5.3. SR 01-10-2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item # 5.3. MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Bruce A. West, Fire Chief DATE: January 10, 2005 SUBJECT: Apartment Inspection Program Update I would like to update the Mayor and Council in reference to the apartment inspection program that the Elk River Fire Department has taken over from the Building and Environmental Department. The apartment inspection program started in 1995 and within the City of Elk River there are 1,080 units within 53 apartment buildings. License applications are sent out to the apartment owners in our community along with a license fee of $15 per unit to be paid to the City of Elk River. After receipt of the rental dwelling license application and the license fee, the Fire Department Housing Inspector Jeff Smith will set up inspection times with the apartment owner or the apartment owner's representative. Many times the inspection will be conducted with the housing inspector and the caretaker of the individual building. A copy of an inspection notice is given to all tenants providing them with the time and date the housing inspector will be conducting an inspection in their apartment building. The Elk River Fire Department and our housing inspection bureau will be using the 2000 International Property Maintenance Code as its guideline for all apartment inspections. The code is designed to provide concise, consistent model property maintenance requirements with required property improvement provisions. The code establishes minimum regulations governing the condition and maintenance of all property, buildings, and structures by providing standards for supplied utilities and facilities and other physical things and conditions essential to ensure that structures are safe, sanitary, and fit for occupation. Use also provides a basis for the condemnation and demolition of buildings and structures unfit for human occupation. During our apartment inspections, areas to be covered include light, ventilation and occupancy limitations, plumbing facility and fixture requirements, mechanical and electrical requirements, and fire and safety requirements. Housing inspections will continue to be on an annual basis within all 1,080 units of apartments in our community. Our recendy hired Fire Prevention Specialist/Housing Inspector Jeff Smith will be working with both Fire Inspector Cliff Anderson and myself during the first year of transition from the turnover of the inspections from the Building and Environmental Department to the Elk River Fire Department. I will be in attendance at the Monday, January 10, 2005, City Council worksession to update and discuss the apartment inspection program for the City of Elk River. If you have any questions prior to the meeting, please feel free to call me at the Elk River Fire Department (763) 635-1105.