Meeting Date: April 27, 2021
To: Members of the Housing & Redevelopment Authority
From: Mitzi A. Baker, Community Development Director
Title
Presentation on updates to City codes related to Rental Licensing, Property Maintenance and Enforcement.
Body
Action Requested:
The HRA Board will receive a presentation on updates to City codes related to Rental Licensing, Property Maintenance and Enforcement.
Summary Report:
The HRA Board sponsored funds to assist the City with making improvements to the Rental Licensing ordinance and program. WSB and Associates was hired to support this effort. Their staff engage local stakeholders to understand what has worked well with the program and to identify where changes may be warranted. WSB completed surveys of rental tenants as well as property owners/managers, and also interviewed groups with insight on renter concerns/issues. They also researched best practices, drawing from other MN community examples, and identified program and policy changes to consider; reviewed fee structures and administrative tools to inform Northfield; and will develop tools to aid with program administration. Mid-way through this project, it was determined that development of the formal ordinance and code changes would be completed by the City's legal advisor, Flaherty & Hood, P.A. These services were approved to be incorporated into the City's legal services budget.
Draft changes to the City's Rental Ordinance are attached to this report. Two additional policies being prepared will address Nuisance and Citation issues.
Allissa M. Harrington, Attorney with Flaherty & Hood, will present an update to the HRA Board, and will be able to explain how the three Ordinances work to strengthen the rental program and to address other nuisance issues that arise from time to time.
Alternative Options:
N/A
Financial Impacts:
N/A
Tentative Timelines:
The project team anticipate Ordinance language will be ready to present to the City Council in ...
Click here for full text