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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-08-19 CEAC MINUTES• • • 1. 2. CODE ENFORCEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES August 19, 1998 Call to Order. The regular meeting of the Englewood Code Enforcement Advisory Committee was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chair Allen in the Police/Fire Training Room. Roll Call Present: Allen, Boyer, Fischback, Fout, Hansen, Roth, Stankorb, Warren Ex-Officio: Langon, Moore, Nabholz, Parsons Absent: Johnson Unexcused: Crawford Visitor: Romans Approval of Minutes. MEMBER ALLEN MOVED AND MEMBER HANSEN SECONDED THAT THE MINUTES OF THE JULY 15, 1998, CODE ENFORCEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE BE APPROVED. Ayes: Allen, Boyer, Fischback, Hansen, Roth, Fout, Stankorb, Warren Nays: None Absent: Johnson, Crawford The motion carried. 3. Old business. Chair Allen asked for comments regarding National Night Out. The general consensus was that it was very successful and that attendance was up from previous years. Councilperson Nabholz included that her neighborhood had expressed an interest in having a "Safe Street" for Halloween as a result of the success of National Night Out. Member Fout complimented Code Enforcement Officer A.J. Boshart and felt that she would be an asset to the Committee. The letter that Boshart developed has been finalized and will be implemented soon. Parsons advised that this was the first year that each of the Code Enforcement Officers went out and that each had attended at least six parties. 4. New business. Dorothy Romans, a volunteer with the Department of Safety Services, spoke to the Committee about the Citizen's Academy and encouraged their participation. She also touched on her two other volunteer programs designed to assist senior citizens. Division Chief Moore advised the committee. that the phones at the Miller Building were now completely repaired; that the problem had been with an underground phone line that was shorting out. Division Chief Moore then told the committee that Code Enforcement would no longer have personnel on the street on the weekend. Coverage had been provided on two successive weekends, but the amount of calls received did not justify having officers on duty. The normal, extended, schedule has been resumed and a Code Enforcement Officer will be on-call on the weekend. Langon advised the committee that there had been two hearings on the Nuisance Ordinance. Tamara Wolfe in Municipal Court had advised Langon that the administrative hearing system seems to be working. Parsons advised that both decisions were found in the City's favor. Good communication lines will be kept open between Municipal Court (Wolfe) and Code Enforcement Officers. It was suggested that Wolfe have an alternate who could handle the tracking phase in her absence. Langon will attend a future hearing and Committee members are invited to attend as well. 5. Subcommittee reports. Education Subcommittee: Member Fout quickly reviewed the draft that was sent out with the July minutes. She asked for comments and feedback. Committee members felt that it was imperative that the public be educated and that as a group there should be a decision regarding what to publicize and how often. It was decided that a press release would be prepared and sent to the "Herald." The press release would present basic information regarding the Code Enforcement Advisory Committee. A flyer will also be prepared and given to Officer Nancy Peterson to distribute at her various meetings. Leigh Ann Hoffhines in the City Manager's Office will also be contacted regarding utilizing "The Citizen." There was also discussion about ways in which other cities keep their communities informed. There are so many misconceptions about what Code Enforcement does and the purpose of the Code Enforcement Advisory Committee. It is the responsibility of the Education Subcommittee to provide something to teach the community about this function. Chief Moore adv i sed the Committee that they had a $2,000.00 budget and that they would lose that money if it was not used by December 31, 1998. 2 • • • • • • He also advised that this money could be used for photocopying purposes and that photocopying could be done through the City Print Shop . The concept of recognizing "Turn Around" blocks was discussed with the possibility of honoring specific blocks within each council district. The more statistical information made available the better. It could be advertised by having Tom Munds come out, take before and after pictures, publishing it in the "Herald" and in "The Citizen." However, to do this properly this concept will not be up and running until next spring. Member Fout will work with Parsons regarding the "Process of Code Enforcement" including the fact that many contacts are initiated by Code Enforcement Officers -probably 4: 1 . Graffiti Subcommittee: Member Roth advised that the proposal was submitted to the City Attorney's office but he had heard nothing back. Member Roth was advised that the response from Dan Brotzman was included in the packet the members received with the July minutes. Member Stankorb advised that he had expected them [City Attorney's office] to come up with a first draft of an ordinance with a supporting document as to why one way was preferred over another. As a committee the memo from Brotzman had not been reviewed. Member Stankorb perceived the memo as negative and felt that it indicated that nothing was going to work. It was decided that the subcommittee would try to meet soon to discuss Brotzman's comments, then meet with the City Attorney's office, draft up an ordinance, and possibly invite Brotzman to attend the September meeting. Internal Operations Subcommittee: The members of this subcommittee who were present advised the Committee that they still had not met. There was considerable discussion about trash and junk. Langon advised that there were multiple definitions of trash in various ordinances and that standardization is something the city attorney is interested in. Nabholz asked that Langon get the definitions for the subcommittee. The subcommittee members were asked to would work on clarification of the trash and junk issue in the Nuisance Abatement Ordinance. 6. Discussion of feasibility of creating new subcommittees. 7. Accomplished as a part of #5 above (Internal Operations Subcommittee). Next meeting, date, location, and agenda. Wednesday, September 16, 1998, 7:00 p.m., Police/Fire Training Room. Agenda: 1) Tom Munds from the "Herald" and draft article for press release. 2) Report from the Graffiti Subcommittee with Dan Brotzman or his representative possibly attending. Members were asked to contact Chair Allen by September 4, 1998 if they had anything they wanted added to the agenda . 3 Nabholz reminded the Committee that the Annual City Picnic would be held Friday, August 21, 1998, from 11 :00 a.m. -3:00 p.m. at Cushing Park. She encouraged everyone to attend. Langon stated that she noticed Member Crawford had not been attending the meetings. Member Boyer advised that it was due to a family illness and wanted to know when the next time would be to allow someone to come on the Committee. Member Crawford's term expires in November and the Committee determined they would just let her term expire or contact her allowing to her resign. Langon also advised the Committee that the next appointments were scheduled for January and that those members whose terms would expire in November would be encouraged to continue to serve until January. Langon confirmed that by-laws had been completed and sent to the city attorney's office. Member Fout asked that a card or something be sent to Councilperson Garrett. Nabholz advised that she would send cards to Garrett and Member Johnson. 8. Adjournment. MEMBER ALLEN MOVED, AND MEMBER STANKORB SECONDED, TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. Ayes: Allen, Boyer, Fischback, Hansen, Roth, Fout, Stankorb, Warren Nays: None Absent: Johnson, Crawford The motion carried and the Code Enforcement Advisory Committee meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m. 4 • • •