01/22/07 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 22. 2007 involved when constituents come before the Council and address such problems. The Council has a responsibility to address those issues and concerns, from the Legislative and Fiduciary perspective to see that those things are at least are acted upon. Councilmember White further noted that the Council needs to look at this issue at a policy perspective also. She believes that that is well within the Council realm. This issue along with Public Safety are very critical issues for this Community. As a Council, discussion needs to be conducted at this level, so that we have a consensus with regards to what we as a Council can do. Councilmember Kirsits stated that from a Firefighter perspective there was a time when they had difficulty boarding up homes and businesses that have had a fire. That's because when there is a fire at a home or business that is not owner occupied, the dispatch center must call from a list of contractors who get called on a rotating basis for board ups. The contractors were refusing to come to a board up because there was a problem with no clear homeowner and who was going to be responsible for the liability (cost of labor and materials). The contractor's had to put liens on the homes, so they could get paid for their services. However, that has changed and a contractor cannot refuse to do a board up. Councihnember Kirsits stated that with the Capital Budget on the agenda for discussion, and the problem of vacant and abandoned buildings, this is the appropriate time to discuss how soon a house can be boarded up and then fixed or torn down. It might have to be the City's responsibility to secure these vacant and abandoned homes and buildings and funding might have to come out of the Capital Budget. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Council, President Rouse adjourned the meeting at 9:30 p.m. ATTEST: ATTEST: John Voorde, City Clerk Timothy A. Rouse, President 49