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<br />Councilmember Dehen asked why the City would re-inspect a single family residence <br />every two years if it's the same tenant, etc. <br /> <br />Building Official Kaehler described some of the violations they have come across during <br />inspections such as smoke detectors being disconnected, broken windows and screens, <br />and carbon monoxide detectors not working. We check for these types of Code <br />violations every two years. <br /> <br />Discussion ensued relating to inspections, tenants rights to privacy, landlords having no <br />control over what tenants do and tenants having some responsibilities. Councilmember <br />Look commented that the City has no right to go into a private residence under public <br />safety and tell the resident they might be in danger. <br /> <br />Councilmember Elvig felt that pulling licensing off completely is a huge step backward. <br />He suggested that subsequent Councils would probably put it right back in. He stated he <br />understood the privacy issue but at the same time you have landlords who rent out <br />substandard dwellings. Landlords can inspect that property anytime. The City should be <br />able to look at it at least when it changes tenants. <br /> <br />Discussion ensued regarding the type of inspections and the provisions for doing so. <br /> <br />Councilmember McGlone stated that landlords have no rights. Other ordinances handle <br />blight - our ordinance is not very good with lease to own or contract for deeds. Tenants <br />do stuffthat is not compliant but the landlord is the guy you go after. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen stated that eliminating this would be a mistake. Inspections are a <br />good tool to prevent bad landlords from having the ability to rent out substandard <br />property. <br /> <br />Councilmember Jeffrey stated he is not in favor of removing this language either. <br /> <br />Councilmember Look stated that we are using this tool to control rental property. It's <br />against the law to do this. This is discrimination. He noted lack of screens is not a public <br />safety issue. We are making people do stuff that we do not make anyone else do because <br />it's rental property. <br /> <br />Councilmember Elvig stated he is not concerned about what is not a danger but he is <br />concerned about what is dangerous for a family. He suggested getting rid of the language <br />we do not want or need but keep some of the language in the Code. <br /> <br />Councilmember Look stated that tenants are not forced to be in a property - people <br />vacate these types of properties. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen felt we need some leverage. <br /> <br />City Council Work Session - December 1, 2009 <br />Page 9 of 16 <br />