MINUTES OF THE HANOVER BOROUGH COUNCIL  PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE May 13, 2024 at 6:00 PM  Chairman Fuentes convened the meeting of the Hanover Borough Council Public Safety Committee at 6:00 PM, Monday, May 13, 2024 in the Hanover Municipal Building, 44 Attendance: Present were Committee Members Fuentes, Funk and Greenholt; Council Members Hegberg, Lookenbill and Rupp; Staff Members Public Works Supervisor Bean, Fire Chief Clousher, Secretary Felix, Public Works Director Grimm, Manager Lewis, Approval of the Minutes: It was moved by Mrs. Funk, seconded by Mrs. Greenholt to approve the minutes of the April 2, 2024 Public Safety Committee meeting. Motion  Frederick Street, Hanover, PA, as advertised.  Police Chief Martin and Chief Code Enforcement Officer Miller.  carried. Public Comment:  Heidi Little, 212 York Street: Ms. Little stated that she was not in favor of hiring outside firms to perform rental inspections. She would be in favor of using code enforcement or fire department staff. She stated that some of the residential rentals are in severe disrepair, and she feels the ordinance is necessary, and does not understand the opposition tot the ordinance. She does not feel that Council members who own residential rentals should be allowed to vote on the ordinance, since she views it as a conflict of interest. She feels that the property owners have a responsibility to maintain their Chairman Fuentes stated that he would like the citizen comments to be in line with the order of agenda items, and that he will provide a time for public comment on each item. Attorney Arthur Becker, 529 Carlisle Street: Mr. Becker stated that he represents citizens who oppose the rental registration and inspection ordinance. He stated that hel has asked questions and never: received answers on the cost of the program, how many employees would need tol be hired, and how the licensing would be handled. Mr. Becker suggested that Council amend the proposed ordinance to include that if a landlord fails to correct three (3) code violations, they would be required to get a license. He asked that Council tablei the ordinance until next month, and he stated that he would be willing to work with Isaac Riston, 36 West Hanover Street: Mr. Riston stated that he has been in contact with other municipalities within the county which have the rental registration and inspection ordinances. He forwarded his researchinformation toi three (3)Council members and the manager. He summarized changes in definitions for various items. He recommended removal of all mentions of independent inspectors. He felt that the Borough's current  buildings.  Solicitor Shultis to amend it.    Minutes of the Hanover Borough Council Public Safety Committee Meeting  May 13, 2024 Page 2  staff should be able to handle the enforcement without hiring outside service providers. Hea asked that tenants be protected from fear of landlord retaliation if code violations are reported where they live. A no cancellation fee should be implemented sO that it covers all costs. He suggested that landlords should have an incentive to keep their properties .E.B. Stuart Myers, 229 Princess Street: Mr. Myers noted that there are several blind intersections in his neighborhood that are in need of stop signs. He submitted a map of 108 East Chestnut Street and Intersection of East Chestnut and Railroad Street: Chairman Fuentes asked Public Works Director Grimm to elaborate on ai request for short term parking that was submitted by Greer's restaurant for staff review. Public Works Director Grimm stated that staff would not be in favor of short term parking, noting that the intersection itself is still under review and staff is awaiting the results of a traffic study. Thes staff recommendation ist tot take no action to create an ordinance to allow short Mrs. Funk noted that there is plenty of parking available in the area and she saw no need Loading Zones/Food Trucks: Public Works Director Grimm noted that a request was received to change parameters of the existing ordinance toi include the allowance for food truck staging in loading zones. Staff would not recommend the allowance of food trucks to stage in loading zones except when there may be special events scheduled when the streets would be closed. The request presents a conflict with existing ordinances. Staff will continue to address the food truck issue and will provide recommendations as to Recreational Vehicles Loading & Unloading on Public Streets: AI request was: received from a citizen for permission to. load and unload aj recreational vehicle on thej public street in front oft their residence. Chief Martin noted that the respectiveordinance was approved in 2018. Chief Martin stated that this resident was warned previously and then later received a citation since the: recreational vehicle was parked on the street for an extended period of time over several days. Chief Martin stated that residents may load and unload their recreational vehicle while parked on a public street and then must immediately move the vehicle to another location. If the resident is actively loading and loading there would be no issue, but the vehicle cannot remain parked on a public street for an extended period of time. Chief Martin stated that staff recommends no changes at this Mrs. Greenholt asked how many offenses have been cited since 2018. Chief Martin stated that he does not have the statistics at this time, but that the police department uses  maintained, by limiting the number of annual inspections.  the intersections to staff for reference.  term parking at this time. for short term parking.  where and how food trucks can operate.  time.    Minutes of the Hanover Borough Council Public Safety Committee. Meeting  May13, 2024 Page 3  discretion and there are checks and balances in place concerning previous offenders or those that have had no warnings in the past. Offenders are not usually cited ifi it is a first time violation; they are given a warning, buti it is at the discretion of the officer. Rental Registration & Inspection: Chairman Fuentes initiated a discussion on the proposed rental registration and inspection ordinance which was approved at the April 24, 2024 Council meeting to be advertised for consideration at the May 22, 2024 Council Chief Codes Officer Miller stated that the next step after the ordinance is approved would be a public outreach campaign via the website, Facebook, news release and notification to property owners and renters. Then a business operations plan will be developed. Mr. Miller referenced $278-4 that provides definitions. He specifically referenced the definition of Residential Rental Units" and what is included. He noted that an online registration is planned and a database will be created. A fee will be developed in the business plan. The number of residential rentals needs to be determined. The license fees will be approved by Council resolution. A residential rental license will be issued fore each unit. Iftherearen multiple units, they can bel listed on the same license. Thel license would have to be displayed with the landlord's contact or their representatives contact  meeting.  