Council directs staff to pursue community engagement on a 30‑day pre‑eviction notice

During the April 20 study session, councilmembers discussed aligning the city’s pre‑eviction (pay‑or‑quit) notice with a longer local period than Minnesota’s statutory 14 days for nonpayment of rent. City Attorney Eric Nelson reminded the council that state law allows local governments to adopt a longer notice period by ordinance and said several nearby cities (Minneapolis, Brooklyn Center, St. Louis Park) have adopted 30‑day periods. He cautioned that going beyond 30 days increases legal risk by encroaching on property‑right protections and could invite takings or other litigation if not supported by a clear factual record.

City Manager Mike Funk framed the policy tradeoffs: a longer notice can give tenants more time to access rental assistance and avoid a damaging eviction filing, but it also affects landlords’ operations and raises enforcement/financial questions for property owners. Several councilmembers said they want to protect tenants who need time to secure alternatives; others asked staff to gather data and solicit landlord perspectives before any ordinance arrives.

Council consensus was to direct staff to prepare an outreach and ordinance‑development plan targeting a 30‑day notice option (not more), with a staff report and community‑engagement timeline due no later than the July study session. Eric Nelson recommended robust engagement with tenants, housing providers and landlords, and advised that a clearly documented factual record will minimize legal exposure if the city adopts a longer notice period.

Why it matters: eviction filings become part of a tenant’s rental record and can make housing harder to find; local notice periods are an important tool to give households time to obtain assistance or relocate, but extending notice periods also has legal and operational implications for landlords and property owners.