Laserfiche WebLink
City Council Minutes Page 7 <br /> August 17,2015 <br /> ----------------------------- <br /> Counselor Beck noted this is not a new problem and unfortunately,in an active and <br /> functioning homeowners association (HOA),they are the responsible parties. <br /> Counselor Beck indicated problems such as this arose when associations never got <br /> off the ground before and during the recent recession, and as a result are not <br /> meeting their intended responsibilities. Counselor Beck indicated that in the example <br /> of the clock towner,the city cannot spend funds to maintain it unless its use was a <br /> benefit to the entire city,besides the fact that it sits on private property. He <br /> suggested the council provide direction for staff to draft language in order to clarify <br /> these types of common areas. <br /> Councilmember Wagner stated she personally likes monuments and landscaping at <br /> development entrances as it provides an attractiveness to neighborhoods and was <br /> surprised people in her own neighborhood didn't realize they were responsible for <br /> the upkeep. She didn't feel the city should be responsible for electricity payment for <br /> the clock tower,noting it is a nice landmark but it benefits the local area considerably <br /> more than the entire city. She stated she hoped the residents in those developments <br /> would continue to pay for the electricity for the time being. <br /> Councilmember Westgaard thinks if the city starts considering ownership and <br /> maintenance of these common areas,it could open Pandora's Box,noting if HOAs <br /> that have been maintaining their common areas decided to discontinue their <br /> maintenance and upkeep,it would force the city's hand to step in and maintain them. <br /> He didn't feel it fit in the city's beautification goal and felt certain the city's financial <br /> responsibility would cause an increase in property taxes. <br /> Councilmember Olsen concurred with Councilmember Westgaard and asked how <br /> many HOA's exist in the city. <br /> Mr. Carlton indicated ould cpn�a t the county but wasn't sure if they would have <br /> that information. <br /> Discussion continued regarding billing and payment for utilities. <br /> 40uncilmember Westgaard asked about outlots that go into tax forfeiture. <br /> Counselor Beck and Mr. Femrite explained that every year they review properties <br /> that come up for tax forfeiture and staff chose not to take those because the city <br /> would become the entity responsible for their maintenance and upkeep. <br /> Councilmember Burandt felt the HOA should be assessed for maintenance of any <br /> common areas. If there was no HOA,maintenance costs could be assessed as a <br /> nuisance abatement to the property owners in the development. She wondered if the <br /> agreements allowed for the monuments to be removed if not maintained. <br /> Mr. Portner suggested language similar to what's used in the city's donation policy <br /> that outlined responsibility to ensure the donation is maintained or it would be <br /> removed if it goes into disrepair. <br /> PV0WIREO AY <br /> NAWRE <br />