information.  Mr. Miller asked for any questions:  Mr. Arthur Becker, 529 Carlisle Street asked if a code violation is unresolved, would that Mr. Milleri noted that it depends on the type ofv violation,ie., major violations that involve safety would have to be rectified before the tenant would be allowed to occupy the unit. Other minor issues such as high grass and weeds could be resolved without relocation of Glenn Bange, 1281 Honda Road.Hanover.owner. of rental properties in the Borough: Mr. Bange asked if residential rentals are the only structures being inspected. He noted that Ed Lookenbill, 221 York Street: Mr. Lookenbill asked about how long the grace period Mr. Miller noted that reasonable time frames would be implemented, normally 30 days is given to correct a violation, with an additional 10 days. Violations against this ordinance would not be handled any differently than the enforcement of other  require the tenant to vacate the property.  the tenant.  al lot of owner-occupied buildings are: in need of inspections as well. would be until the tenant would have to vacate the property.    Minutes of the Hanover Borough Council Public Safety Committee. Meeting  May13, 2024 Page 4  ordinances. Major violations would require the property tol be appropriately corrected in Philip Redding, 230Stock Street: Mr. Redding asked how much a license will cost for one dwelling. Mr. Miller stated that the business plan will address that; each unit will need Mr. Redding asked how one dwelling ina aj multi-unit complex would affect the other units int the case ofa a violation. Mr. Miller stated that thee enforcement of thej proposed ordinance would be no different than the current enforcement procedures. One unit would not affect the others as long as the safety of the other tenants would not be affected. Mr. Miller stated that the fees will not be approved prior to approving the ordinance. Council will approve the fees according to the business plan at a later date. .E.B. Stuart Myers, 229 Princess Street: Mr. Myers asked if long term and short term rentals would have different costs. Mr. Miller stated that costs have yet to be determined Mr. Miller stated that the code enforcement department is finding rental units in basements and attics on a daily basis. The proposed ordinance would be a starting point Mr. Arthur Becker, 529 Carlisle Street: Mr. Becker asked if the current landlord registration ordinance is being enforced. Mr. Miller noted that the current rental Mr. Becker asked if Council would consider amending the proposed ordinance toi include Mr. Fuentes noted that there could be future amendments to the ordinance as necessary. There is a 2 year waiting period until the inspection portion of the ordinance is implemented. Today the Committee is focused on the registration portion of the ordinance. Council has not formally approved the ordinance as of this time. Ryan Long 815 Broadway: Mr. Long stated that as a homeowner he did not want to pay for thej program, since he isi not ai residential rental landlord. He asked if his own children Mr. Miller referenced $278-(C) License Requirement of the proposed ordinance which  order for the tenants to occupy the building.  to bel licensed.  in the business plan.  to move forward.  registration ordinance is very archaic and difficult to enforce.  only properties that have violations.  rented from him if he would have to have his property licensed.  states:    Minutes oft the Hanover. Borough Council Public Safety Committee. Meeting  May13, 2024 Page 5  "1. A license shall be required for all regulated rental units unless otherwise covered under a separate licensing program adopted and operated by the The following categories or rental properties shall not require licenses and shall not, therefore, be subject to the permitting provision oft this Part.  Borough or other approved entitylagency.  2.  a.  Ouner-occupied dwelling units provided that not more than two unrelated individuals, in addition to the immediate members of the owner's) family, occupy the dwelling unit at any given time.  b. C. d. e.  Hotels and motels. Hospitals and mursing homes.  Dwellings in which a bed and breakfast use is made.  Short Term Rental units, where such units are inspected as part of the Short-Term Rental registration and inspection program." H  Mr. Lookenbill asked if the fees would cover the entire cost of the program. Mr. Miller responded that the business plan would address costs and stated that the fees from the program would fund the program. A firm handle on the number of units needs to move Mr. Redding asked about different situations with renters, tenants, etc. i.e., sole Mr. Miller stated that there are a mixture of third party fees and in-house inspectors in Mr. Miller noted that the law would continue to be enforced equally among property owners, and that complaints would be promptly addressed as they are: now. Mr. Bange asked if he has a tenant's violation, such as a gas grill on a deck, would the Mr. Miller: noted that the Borough's C code enforcement officers are already issuing notices of violations to tenants, but copying landlords as well to make them aware of the Chairman Fuentes noted that the purpose of tonight's meeting was for discussion. The ordinance has been advertised for Council vote on May 22, 2024. If Council approves the  forward first.  proprietorship, LLC, etc. Pennsylvania municipalities.  landlord or tenant be cited.  situation.    Minutes oft the Hanover Borough Council Public Safety Committee. Meeting  May1 13, 2024 Page6  ordinance, then staff will move forward. There can be amendments to the ordinance in  the future, but the approval of this ordinance is a starting point. Chairman Fuentes thanked all for their attendance.  Adjournment It was moved by Mrs. Funk, seconded by Mrs. Greenholt to adjourn the  meeting at 7:26 PM. Motion carried.  Respectfully: submitted, Ahllhn Dorothy C. Felix BoroughSecretary