Agenda - Council - 08/24/2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

CASE t1'7.0Q INTRODUCE ORDINANCE TO AMEND ARTICLE FOURTEEN (RENTAL RESIDENTIAL DWELLING UNITS) OF CHAPTER TWENTY SIX OF CITY CODE CASE OF CITY OF RAMSEY By: Amber G. Miller, Planning Manager Background: In 2003, the city initiated a rental licensing program which required every residential rental unit to be licensed by the city. Part of the rental process included a building inspection to ensure the condition of the rental space met city standards as defined in the city code. The license fee is $75 for two years. Analysis: City Council discussed the value of having a rental licensing program at the City Council Work Session on December 1, 2009. The Council directed Staff to bring forward an ordinance to repeal the rental licensing section of City Code at a future Council meeting. The ordinance to repeal was introduced at the January 12, 2010 City Council meeting. When Staff brought back the ordinance for adoption, Council directed Staff to draft alternatives to the repeal for Council to review at a City Council Work Session. Planning Staff worked with the PD and Fire Department to develop alternatives and they were presented to the City Council at the February 23, 2010 Work Session. City Council requested more information regarding one of the options presented regarding an incentive program and asked that Staff develop a sample program and bring it back for their review. A proposed incentive based program was presented to the City Council at the May 4, 2010 City Council Work Session. After a lengthy discussion, City Council reached a consensus that they did not wish to proceed with an incentive based program, but rather wished to exclude single family homes from the existing program and make inspections not mandatory. Therefore, the enclosed ordinance excludes single family homes, has a rental license for all attached units and multi -family housing. Additionally, inspections can be requested, but are not required. Notification: In accordance with State Statute and City Code, the January 12, 2009 public hearing notice for the proposed ordinance was published in the City's official newspaper. With these proposed changes, an additional public hearing notice for the proposed ordinance was published in the City's official newspaper. Funding: Amendments to City Code are handled through normal staff duties.