St. Louis Park officials are pushing for changes that would see a greater notice period for evictions, as well as ongoing education for property owners and managers. According to the details of a city council study session, a move to extend the notice of eviction from the state's 14-day requirement to a lengthier 30-day period is being taken into serious consideration. City staff has suggested renaming the notice to a "pre-eviction notice", with the mandated use of the city's form before an eviction action can commence.
In a bid to safeguard the well-being of residential renters, changes could be on the horizon. Property owners and managers might need to wait out a 30-day period, where the alleged breach of lease – be it rent delinquency or other financial obligations – must be corrected, before taking steps towards an eviction. The city is eager to hear from various stakeholders, including tenants, property owners, and community advocates, soliciting feedback via an online survey open until March 6, as reported on the city's website.
Furthermore, St. Louis Park is continuing to offer education to landlords through online rental license training on March 5 and 6. Attendance is obligatory for those who've not had prior training, covering a plethora of necessary topics including fair housing and eviction procedures. Attorney Robin Ann Williams is set to present, focusing on fair housing and reasonable accommodation. This information comes from the city's announcement, which details the broad spectrum of subjects such as racial equity and working with city policies.
The training isn't just limited to newbies. On March 5, a dedicated session for bias training and landlord-tenant law, including aspects such as fair housing and evictions, will be conducted by Williams from 8:30 - 11 a.m, this comprehensive session will also be available to those who have completed the mandated rental license training sessions before. As indicated by the city's bulletin, managers who took the original training only need to refresh their knowledge every three years.
Addressing the need for more affordable housing, St. Louis Park's 4d Affordable Housing Incentive Program is offering tax reductions to landlords. The catch? They must commit to maintaining 20% of their rental units as affordable homes for at least five years. The incentive aligns with recent housing trends, where low- and moderate-income renters are increasingly strained by housing costs exceeding 30% of their income. The program also offers grants to aid in energy efficiency improvements in older buildings. Those interested in the program have until March 1, 2024, to submit their applications, as listed on the city's website.
Reach out to the city's housing authority contacts, housing specialist Katie Kline, or HCV specialist Cassi Reissmann-Doring, whose details are publicly available on the city's bulletin. They are there to help navigate through the new developments in St. Louis Park's housing policies and align interested parties with the resources the city offers.
