CHAPTER 95: CRIME FREE MULTI HOUSING
Section
95.01 Program
95.02 Certification
95.03 Decertification
95.04 Background checks
§ 95.01 PROGRAM.
The Crime Free Multi-Housing Program is a three-phase certification program for rental properties of all sizes, including single-family rental homes. The program is available to owners and property managers of rental properties located within the corporate limits of the City of Madelia. Necessary training and support of the program is designed to provide for ease of participation. The program is known to be effective in reducing criminal activity in rental properties. It is the policy of the City of Madelia to encourage active participation in the program by all rental property owners and property managers.
(Ord. 8.60, passed 3-14-2005)
§ 95.02 CERTIFICATION.
To obtain and maintain certification from the Madelia Police Department, a member of the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program, a rental property owner or property manager must:
(A) Successfully complete and implement all of the components of the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program within two years from the date of application to the program. The components of the program are:
(1) Attendance at and successful completion of the management training component which shall be shown by demonstrating an understanding of each of the following subject matter:
(a) The Crime Free Multi-Housing Program and ordinance.
(b) Rental applications and housing discrimination.
(c) Screening and background checks.
(d) Lease and lease addendums.
(e) Unlawful detainer and eviction.
(f) Manager/owner policies and roles.
(g) Data privacy.
(h) Narcotics and gangs.
(i) Section 8 housing.
(j) Rental licensing.
(2) Compliance with environmental crime prevention requirements by owners for their rental properties which are located within the corporate limits of the City of Madelia or in the case of a property manager, for all rental properties located within the corporate limits of the City of Madelia that are managed by that property manager. Compliance shall be indicated by completion of the following requirements:
(a) Single-cylinder deadbolt locks installed in each entry door for each dwelling unit.
(b) High-security strike plate with three-inch screws installed on each entry door for each dwelling unit.
(c) Door viewer: 180-degree peephole installed in primary entry door for each dwelling unit.
(d) Anti-lift/slide device installed on all windows and sliding glass doors.
(e) Security lighting adequate to illuminate exterior grounds.
(f) Landscaping in a manner that provides for visual sight lines.
(g) Visible address numbering installed.
(h) Compliance with all Fire and Building Code requirements.
(3) At least once every 12 months make available, in cooperation with the Madelia Police Department, training for tenants in respect to the following subject areas:
(a) The Crime Free Multi-Housing Program together with the concept of partnerships and sharing responsibilities.
(b) Crime concerns and prevention awareness techniques.
(c) Application of Neighborhood Watch program/principles.
(4) Include, implement, and enforce, as part of all written leases, the lease addendum for Crime Free/Drug Free Housing provided by the Madelia Police Department.
(B) Following successful completion of the program components described in § 95.01 above, attend annual retraining sessions and maintain compliance with all program components.
(C) Rental property owners who acquire additional rental properties following the successful completion of the program described in § 95.01 above must bring those properties into compliance within one year from the date of acquisition. Rental property managers who add additional properties for which they are responsible following the successful completion of the program described in § 95.01 above must bring those properties into compliance within one year from assumption of management responsibilities.
(Ord. 8.60, passed 3-14-2005)
§ 95.03 DECERTIFICATION.
Owners or property managers who do not maintain compliance with the certification requirements set forth in § 95.02 above will lose their certification.
(A) Before this decertification occurs, the owner or property manager will be notified by regular mail postmarked at least ten days prior to the proposed date of decertification. The owner or property manager may appeal the decision to decertify by providing written notice to the Madelia Police Department within 15 days of the mailing of the decertification notice.
(B) No decertification shall occur following an appeal until the owner or property manager has been afforded an opportunity for hearing before an independent hearing officer. If the independent hearing officer finds the owner or property manager has not maintained compliance with the certification requirements set forth in § 95.02 above, the independent hearing officer shall give written notice to the owner or property manager by certified mail within ten days of the hearing date, excluding intervening weekends and holidays, of such findings and recommendation to the City Council that the owner or property manager be decertified.
(C) Unless the owner or property manager appeals the decision of the independent hearing officer to the City Council within five days of issuance of the independent hearing officer's findings and recommendation, excluding intervening weekends and holidays, the City Council, at its next meeting shall decertify. If the owner or property manager shall appeal the independent hearing officer's decision upon a form provided by the Madelia Police Department within the time period set forth herein, the owner or property manager shall be afforded an opportunity to have the City Council review the independent hearing officer's findings and recommendation and either affirm the independent hearing officer's findings and recommendations that the owner or property manager should be decertified or to substitute its own findings that the owner or property manager is in compliance with the certification requirements.
(D) An owner or property manager who is decertified shall not be eligible to reapply for Crime Free Multi-Housing certification for a period of two years following the date of decertification.
(Ord. 8.60, passed 3-14-2005)
§ 95.04 BACKGROUND CHECKS.
(A) Purpose. The Madelia City Council has determined that the preservation of city neighborhoods is essential to the public health, safety and welfare of its citizens. Rental properties provide housing for a substantial percentage of the citizens of Madelia. Rental housing is the most densely populated of the city's neighborhoods. Consequently, persons residing in rental properties and engaging in criminal activity and disorderly conduct create a hostile environment for law abiding residents of rental properties and adjacent neighborhoods. Therefore, it is the declared purpose and intent of this section to protect the health and safety of our citizens by providing a system at the local level for criminal history/background checks for prospective residents of rental property.
(B) Prospective residents. The Madelia Police Department may conduct local Minnesota and/or out of state criminal history/background checks on prospective residents in rental property in the City of Madelia upon request by the owner or manager of the rental property. Such request shall be on a form approved and provided by the Madelia Police Department. The applicant shall pay a fee established pursuant to appropriate resolution of the Madelia City Council. No such background check using the State Criminal Justice Information Systems Network and no information obtained from the CJIS shall be disseminated unless the landlord presents and informed consent/waiver form signed by the prospective residents. The informed consent/waiver form must meet the requirements of Minn. Stat. § 13.05, Subd. 4(d), as it may be amended from time to time.
(Ord. 8.60, passed 3-14-2005; Ord. 8.601, passed 9-12-2005)
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