Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Ass't Community Development Dir/HRA Executive Dir. Frolik advised an abatement program <br />would need to include a budget that would take into account the clean-up cost being assessed to <br />property owners' taxes and not being collected for several years. In situations that involve <br />vehicles that are left more than a certain number of days the tower would have the right to <br />dispose of the vehicle. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen suggested implementing a policy that would provide the incentive of not <br />issuing a criminal citation to property owners that pay the abatement fees immediately. <br /> <br />Police Chief Way pointed out if a citation were to be issued because the property owner did not <br />pay for the abatement and the City lost in court, the clean-up cost would have already been <br />incurred. <br /> <br />Ass't Community Development Dir/HRA Executive Dir. Frolik suggested Council discuss <br />whether there is interest in proceeding with the administrative hearing process. <br /> <br />/ <br /> <br />Police Chief Way reported in 2006, 459 calls were taken by staff; 109 were handled by <br />Community Service Officers and 29 citations were issued. Of the 29 citations that were issued, 2 <br />went to court. In 99% of the cases the property is cleaned up after a letter is sent. <br /> <br />Councilmember Jeffrey inquired what the reason would be for not proceeding with <br />administrative penalties. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen stated the administrative process would rapidly remove the problem <br />- without dragging it through the court system, which gives unpredictable results. It keeps the <br />process in-house, removes the problem rapidly and helps the property values without lingering <br />neighborhood problems over the years it takes to prosecute. Notice is given and 20 days later the <br />problem is remedied. When a complaint is received in Coon Rapids the code enforcement <br />officer visits the property, and if it is determined there has been a violation she gives notice to <br />the property owner and allows 20 days or the City will be in charge of the clean-'up. If the <br />property owner remedies the situation there is not a charge. He believes Ramsey should take it <br />one step further and allow an initial charge for the code enforcement officer's work. Coon <br />Rapids also has an Excessive Consumption of Service Ordinance that includes progressive costs <br />for properties that need to be continually addressed. <br /> <br />City Attorney Goodrich indicated if Council is interested in proceeding with the administrative <br />hearing process staffwill come back to Council with options to consider. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen suggested the ordinance designate one of the City's boards as the <br />administrative hearing officer, rather then a lawyer. <br /> <br />Police Chief Way suggested the ordinance be drafted similar to the tobacco ordinance, with <br />either option allowed for situations when the timeline of the designated board does not work well <br />with the process. He indicated the hearing officer would be the City's cost ifan individual is <br />successful in their appeal. <br /> <br />City Council Work Session / May 1,2007 <br />Page 6 of 16 <br />