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Page 3 <br />construction. During the first half of 1994, there was a little <br />over $2,000,000 of commerciaUindustrial construction. During <br />the same period in 1995, there was nearly $7.5 million dollars <br />worth. Dennis had to aid Cliff Skogstad by doing plumbing <br />and heating inspections on commercial and industrial buildings. <br />Single-family home construction has also increased. During the <br />first half of 1993, when an additional inspector was requested in <br />the budget, there were 40 new home starts. The first half of <br />1994 saw 86 new home starts and 1995 had 98. <br />Fire Chief, Bruce West is considering using part-time fire <br />inspectors to keep up with commercial and industrial fire <br />inspection. Hiring this new inspector could take part of that <br />burden by doing fire inspections on rental units. Fire <br />inspections on rental units is an additional item that was not <br />considered when Dennis Anderson was hired. <br />To keep up with rental inspections it is anticipated that in <br />addition to a new inspector, Dennis Anderson and Terry Zajac <br />would have to help in the winter. Again, we are strongly <br />recommending that if additional help is not possible at this time <br />we do not start the rental inspection program until additional <br />• help can be obtained. <br />4. Controversy <br />If the council chooses to start a rental inspection program, they <br />must be ready to back staff when we enforce whatever ordinance <br />is passed. There will be complaints from apartment owners. <br />There may also be complaints from tenants if staff inspects a <br />dangerous, and possibly life threatening, rental unit. We would <br />have no choice other than to order that unit vacated. This will <br />cause a hardship for the tenant, being temporarily dislocated <br />from their home. <br />5. Disorderly Tenants <br />Attached to this memo is a news article from the Minneapolis <br />Star and Tribune dated Monday, May 29, 1995. The article is in <br />regards to a law suit in Minneapolis over apartment owners <br />being responsible for disorderly tenants. The section in the <br />attached ordinance which deals with disorderly tenants is <br />1007.16, found on page 13. This section is being recommended <br />• by the Police Department and would be the Police Department's <br />responsibility to enforce. <br />cc-house/bz/stever <br />