Agenda - Council - 09/14/2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CASE # S , O (o 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. 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 then worked with the Police and Fire Departments to develop alternatives that were presented to the City Council at the February 23, 2010 Work Session. City Council requested additional 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. This went back to Work Session on August 31, 2010 where the City Council directed Staff to also exclude townhomes from the ordinance. Analysis: The enclosed ordinance excludes single family homes, including townhomes, and includes a rental license that applies only to multi - family housing. Additionally, inspections can be requested, but are not required; however, if an inspection is not conducted a license will not be issued until such time that the city has determined that the premises are in conformance with all state and local laws and ordinances. Funding: Amendments to City Code are handled through normal staff duties. Recommendation: Recommended that City Council introduce the Ordinance to Amend Article 14 (Rental Residential Dwelling Units) of Chapter 26.