2022.10.11 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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September 27, 2022 Page 5 of 7 licensing and inspection program to include single family home rentals and duplex rentals. Updates as directed by Council have now been incorporated into the Ordinance, and the draft is now ready for final consideration. Staff commented on the proposed Ordinance in further detail noting language changes that were made based on previous Council comments. He reported the Equity Commission reviewed this Ordinance and recommended approval. Councilmember Dunsworth commented this Ordinance was brought to the Council based on resident complaints. She indicated this Ordinance would provide the City with a way to address rental properties that have become a concern. She hoped this Ordinance would benefit both landlord and tenants in residential rental housing going forward. Councilmember Allen stated there has been a rise in single family rentals in New Brighton. He hoped this Ordinance and the proposed inspection program would address the concerns that have been raised from these properties. He explained he appreciated the proposed tiered system and noted staff would now have the tools to take action against landlords that were not willing to work with the City. He appreciated the fact that minimum standards would now be in place for single-family rental housing. He thanked the City Council and staff for working on this Ordinance and rental licensing program. Councilmember Abdulle explained he appreciated this Ordinance and what the inspection program will do to improve the quality of the City’s housing stock. He reported he has been a renter longer than he has been a homeowner and he encouraged the City to educate renters to make them aware of the fact inspections were completed for their safety. He thanked staff for all of their efforts on this program and Ordinance. Councilmember Axberg thanked Assistant Director Gozola for all of his work on this Ordinance. She requested further information regarding the Class A and Class B licenses. Assistant Director of Community Assets and Development Gozola commented on the differences between the Class A and Class B licenses, noting multiple failures would put landlords into Class C. Councilmember Axberg asked if the renter had to be present during an inspection. Assistant Director of Community Assets and Development Gozola reported the renter does not have to be present, but the landlord would have to be present. Councilmember Axberg questioned if something was not compliant, such as a hand railing, would this have to be brought into compliance when a property was inspected. Assistant Director of Community Assets and Development Gozola reported legal non-conformities, such as an outdated railing, could remain in place if built according to code when constructed. He explained staff would call the legal non conformities out to landlords in order to make them aware of the issues in order to encourage the landlords to correct them in the future. Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas thanked staff for all of their work on this Ordinance. She appreciated the fact that the inspection team would be making recommendations to the landlords. She reported this Ordinance does not apply to a single family home where someone is renting a room and the owner is present, rather this Ordinance applies to rentals where the owner is not present. Assistant Director of Community Assets and Development Gozola stated this was correct. Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas requested staff speak to the term significant romantic relationship and asked why this did not read domestic partnership. City Attorney Sonsalla stated she did not come up with this term, but rather this came from Rachel Tierney, the St. Paul City Attorney. Councilmember Dunsworth reported domestic partnership was a legal term and people do file for this. However, it was her understanding this term has been removed from a lot of legal paperwork. Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas thanked staff for reviewing the eviction language and for providing the flexibility to seek legal counsel before evicting tenants. She indicated this was a pretty substantial Ordinance and she appreciated how thoughtful the City was through the entire process. She appreciated how the Council came together collectively to bring this Ordinance forward. Councilmember Abdulle asked how the City was defining blood relative. Assistant Director of Community Assets and Development Gozola explained this included parent, grandparent, step-parent, step-child, child, grandchild, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew or niece. This relationship may be by blood, marriage or persons involved in a significant romantic relationship or those who share a child. Councilmember Allen questioned if there was consideration about giving a copy of the inspection report to the renters. Assistant Director of Community Assets and Development Gozola stated this direction could be