Agenda - Council Work Session - 12/10/2024

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CC Work Session Meeting Date: Primary Strategic Plan Initiative: 2. 3. 12/10/2024 Create a positive image for residential neighborhoods, business districts and key corridors. Information Title: Continued review of the draft Rental Housing Licensing Inspections Policy Purpose/Background: At the Council's work session on November 12, the City Council discussed concerns with various inspections aspects of the Rental Housing Licensing and Inspections program. At the regular meeting that night, the Council introduced an ordinance to remove the Crime Free Housing component of the program. Staff stated that we would come back with a separate action to for the inspections portion of the program so not to hold up the property owners' and managers' concerns about finding a Crime Free class to take. That ordinance was adopted on November 26. At that night's work session, Council discussed the first two pages of the draft policy. The attached draft includes strike-through/underline text to highlight what was changed based on the discussion. After review of City Code, it was determined that a policy document would be more appropriate to address Council concerns surrounding the tenant's right to privacy. Attached is a draft of the policy that staff has been working on. In researching examples of such policies, there does not appear to be much for Minnesota communities. Other examples were found from Iowa and Colorado, but not considered completely due to differences in their states' laws regarding inspections and rights to privacy. A policy is adopted by resolution (one trip to Council) versus a change in City Code that is adopted by ordinance (two trips to Council). State Law does authorize communities to have rental inspections programs surrounding maintenance of the structure and unit while balancing a tenant's right to privacy. State Statute 504B.211 is attached to this report. Ramsey's Rental Housing Licensing and Inspections program is modeled after Coon Rapids' and several other communities' successful programs. The program was unanimously approved by the City Council on September 12, 2023. The proposed policy addresses licensing application procedures, background checks, scheduling inspections, the inspection itself, and the inspection report. Recommendation: None at this time. Outcome/Action: Provide direction on the draft in order to bring it back to the January 14, 2025, meeting for more discussion or adoption. Attachments Working Draft Appendix A - Pre -Inspection Checklist State Statute 504B.211 Draft Leave -Behind Note