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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-06-17 CEAC MINUTES• CODE ENFORCEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES ROLL CALL Members present: Todd Allen Todd Boyer Katherine Fischback Barbara Fout Ruth Hansen Donna Johnson Don Roth Jerry Stankorb Llomar Warren Ex-Officio Members John Collins Joyce Parsons Tricia Langon Bob Moore June 17, 1998 • Byron Wicks • Absent: Melanie Crawford Ann Nabholz Tim Tucker CALL TO ORDER ... The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. APPROVAL OF MINUTES ... Tricia Langon noted the misspelling of her last name. Todd Allen noted Katherine Fischback is on the Graffiti sub-committee, not Education/Communication sub-committee. Joyce Parsons noted to remove second "attempt" page 5, line 7. Todd Allen noted "Changes to Section 7, 8 & 10 were approved" should read Section 7, 8 & 10 were approved. Minutes were approved . Page 1 of 8 Pages OLD BUSINESS ... Todd Allen attended a recent City Council Study Session, and presented briefly to City Council what the Code Enforcement Committee is doing. City Council likes what the committee is doing. There was a comment, however, regarding a concern to help the elderly with their homes. There was discussion about the ordinance. The changes that the committee recommended at the previous meeting will be implemented. The nuisance code has not been changed, only some of the processes. It is understood if some areas were to be worked on, they would be submitted as a separate ordinance change - done at a later date. COMMUNITY NEWS ... Todd Allen looks for something positive being done in the community. • Fischback stated nothing has been done regarding her neighbors and doesn't feel anything will be -unhappy neighbors. The tenants will not change; the landlords should deal with situation and are not. Joyce Parsons stated the tenant • and owner had been to court and has agreed with deferred time, agreeing to clear the property. The time has not expired yet. Stankorb' s neighbor now has a lawn service. Good Neighbor Days -618 loads per Roth. The operation this year went very smoothly, only a few cases of abuse to the system per Langon. Page 2 of 8 Pages • • • • NUISANCE ABATEMENT ORDINANCE COMMITTEE VOTE ON PROCEDURES ... Todd Allen stated the committee was looking for assistance and recommendations on 1, 2, 3 & 4 Abatement Ordinances. • # 1 ... Should anonymous call be taken? Wants protection for the person making the call. Should be able to make call but remain anonymous. Joyce Parsons advised 75% of calls are anonymous. Code Enforcement responds to all calls. Records are "Public" and cannot maintain two sets of files. A percentage of callers are perceived to "harass." Joyce articulates to callers that she will not be a part of personal conflicts. The situation might be civil and in that case, they are instructed to seek legal counsel (trees, property lines etc.) Joyce has instructed the Code Enforcement Officers as such. An example of bright lights was brought up and Joyce said Code Enforcement will work with the neighbor (mediate). Lt. Wicks does not see a problem with the way Code Enforcement is handling situation presently. A MOTION WAS MADE AND ACCEPTED FOR THE EXISTING AS WRITTEN. • #2 ... Should scheduled sweeps be made? All five officers are required to sweep their entire assigned area (streets and alleys) per Wicks . Sweeps are done on available time. Wicks explained he will address the committee (later in the meeting) of a new process . Page 3 of 8 Pages NUISANCE ABATEMENT ORDINANCE COMMITTEE VOTE ON PROCEDURES (continued) ... • #3 ... What is an appropriate time frame? Three working days, Code Enforcement personnel will investigate a routine complaint. Serious complaints are a different issue (on-call officer). Wicks stated Code Enforcement is already doing this. There are 72 hours in which some enforcement action is taken. A MOTION WAS MADE AND ACCEPTED FOR THE EXISTING AS WRITTEN BUT TO INCLUDE "THREE WORKING DAYS." • #4 ... Who should be notified -i.e. owner, tenant, both? What about lien holders? Joyce stated the lien holder does not need to be notified, only required to • notify the owner. The only time a lien holder is notified is when the • house is vacant. Foreclosures are tracked by Joyce noting the mortgage number and mortgagee. This information is maintained on file. Moore addressed "the ordinance refers to responsible party" in every section; this could be any of those people depending on the circumstances. Moore also explained that sometimes the tenant would like to take care of the situation, eliminating embarrassment, if the owner is notified. Todd Allen suggested that the first seven days are between the tenant and code enforcement officer to resolve informally; if after seven days, it is not resolved, notification should be made to the owner. Moore suggests that #4 be a non-issue. This issue is really a training or expertise issue and does not need to be proceduralized. Page 4 of 8 Pages • NUISANCE ABATEMENT ORDINANCE • COMMITTEE VOTE ON PROCEDURES (continued) ... • • • #4 ... Who should be notified-i.e. owner, tenant, both? What about lien holders? (continued) Tricia Langon said discretion should be