9.2. SR 02-18-2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ERA - Code Enforcement and Residential Property Standards Survey #3 Results – December 30, 2019 Background: On December 2, 2019, the Elk River City Council discussed code enforcement ordinances pertaining to community aesthetics and expectations. The conversation had three main topics: 1.) outdoor storage in residential front and rear yards, 2.) tarps as an acceptable covering for items stored outside, and 3.) whether the city should consider a limit on the number of items allowed to be stored outdoors on a residential property. The survey was available to ERA subscribers from December 16 through December 30, 2019. Of the 239 current ERA members, 120 responded to this survey – a large increase in participation compared to Survey #1 with 57 respondents and Survey #2 with 39 respondents. *RED indicates the most popular survey response for each question* Question 1 Elk River has property standards in place to: *Select all that apply* o Preserve property values 76.7% (92 responses) o Annoy homeowners 13.3% (16 responses) o Reduce eyesores for neighbors 76.7% (92 responses) o Increase health and safety in neighborhoods 52.5% (63 responses) o Maintain community aesthetics and increase neighborhood pride 76.7% (92 responses) o Other _______(please explain) 3.3% (4 responses) Comments: “The city should not interfere with personal property.” “Elk River may have property standards but they do not enforce them.” “Garbage cans should be kept out of sight. It looks “trashy” to have them left out constantly.” “To answer the questions in this survey, it really depends on property size, screening from neighbors, and impact on neighbors. Probably not a one size fits all policy on storage. I can store 4 trailers on my lot and my neighbors, or people on the street cannot see 3 of them.” “Raise property values so taxes go up.” “Elk River has property standards in place to turn this into a socialist city.” “Take into consideration the zone of the property.”