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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-06-16 CEAC MINUTES• • • 1. CODE ENFORCEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES June 16, 1999 Call to Order . The regular meeti ng of the Englewood Code Enforcement Advisory Committee was ca ll ed to orde r at 6:35 p.m . by Chair Allen in the Community Room. Roll Call Present: Ex -Offic io: Absent: Allen, Boyer , Fischbach , Hansen, Roth , Stankorb Flaherty, Garrett, Langon, Lynn, Wicks Johnson, Sell 2. Approval of Minutes. Tricia Langon brought up the fact that the representative mentioned in item #4 was not a representative from the IMLA. The representative was actually from CRL Associates. Except for the third time that IMLA is mentioned , this should be changed to CRL Associates . MEMBER BOYER MOVED, AND MEMBER FISCHBACH SECONDED, THAT THE MINUTES OF THE MAY 19, 1999, CODE ENFORCEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE BE APPROVED AS AMENDED . Ayes : Allen , Boyer , Fi schbach, Hansen , Roth, Stankorb Nays: None Absent: Johnson, Sell The motion carri ed . 3. Public open forum. 4. Waived. The process was explained for the benefit of Mike Flaherty and Dave Lynn. Old business. Member Roth advised that the proposed Graffiti Ordinance had passed on the first reading. He felt t hat it was important that the subcommittee let the City Council members know why the Code Enforcement Advisory Committee had voted to change the origina l language and use the proposed IMLA language which gives the merchants more flexibility. He has drafted a letter explaining this as well as the pros and cons of the IMLA language and will get copies to the Committee for Committee input. Roth would like the letter to go to the City Counc i l members prior to the Public Heari ng scheduled for July 19, 1999. Roth feels that it would be best for City Council to decide which language to use based on the input received at the Public Hearing . Member Stankorb stated that it was possible that the City Council wasn't sure if the change had gone through the proper channel , i.e ., the Code Enforcement Advisory Committee and that CRL Associates had been solely respons i ble for the change. Member Boyer ind icated that there was also concern that there had been limited business input. Langon advised that NBD had sent out letters to the business community. All members are encouraged to attend the Public Hearing to show support for the Graffiti Ordinance. It looks better to council if people supporting it speak out as well as people against it. Councilperson Garrett advised that there would be no vote the night of the Public Hearing, that the vote would take place three to four weeks later. 5. Introduce Assistant City Manager, Michael Flaherty and Code Enforcement Supervisor, David Lynn. Chair Allen introduced Assistant City Manager Flaherty and Code Enforcement Supervisor, David Lynn. He then asked each to relate what his role would be in partnering with the Code Enforcement Advisory Committee and what Code Enforcement changes would have the most impact . Dave Lynn gave some background information on himself and advised that he was very glad to be with the City of Englewood. He advised the members that he would like to have an interactive role with the Committee, where the Committee can respect his experience with Code Enforcement and he can respect the members' role as residents of Englewood with an ear to the business and residential communities so that everyone can work together mutually. He has no proposals as far as specific changes at this time. However, based on what he was able to accomplish in Aurora and Greenwood Village, he expects to help make Code Enforcement a viable division. He discussed some of the things he was able to accomplish while with the two aforementioned cities and some of the issues he has identified thus far in Englewood. Part of his role is to develop policies and procedures within the division. · Member Hansen asked Lynn what his opinion was regarding the Code Enforcement officers rotating their districts. Lynn explained that in Aurora this issue was generally resolved by turnover. People were left in the areas where they were comfortable. · As turnover occurred the vacant position was offered to anyone on the team who wanted to make a move and there was a certain amount of movement. However, he does not expect to see the amount of turnover in Englewood as he saw in Aurora. He is spending time with each of the Code Enforcement officers, talking and riding, and has discussed the issue with several of them. He has not been able to reach a conclusion at this time and probably won't for another couple of months. Lieutenant Wicks interjected that the Department of Safety Services is extremely committed to the concept of Community-Oriented Policing. This includes the entire Department of Safety Services and is spreading throughout the city. Community Policing is based on the fact that the officers, firemen, code enforcement officers, etc ., get to know the citizens of the city on a personalized basis and that's what develops a cooperation of teamwork that gets things