. <br /> <br />Councilmember Abdulle recommended the eviction language be reconsidered noting crime free lease language <br />should be omitted. The Council agreed with this recommendation. <br /> <br />Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas commented not all people renting their home may do this as a business. She <br />discussed how she wanted formerly incarcerated individuals to be able to get through a background check. <br />Massopust reviewed how serious felonies were triggered on background checks and other petty crimes were <br />omitted. <br /> <br />Further discussion ensued regarding what would happen to tenants if a rental license was suspended and how <br />concerns on a property would be remedied. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dunsworth asked if there was a state law that would apply to the evictions process. <br />Massopust stated he was uncertain but noted he could speak to the legal team regarding this matter. <br /> <br />Councilmember Allen encouraged staff to speak with staff from Columbia Heights regarding their residential <br />licensing program. <br /> <br />The Council supported language being added to address mold concerns within a property. <br /> <br />Councilmember Allen stated he supported properties being inspected once every three years if they were <br />complying with the City’s requirements. <br /> <br />Councilmember Abdulle commented on his experience living in rental properties and how items were only <br />fixed prior to inspections and then sometimes items were not checked again for two or three years when the <br />property was inspected again. For this reason, he supported rental properties being inspected every two years <br />and suggested some inspections be done without notice. <br /> <br />Councilmember Axberg discussed how it was inconvenient to attend inspections every other year with her <br />tenants in Coon Rapids. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dunsworth explained she owned a rental property in Minneapolis and she agreed inspections <br />were inconvenient, but she believed they were good for her as a landlord because it builds a positive record. <br />She recommended inspections be required as part of the City’s residential licensing program. She asked if a <br />renters rights meeting should be hosted at the Community Center to assist with educating renters in the <br />community. Massopust reported the City could partner with Homeline to provide this kind of training. <br /> <br />Gozola thanked the Council for their feedback. He noted he would continue to work on this Ordinance and <br />would report back to the Council at a future worksession meeting. <br /> <br /> <br />Worksession adjourned at 6:29 pm <br /> <br />Respectfully submitted, <br /> <br />Terri Spangrud <br />City Clerk