HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-10-03 Council Work Session MINUTES
OF THE WORK SESSION
OF THE EDINA CITY COUNCIL
HELD TUESDAY,OCTOBER 3,2006
AT 5:30 P.M.
Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M. in the Community Room of Edina City Hall. Answering
rollcall were the following members of the City Council: Housh,Hulbert, Masica,Swenson and Mayor Hovland.
Staff present included: Gordon Hughes, City Manager, Heather Worthington, Assistant City Manager, Sherry
Engelman, City Sanitarian, Ceil Smith, Assistant to the City Manager, Cary Teague, City Planner and Debra
Mangen,City Clerk.
Mayor Hovland explained the purpose of the meeting was to receive a report on rental housing licensing from
Heather Worthington,Assistant City Manager.
Assistant City Manager Worthington explained the City had Codes governing housing,nuisance, and disorderly
housing that regulate housing whether the property was owner occupied or rental housing. She added Code
Section 1035.01 covered general nuisances such as public health, attractive nuisances, ice, snow and rainwater,
dead trees, construction materials, firewood and trash. Ms. Worthington reminded the Council the City had in
2004 adopted a "disorderly house' ordinance that addressed habitual violation of laws related to intoxicating
liquor, gambling, prostitution, possession of drugs or firearms, causing nuisances and other disorderly conduct
of owners or tenants. She added the City's Health Department was the enforcement arm for the housing code
and the general nuisance code, while the Police Department enforced the disorderly house code and all other
misdemeanor and felony complaints.
Ms. Worthington presented statistics on code enforcement complains for 2005 and 2006 and discussed with the
Council the nature of the various complaints that were tracked both by the Health and Police Departments. She
also reviewed the results of the eleven Municipal League Cities that were surveyed during her research.
Ms. Worthington concluded her report stating that staff felt the City current Code adequately provided the
necessary tools to effectively address problem properties. She pointed out that many specific complaints were
behavioral in nature, adding those issues would not be handled with a rental housing license program. Ms.
Worthington suggested that perhaps there were revisions and enhancements of the current codes that could
accomplish the desired effect in terms of enforcement.
The Council discussed the various options including increased enforcement using some type of intern,
community outreach and education such as the STAR program, and enhancement of existing code to allow more
proactive approach to "problem" properties. Staff was directed to bring this issue back on the regular Council
Agenda at a later date.
Mayor Hovland declared the meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
G ,
Debra Mangen,Ci lerk