done. It is what is required if you 're going resolve a problem instead of address the symptom. In keeping with that there are very significant advantages to keeping people in an area -they know where their problem areas are, they need to know where to put their emphasis, they can be much more efficient by knowing the people and the properties. There are some very strong reasons to keep the people in the area . Stankorb stated that another piece that has to go along with that is accountability. He feels that the division has come a long way in the last two years. Wicks agreed that accountability is important and has given the officers areas of responsibility . It's their area , their responsibility, they take ownership of it, then they can be held accountable for what happens or what 2 • • • • • • does not happen in that particular area. Problem properties have been identified and that only comes from knowing the area extremely well . Mike Flaherty also gave some background information on himself. He feels that his role as Assistant City Manager is to be an extra set of eyes and ears for the City Manager. The City Manager's office wants to determine if there are opportunities to do the job better and, if so, how they can give assistance to the division to do that. He has met with Steve Fisher and thinks there are some issues there that can be moved forward on. Many of the recommendations have already been implemented. There is a very delicate balance with Code Enforcement in that if you step too lightly you're going to get criticized from those who want you to enforce more and if you step too heavily you're going to get criticized by those that you write citations for. Things appear now to be more on an even keel in that the standard operating procedures that have been implemented seem to be working very well. He will help to coordinate efforts between different departments. Allen asked Flaherty how much of his time was involved in the CityCenter project. Flaherty advised that he is more involved in other areas and that his involvement with the CityCenter project is primarily that of dealing with the RTD issues. Members of the Committee were encouraged to ride-along with one of the Code Enforcement officers. There was lengthy discussion about possible software packages that would benefit many of the departments that work together within the city. There was an unsuccessful attempt to do something internally and as a result it will now be a part of the budget for next year. Wicks believes that Permits Plus"' is the software package that will work out the best for all departments. However, Lynn stated that he has asked the American Association of Code Enforcement for the names of the vendors who attended the conference last November. He will write to each of the · vendors and ask if they have trial programs that they can send for the city to look at. 6. Discuss preparations for June 21, 1999, City Council Study Session. The Code Enforcement Advisory Committee will not be participating in the June 21, 1999, City Council Study Session. The original thought was that periodic reports would be given to the City Council of success stories from a Code Enforcement perspective within the city. A presentation of this sort will be rescheduled for a later date . 7. Strategy session review. Allen felt that it was important that the Committee review some of the goals that were set forth at the last meeting. The goals are: 1) See results, i .e., identify chronic properties and, as a committee, do whatever is possible to see that the problems are corrected. It would help the committee members to see tangible results of their efforts. 2) Partnering, i.e., aligning with the right groups. 3) Have shorter meetings and spend more time in subcommittee meetings . 3 8. Subcommittee reports. Operation Strategy Subcommittee -Chair: Donna Johnson 1) Perception of selective enforcement (partner with Code Enforcement) • Flexible/Rigid Approach • SOP has been developed which narrows the two ends of the continuum (complaints against Code Enforcement are down) • Specific In-Service training 2) How to address chronic problems (partner with Steve Fisher) 3) How to quantify progress/success Proposed Ordinance Subcommittee -Chair: unnamed (need input from City Attorney, Code Enforcement, etc.) 1) Finish the Graffiti Ordinance 2) Derelict vehicles 3) Review existing ordinances (restrict to specific Code Enforcement issues) Education Subcommittee -Chair: Jerry Stankorb 1) Continue to provide information to the public • The Citizen • Brochures mailed with the water bills • National Night Out 2) Get brochures to Nancy Peterson 3) Work on the Blue Ribbon Program (turn around properties & blocks) 4) Citywide Pride Banner 9. Topics for July 21 meeting. 1) Discuss the Public Hearing -July 19, 1999 10. Adjournment. MEMBER BOYER MOVED, AND MEMBER HANSEN SECONDED, TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. Ayes: Allen, Boyer, Fischbach, Hansen, Roth, Stankorb Nays: None Absent: Johnson, Sell The motion carried and the Code Enforcement Advisory Committee meeting adjourned at 8:35 p .m. ,//Recording Secretary / 4 • • •