Lino Lakes Ledger

By Doni-Mae B. Rauch

First Reading of STAR Program approved

Without objection, the Lino Lakes City Council approved the first reading of Ordinance No. 08-07 at the July 23 meeting. Councilman Dan Stoltz was not present.

In presenting the Safer Tenants and Rental (STAR) program, Police Chief David J. Pecchia noted that the purpose of the program is to protect, preserve and promote the public health, safety and general welfare of the city.

"The City of Lino Lakes is committed to proactively addressing crime," he told the council. "Preventing problems is always more effective than trying to deal with them aft er they occur." The chief noted that records in neighboring communities show that rental housing properties have had higher crime rates than owner-occupied homes. "Rental properties place larger numbers of people into more dense areas, thereby increasing crime opportunities," he said.

Three levels of STAR certification have been developed; they include criminal history checks of all applicants (age 18 and older) covering the last seven years, photo identification and mandated property manager training. The ordinance also requires that the owner of rental housing developments establish criteria for denial of rental applicants. This first reading could subsequently result in the amendment of the city code by adding a new Chapter 1009 related to Housing Maintenance Code.

A motion by Council woman Donna Carlson to approve the first reading was seconded by Councilman Jeff O'Donnell.

In other action,