HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/13/1996COUNCIL WORK SESSION
May 13, 1996
6:40 p.m.
Police Library
Members present: Mayor Rooff, Murphy, Krizek, Anders, Getty,
Jordan, Mollenhoff.
Members absent: Collier.
It was moved by Krizek, seconded by Murphy that the agenda be
approved. Ayes: Four. Absent: Jordan, Mollenhoff, Collier.
Motion carried.
Mayor Rooff and the council discussed the proposed schedule of
meetings for the upcoming week and council assignments.
Jordan now present at 6:50 p.m.
Mollenhoff now present at 6:51 p.m.
With no further discussion it was moved by Krizek, seconded by
Anders to adjourn the meeting at 6:51 p.m. Ayes: Six. Absent:
Collier. Motion carried.
Susan Fangman
City Clerk
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
May 13, 1996
5:30 p.m.
Large Conference Room
Members present: Mayor Rooff, Murphy, Krizek, Anders, Getty,
Mollenhoff, Jordan.
Members absent: Collier.
It was moved by Jordan, seconded by Murphy to approve the agenda as
proposed. Ayes: Four. Absent: Getty, Mollenhoff, Collier.
Motion carried.
Councilpersons Getty and Mollenhoff now present at 5:32 p.m.
Rich Earles, Community Development Program Manager, informed the
council that $300,000 dollars has been programmed in the FY97
Community Development Block Grant budget for demolition of
property. This is to coincide with the targeted neighborhood
revitalization process to be implemented next year.
The process for identifying properties for demolition begins with
the fire department housing inspector investigating complaints
about vacant or dilapidated buildings. The fire department
notifies the owner stating the housing code violations present and
the owner is given ten days to secure the property. If the owner
doesn't secure the property then the fire department will board up
the dwelling and charge the owner for labor. The City Attorney is
then notified to initiate action to have the dwelling demolished.
Community Development funds can be accessed for demolition if the
owner signs a waiver and falls under the eligibility guidelines.
Mayor Rooff asked how the list of properties for demolition are
prioritized. Earles stated that the list is handled in the order
received. Processing can be affected by the time frame in which a
waiver can be received or the processing time is lengthened if a
court order is required.
Councilperson Krizek asked if the Building Official can cite the
dangerous building ordinance to speed up the demolition process.
City Attorney Sang-ki Han stated that the Building Official does
have the authority to order demolition to begin but the question of
financial responsibility usually needs to be settled before
demolition begins. Many delays in demolition are caused by the
owners requesting extensions from the court system to allow them to
rehab properties. Judges are reluctant to deny the property rights
of citizens at any time.
The council expressed its frustration with the length of time that
it takes to rehab property. Many properties show that the last
action date is over two years old and the property still has not
been repaired enough to be taken off the list at this time.
Han explained that the tax sale process can cause additional delays
as properties are purchased at tax sale and the new owners delay
any modifications in the hopes that the property will be redeemed
within the allotted time frame. Attorney Han stated that lengthy
delays usually arise whenever an owner files an answer in court and
the case is placed on a waiting list to be assigned a court date.
Criminal proceedings take precedence over civil suits so the
process is delayed even further by the court system.
Councilperson Mollenhoff expressed disbelief that there can be an
ordinance requiring the mowing of lawns and grass but dilapidated
buildings can be left for a long period of time without action
taken to demolish them.
Councilperson Krizek asked when was the last time that the list of
properties scheduled for demolition were visited by the Building
Official to update the status of any building which has become a
Council Work Session
May 13, 19969
Page 2
dangerous building situation. The building official was not
present at the meeting to respond to the question.
Krizek proposed that funds be made available to allow demolition to
occur and then the city recover funds through liens against the
property. Earles stated that Block Grant funds don't allow any
cost to be assessed to the property owner after a waiver is signed.
Mayor Rooff stated that for those properties that don't qualify for
CDBG funding the staff needs to work and identify funds that may be
used for this purpose.
Mayor Rooff suggested that an inspection team be established to
review properties to decide if rehab is possible and then do follow
up inspections to enforce timely repairs. Rudy Jones, Contract
Compliance Officer, pointed out that many of the properties are
owned by Black Hawk County and the city needs to get assistance
from the county. Currently the county spends about $30,000
annually on demolition.
City Planner Temeyer stated that staff will start with the current
list and work to get each one done, following through on all the
steps needed to complete the project.
Mayor Rooff asked that another work session be set up in two weeks
to receive an updated status report from staff on the list.
With no further discussion it was moved by Getty, seconded by
Jordan to adjourn the meeting at 6: 15 p.m. Ayes: Six. Absent:
Collier. Motion carried.
Susan Fangman
City Clerk