2013-02-11 Regular Meeting of La Porte City Council minutes

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Ayes: Mayor Rigby, Councilmembers Engelken, Zemanek, Kaminski, Leonard, Mosteit, Clausen, Martin and Moser Nays: None Absent: None 7. REPORTS (a) Receive 2012 La Porte Police Department Racial Profiling Report — K. Adcox Chief of Police Ken Adcox presented the 2012 La Porte Police Department Racial Profiling Report. There were no questions from Council. (b) Receive Blue Tarp Report — D. Wilmore Planning Director Tim Tietjens presented an update on the Blue Tarp Report, as Building Official Wilmore was not in attendance. Councilmember Kaminski questioned which home was rebuilding. Planning Director Tim Tietjens responded 426 S. 4th St. Councilmember Zemanek questioned if the homeowners had any contact with the City advising of remediation plans. Mr. Tietjens responded no. Councilmember Martin questioned if other citizens complain about the blue tarps. Mr. Tietjens responded he is not aware of any specific complaints in the last year. Councilmember Kaminski questioned if any code enforcement reports were received on 514 S. Blackwell St. Mr. Tietjens responded not that he recalls. Councilmember Clausen questioned whether all of the homes are inhabited. Mr. Tietjens responded all of the homes are homestead exempted except two. Councilmember Moser commented he has not heard of any complaints regarding the homes with blue tarps; and he believes if the owners had the money to repair the roofs, they will. Mayor Rigby questioned what would happen if Council advised that blue tarps need to be removed within a certain amount of time. Mr. Tietjens responded the City can move forward with code enforcement actions. Mayor Rigby then questioned if staff had contacted groups to provide assistance to homeowners. Mr. Tietjens responded staff had in the past and will contact groups for assistance, again. Councilmember Martin commented he has approached groups for assistance and advised they do not like to repair roofs due to liability issues. Councilmember Zemanek questioned the current tax status of the homes. Mr. Tietjens advised he will send Council a report of the current tax status of the homes. Councilmember Moser advised Council of a situation with a citizen (Mr. Morrison) on the Northside. Mr. Morrison received a citation for his roof and did not have money for repairs. Fortunately, St. John's Episcopal Church assisted with the repair. Councilmember Moser questioned how will citizens repair their roofs if there is not any financial means with which to do so. Mayor Rigby commented he, too, is concerned if homeowners do not have financial means, but he's also concerned if they did not take advantage of the list of opportunities provided to them by the City. Page 3 of 5 February 11, 2013, City Council Meeting Minutes