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performance-based fee reductions to reward good landlords. <br /> In Minneapolis, stellar properties not only get less frequent inspections but they also get fee reductions. Blaine gives <br /> out fee discounts to property owners who pass inspection without any code violations. The City of Saint Paul does <br /> not have rental licensure program,per se, and instead requires that landlords get their property a certificate of <br /> occupancy from the fire inspector. Landlords do not have to pay any yearly registration fees but are required to pay <br /> $100 every time the fire inspector visits which ranges from every 6 years for stellar properties to every year for <br /> ones with lots of major violations. <br /> Some cities have implemented additional steps beyond inspections in order to achieve their local goals, largely <br /> focused on crime prevention. Several cities including Coon Rapids, Brooklyn Park, and Shakopee require landlords <br /> to take Crime Free Housing crime prevention training. These cities report that while landlords often complain <br /> initially about this requirement,most end up giving high marks to the training after completing it and say it was <br /> well worth their time. Cities such as Columbia Heights, Maple Grove, Bloomington, and Shakopee require that <br /> landlords build crime-free language into their leases that mandates the eviction of tenants who break certain laws. <br /> These same cities also require background checks on tenants to ensure that landlords know who they are renting to. <br /> Other Cities' Reflections on the Effectiveness of their Programs <br /> Ramsey city staff interviewed representatives from fourteen metro area cities to gain insight into the effectiveness <br /> of their programs and public reaction. The sentiment was overwhelmingly positive in favor of rental licensing <br /> programs. The only people who dislike the programs, according to most cities,were the landlords that encounter <br /> multiple infractions.No cities were able to provide empirical data in support of their programs but most of those <br /> surveyed indicated that the city was seeing the results that they wanted, either improved home maintenance or a <br /> reduction in police calls. The only city surveyed that has repealed an established rental licensing program, <br /> Chanhassen. This community did so because they felt that all of the problem properties had been brought up to <br /> code and the City Council decided that the program was no longer a good use of staff time. It is also worth noting <br /> that Chanhassen's program was unusually burdensome and had very frequent mandatory inspections that made it <br /> unpopular in the community. <br /> Existing Tools for Property Maintenance and Tenant Rights <br /> In the event that the City Council chooses not to move forward with further analysis, it is important to note that <br /> other tools exist for the City and its residents. These programs include,but are not limited to: <br /> .Ramsey Public Nuisance Code <br /> .Ramsey Property Maintenance Code (condition of buildings) <br /> .Ramsey Off-Street Parking Ordinance <br /> .Ramsey Zoning Code <br /> .Ramsey Building Code <br /> .Anoka County Community Development/Housing and Redevelopment Authority <br /> .Attorney General <br /> Notification: <br /> Notification is not required at this time. <br /> Observations/Alternatives: <br /> Observations: <br /> As step 1, Staff is seeking authorization to begin a work plan to first answer the question as to whether or not <br /> changes need to occur to the City's current Residential Rental Licensing Program. The plan would be to follow the <br /> City's standard citizen engagement platform for land use policy. Each step in the process would center around a <br /> citizen-focused engagement process. <br /> Alternatives <br />