allowed for Code Enforcement officers to handle. A MOTION WAS MADE AND ACCEPTED, ALLOWING THE DISCRETION OF THE CODE ENFORCMENT OFFICERS TO HANDLE THIS SITUATION. • #6 ... How should the complaining party be notified? Wicks feels this is another issue that does not need to be proceduralized. Depending on the situation, notification might be phone, in person etc. Joyce stated she often tells people, if results have not been made, call her. Barb Fouts feels the Community needs to be more involved, a partnership with Code Enforcement. Joyce said some of this has been accomplished through Neighborhood Watch, Tent Talks etc. Many block captains take the responsibility to talk to their neighbors and make the first approach. Todd Allen suggested to the committee that there should not be a procedural process , leaving up to the discretion of Code Enforcement and ... A MOTION WAS MADE AND ACCEPTED, ALLOWING THE DISCRETION OF THE CODE ENFORCMENT OFFICERS TO HANDLE THIS SITUATION. Page 5 of 8 Pages NUISANCE ABATEMENT ORDINANCE COMMITTEE VOTE ON PROCEDURES (continued) .•. • #9 ... When should the property be cleaned up and liened and when should a summons and complaint be issued or when should both occur? Stankorb stated this is another one that should be left up to the judgment of Code Enforcement. A MOTION WAS MADE AND ACCEPTED, ALLOWING THE DISCRETION OF THE CODE ENFORCMENT OFFICERS TO HANDLE THIS SITUATION. REVIEW OF "OPEN MEETING" REQUIREMENTS COMMITTEE/SUBCOMMITTEE MINUTES POSTING MEETING TIME & LOCATION TRICIA LANGON provided members copies of a summary of the Open Meeting Requirements that directly effect the code enforcement committee (A local public • body because the Code Enforcement Advisory Committee is a constituted body of • a political subdivision of the city). A public meeting is a gathering of three or more. Notes must be taken etc. An agenda will be mailed with the minutes . Meetings are open to the public at all times. Notice of the meetings are to be posted no less than 24 hours before the meeting. The City has a bulletin board designated at City Hall in the lobby . Notice has not been posted on the bulletin board thus far. Joyce stated that the City paper, The Herald, always has the meetings posted. Tricia recommends using the bulletin board because it is free . Page 6 of 8 Pages • • • • TRICIA LANGON (continued): There was discussion about the subcommittee notes and their availability to the public. There was also discussion about the ability to hold executive sessions. The position was presented that The Code Enforcement Advisory Committee does not have that option. It was determined the agenda would be available 9 days prior to the next meeting. REVIEW OF MISSION STATEMENT ... Todd Allen wanted to make sure everyone had a copy. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT ... Donna Johnson (INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE) advised that Lieutenant Wicks has addressed every issue and they feel everything is falling into place. The subcommittee feels very comfortable and will wait and see . LIEUTENANT BYRON WICKS ... At this point, Lieutenant Wicks requested permission to give a brief overview of the two hour meeting. 1 Supervisor (Joyce), 5 code enforcement officers , 1 parking control/abandoned vehicle officer, 2 part-time clerical assistants. Lt. Wicks changed the hours effective June 15th. There is now 13Y:z hour coverage, 5 days a week (0630 to 2000). There is not a need for weekend coverage. There are code enforcement officers on-call. If there is a code enforcement issue needing to be addressed, patrol officers (Community Policing) can enforce and issue a summons. Wicks advised there will not be automatic rotation in officers' assignments. The hours, however, will be assessed in September (shorter days in winter) . Page 7 of 8 Pages WICKS (continued): Training/Cross Training ... all officers have been cross trained and qualified in all • issues. There is only one specialist (the Abandoned Vehicle Officer). No level of expertise should be lost for vacations etc. Wicks instructed Joyce to create a task list of every issue of every reasonable issue the officers would come across. This was essentially to standardize training. This training is documented (when & who and by whom). A formal proposal for monitoring code enforcement activities will be presented to Wicks by Joyce for implementation (July 20th at 12:01 A.M.) for example ... Number of properties surveyed Number of properties in compliance Number of properties not in compliance There was discussion about Elderly Assistance Program. Susan McDonnell, Victim Assistance Counselor, was made aware of a Safe Summer Program where teenagers will perform some physical labor (Community Service) around the city and earn credits for free tickets to an event such as the Rockies or whatever. The patrol officers initially were to identify houses that could use some clean up but • Wicks suggested Code Enforcement. Code Enforcement was instructed to provide a list of 15 addresses. Englewood Police/Fire current radio system is experiencing some problem; hence, all code enforcement officers have pagers & cell phones. The Meet Adjourned at 9:25 P.M. Next Meeting July 15, 1998. Page 8 of 8 Pages •