Unfinished shed and junk car

Couches outside

Thank you for submitting this issue. The city will look into this immediately.

Yard still has not been mowed....

This needs to be addressed. This is very unsightly to look at.

They finally mowed but the property still looks horrible! Something really needs to be done. This is affecting property values in the neighborhood. Who would want to buy a house near this place?

They also have a dog that is never leashed and wanders the neighborhood, pooping and peeing where it pleases.

The City Planner, Michael Healy has sent an encroachment letter regarding the shed. They will have until the end of the summer to pull a permit and move the shed. As for the car in the rear yard, I was unable to see it from the street to see if it was licensed (current tabs). Each property is allowed to store up to two operable and licensed vehicles in the rear yard (City Code: Section 1030.08 Off Street Parking). If you could send me a clear picture of the license plate, I will be able to send them a letter.

As for the dog issue, you will have to contact the Police Department at 763-263-2500 while it is happening.

Thank you, Trisha Lindahl
City Code Inspector

The tabs on the car are very faded but I will try to get a picture. What is going on with the couches sitting outside behind the house?

The shed is still not gone and the couches are still sitting outside. Please advise status of this report. Thank you.

Shed was not moved or fixed. Over city property line by several feet. This needs to be addressed.

The property owner has been sent an administrative citation and a fine since the shed remains in violation of city code and continues to encroach on the City's park. They will only be able to keep the shed if they finish siding and roofing it and move it so that it complies with setback requirements.

The City will keep an eye on this property and issue a new citation and fine every 14 days if the property owner does not present a timeline for bringing the property into compliance.

Thank you, Michael. What about the furniture that is laying behind the house and the car that has tabs that are faded and I assume are not current?

We'll work on that too. I'm anticipating that the property owner will get in contact with me sometime in the next week to try to work out a timeline for bringing the property into compliance to avoid additional fines. I'll make sure to bring up that cars can only be stored in the back yard if they are licensed and operable and that upholstered furniture is considered garbage when its left outside long-term.

The property owner has not responded to the City's earlier citation. I have sent out a second citation with a $150 fine. I have noted that the shed must either be moved and repaired or must be removed from the property. I have also noted that the couches must be removed from the property and that the car can only be stored in the back yard if it can be proven that it is licensed and operable. The City does allow up to 2 licensed and operable cars to be stored in the back yard.

I will be re-inspecting the property on November 29th and will be issuing a $300 fine if the violations have not been corrected.

The car and the couches have been removed and the shed has been relocated. The shed is going to be re-sided and re-roofed to bring it into compliance. The property owner is reaching out to contractors to help with the work.

Please check roof on shed. They patched in shingles that are a different color. It looks worse than it did before!

The City no longer uses SeeClickFix as we have a new website that has a complaint tracker feature built into it called "Request Tracker." We have tried to get the word out on our website, Facebook, and in our newsletter. The annual SeeClickFix contract was extremely expensive and the City Council opted to discontinue it when we got the new website so as not to spend taxpayer money duplicating a service. Please do not add any additional comments to SeeClickFix as we do not have the ability to efficiently monitor and react to them. Please use "Request Tracker" on the City's website.

The City does not regulate design for sheds that are under 200 square feet. Sheds over 200 square feet must "architecturally match the house." Sheds under 200 square feet simply must be built of materials deemed sufficiently durable for residential construction. There are a few materials that we ban outright such as: corrugated metal, sheet metal, and tarps or other fabrics. This shed appears to meet City Code.

Please note that this neighborhood may have private restrictive covenants that go beyond the City Code. The City does not have the legal authority to enforce any private restrictive covenants. This would be considered a private civil matter.