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A copy of the case presented to City Council on October 27, 2015 is attached to this case as background. This <br /> attachment provides important background pertinent to this case, such as an outline of our existing program, <br /> reasons cities implement such a program, and an evaluation of peer community programs. <br /> Notification: <br /> Notification is not required at this time. <br /> Observations/Alternatives: <br /> Observations: <br /> Throughout the first phase of public comment(discuss the program with stakeholders;no amendments yet <br /> proposed),there appears to be some willingness to consider registration of rental properties that would collect <br /> important contact information above and beyond what is available in the County's Tax Database (phone number, <br /> email, alternate contact, etc.). That being said,there is still likely to be some resistance to this policy change. <br /> Required inspections continue to be the top area of concern amongst owners/landlords. Required inspections are not <br /> proposed to be added to the program for single-family homes at this time. <br /> Considering the level of opposition to required inspections and the quality of existing housing stock, Staff believes <br /> a required inspection may be more tool than needed to solve the desired issue. The goal of the analysis has been <br /> prevention, acknowledging a wide spread nuisance or safety issue does not exist. As noted,there are pockets of <br /> issues throughout the community,but to blanket an inspection requirement may be more than what is necessary to <br /> achieve the desired goal. This issue may present itself in the future, and the City can re-evaluate the inspection <br /> requirement in the future. The City can continue to rely on its complaint-based approach for properties of concern. <br /> As the number of individual rental properties has increased over the past decade, so has the number and quality of <br /> professional property management companies. These management companies help individual property owners with <br /> minimal experience to monitor individual properties,daft lease agreements, and provide tenant screening among <br /> other benefits. Staff believes that this is an added value to the rental community and aides the community in <br /> reaching its goal of minimizing nuisances created by rental properties. If the City Council were inclined to require <br /> an inspection, Staff would recommend tapping into this resource and perhaps license and train these companies. <br /> The City would then exempt properties working with a licensed property management company from a City <br /> inspection. This is similar to the City's septic maintenance program.Note: this is currently not included in Staffs <br /> recommended policy direction. Staff does note existing tools the City currently has the following tools at its <br /> disposal. <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 /> . State of Minnesota Attorney General <br /> Alternatives <br /> Alternative 1 -Recommend amendments to the Rental Licensing Programs as proposed. <br /> Alternative 2 -Recommend amendments to the Rental Licensing Program with amendments. <br /> Alternative 3 -Recommend no amendments to the program. Only apartments and condominiums with shared, <br /> internal connections. <br /> Funding Source: <br />