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City Council Minutes <br />May 13, 2002 <br />Page 4 <br />Attorney Schenk thought that these changes would go along way towards <br />helping address the concerns as to how to handle a building that has historical <br />importance. <br />Councilman McCarthy wanted to know if a building with historical <br />significance could stay regardless of its condition. <br />City Attorney Schenk advised that if a complaint is made and the building is <br />identified as vacant and perhaps substandard, and if the city staff gets a warrant <br />to look at the building to see if it is a health and safety hazard, they will prepare <br />a case and present that to the commission. The commission will then consider <br />the evidence that they hear from the owner or whoever else is called to appear <br />at the public hearings along with the owner, mortgagee, or other interested <br />parties and testimony as to what they intend to do to bring the building up to <br />standard. City Attorney Schenk said if the commission finds that the building <br />is a health and safety risk and is substandard, at that point before they issue an <br />order to do something about the building, they can hear evidence of fact that <br />this is typically a building of historical significance. The commission may <br />allow more time for repair of the building. <br />Councilman Plata wanted to know if the commission would be appointed by <br />the City Council. City Attorney Schenk advised that all of the members would <br />be appointed by the City Council just like all other boards. <br />Councilman Bell said he would like for the Code Inspectors to check the <br />structure first. City Attorney Schenk pointed out the problem with that is you <br />engage yourself in an argument about who is right and if the problem is <br />authentic. Councilman Bell said the property owner should know about the <br />problem before he gets slapped with a citation. The City Attorney said that <br />what would happen once the Code Inspector looks at the building and finds, in <br />their opinion, that the structure is substandard they will write up a report and <br />prepare a case file. He said the ordinance requires notices to the property <br />owner, the mortgage company, and the lien holder before the property can be <br />