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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 05-24-1993 SpecialMINUTES STUDY SESSION MAY 249 1993 A special meeting study session of the Plymouth City Council was called to order by Mayor Bergman at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Conference Room of the City Center, 3400 Plymouth Boulevard, on May 23, 1993. PRESENT: Mayor Bergman, Councilmembers Helliwell, Tierney, and Vasiliou.. Councilmember Edson joined the meeting at approximately 5:30 p.m. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Johnson, Community Development Director Ddlerud, Chief Building Official Joe Ryan, Housing Inspector Warren Kulesa, Park and Recreation Director Eric Blank, and Public Works Director Fred Moore. Community Development Director Dillerud outlined the staff report relating to Building Code inspections for existing housing. The City Attorney has previously supplied an opinion that the City should respond to any situations which are believed to be violations of the Code. Mr. Dillerud suggested that a program could be established in which a $30 fee per hour could be charged to pay for the cost of inspections. Inspections would be made only for situations where a credible, written complaint is received. Discussion followed as to who should be billed for such fees. The consensus of the discussion was that property owners should pay if they asked for the inspection. Also, the owner should pay if a code violation is found when the complaint comes from a third party. Situations where no definite code violation is alleged, such as inspection for sale of property, would be referred to private inspection services. Community Development Director Dillerud also presented information about a rental licensing program proposal. He indicated that there are only an estimated 175 rental single family detached housing units. This means that the fee schedule previously recommended by staff to the Council will leave a shortfall. It was suggested that since the landlords, tenants, and the City as a whole all benefit from a rental licensing program, the City could consider picking up one-third of the cost. Community Development Block Grant Funds might be available for some of these costs. A revised fee schedule of $60 for a 1 family home, $100 for a 2 family home, $125 for a 3-4 family home, and $125 + $5 for five or more unit buildings would generate fees covering two-thirds of the cost, according to Dillerud. Under the program, inspections could be made of each rental unit once every three years. Park and Recreation Director Eric Blank discussed information he had developed regarding programs and services for teens in the Plymouth area. Many of the associations as well as the City offer scholarships for those who cannot afford a fee. It was noted that Teen Centers in Mound and in Minnetonka have closed recently. Councilmembers agreed Study Session May 24, 1993 Page 2 that Eric's information was valuable and should be shared with churches, social service groups, schools, and similar organizations. Other comments included the need to focus on teen services and programs that would be available in major apartment complexes and the possible creation of a youth task force. It was also suggested that the City's focus should continue to be recreation programs, not social service programs which can be provided by other agencies. No action was taken on any of the suggestions, but there was a consensus that the information developed should be shared with other agencies. There was also a consensus that the City should not employ Ms. Suggs or Mr. Kroc as per their proposal at the Plymouth Forum on May 17, 1993. A letter will be sent to them. The meeting was adjourned at 6:55 p.m.