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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-06-21 CEAC MINUTES• • • I. II. Englewood Code Enforcement Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes June 21, 2006 Call to Order Co-Chair Chris Hoagland called the regular meeting of the Englewood Code Enforcement Advisory Committee to order at 6:39 p.m. Roll Call Members Present: Co-Chair Chris Hoagland, Brian Bleile, Daryl Estes, Paul Hendricks, and Marty Mosman. Members Absent: Chair Dooley Gehr. A quorum of the Committee was present. Ex-Officio Members Present: Council Liaison Laurett Barrentine, Mike Flaherty and Commander Jeff Sanchez . Ex-Officio Member Absent: Council Liaison Jim Woodward and Sergeant Gary Condreay . No guests were present. Approval of Minutes Co-Chair Hoagland asked for corrections to the minutes of the May 17, 2006 meeting. There were none . A motion to approve the minutes of the May 1 7, 2006 Code Enforcement Advisory Committee meeting was made by Member Mosman and seconded by Member Bleile. The minutes were unanimously approved. Ill. Open Public Forum No one was present for the Open Public Forum. IV. Unfinished Business A. Modification of Language of the Off Road Vehicle Ordinance 15-9-2 Discussion Co-Chair H oag land wrote a memorandum on May 31, 2006 to City Attorney Brotzman informing him of the Committee's objections to the proposed changes to the Off Road Vehicle Ordinance. A copy of this memo is attached. This topic wi ll be discussed with Council at either the first or second meeting in September . 1 B. Property Owner's Responsibility for Public Right of Way Ordinance 11-5-5 Discussion As Council Liaison Barrentine is still gathering information from City staff on how changes to this ordinance might affect Code enforcement decisions, this topic is tabled until the July meeting. C. Foreclosed and Abandoned Properties Discussion Member Mossman discussed abandoned properties in her neighborhood which she believes are in the process of foreclosure. She inquired about who is respons ibl e for the upkeep of th ese properties; i.e. removing junk which owners or tenants leave behind in the yard, mowing th e grass, trimming we e ds , etc. Commander Sanchez explained this is an on-going problem. When a property goes into foreclosure, the City attempts to establish ownership and notify the owner to cleanup the property. Often, either the City is unable to reach an owner, some of whom are out-of-state, or there is no response. According to Ordinance, the City then goes through a notification and posting process . When all requirements are met, the City arranges for abatement of the property. The entire process takes approximately six weeks . A tax lien is applied against the property to recover costs. Spring and summer months are when properties typically show signs of neglect with overgrown weeds and vegetation. The City may see 10 to 20 such properties each year - a few of which are repeat violators. The Committee discussed the importance of maintaining properties for health and safety reasons and to retain property values in the neighborhood. Assistance is available for home buyers, and the City has been proactive in making information available on home ownership programs through the City newsletter, the Web site, etc. If people attend educational programs and understand the process, they'll be in a better position to take a more active role in their homeownership. D. FunFest Booth Discussion Member Mosman led a discussion on FunFest arrangements made to date. • Fun Fest is on August 26 1 " from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Booth space is reserved at no charge . • Two large tables and a 10 x 13 awning are available from Member Mosman. • The Committee will assist with transporting items, setting up, and manning the booth. Members can sign up at the next meeting. • Margie Payne and her husband are available to show their tropical birds at the booth. • The Committee is still looking for a children's game such as darts/d art board • • or a bean bag toss. Gary Hultberg, Parks and Recreation, may have games • available . 2 ·f • • • • Mike Flaherty indicated items can be ordered through the City using Code Enforcement Advisory Committee funds for flyers, display posters, and balloons, treats, toys, or other game prizes. • Susan Beckman, Arapahoe County, may have related code information available at no charge. Fun Fest is a great opportunity for the Code Enforcement Advisory Committee to reach out to the community, provide information on Code issues, and build positive relations with Englewood citizens . V. New Business VI. The Code Enforcement Advisory Committee has five member terms expiring in July 2006; and on June 12 1h, City Council held Board and Commission interviews. Tentative reappointments are Dooley Gehr, Chris Hoagland and Brian Bleile, and tentative new members are Eric Foster and Marjorie Becker. Appointments will be made on July 101h at the regular City Council meeting. Co-Chair Hoagland thanked all those who have served over this last term for their participation on the Committee. Code Enforcement Monthly Activity Report Commander Sanchez reported that graffiti continues to be high with 143 incidents last month in spite of arrests and summons issued. Typically when such inroads are made, statistics tend to go down, but taggers are trying to get the upper hand and it may take some time. Discussion ensued about what motivates graffiti artists. Commander Sanchez doesn't think it is gang activity per se or for peer approval. Worldwide there are a lot of problems with graffiti. A core group of people seems to be engaged in this activity; most are teenagers and yo ung adults. One person can do a great deal of damage in a short period of time with spray paint and a marker. Taggers don't necessarily view this as causing damage; it is their method of expression and they just don't seem to care. Authorities are trying to channel their activity through graffiti walls or areas devoted for group graffiti. Discussion continued and several opinions were shared. • A graffiti wall, on some le ve l, condones this activity. Illegal activity is illegal activity, and it seems the authorities sometimes cross the line. • Web cam technology is very inexpensive now and cameras could be placed throughout the City to monitor graffiti activity; however, no one knows where graffiti artists might strike next. • A camera in combination with a posted warning sign seemed to be effective at Arapahoe Community College in Littleton as there doesn't seem to be a graffiti problem in the area . • A camera set up in a Denver showroom resulted in the apprehension of a person who was shooting out windows. However, a portrait quality picture of a person 3 who acid etched the same showroom windows had no results; the photograph disappeared into a Denver Police Department file and no action was taken. • An apprehension can only occur if we get a good quality video or picture. More often than not, photographs are grainy and half out of focus. • Our sense of security and sense of community are important. A community with bars on the windows or signs that 'cameras are watching' sends a message that either gives people ideas or advertises that Englewood is a crime ridden place. • Ten to 20 taggers have been identified as working in the City of Englewood. The public must become aware of what's going on and, if something doesn't look right, call Safety Services. We must all do our part to clean up graffiti promptly. • The graffiti issue will be addressed at a City Council Study Session perhaps as early as July 101 ". Co-Chair Hoagland asked for other comments on the Activity Report. • The number of Weed incidents is at 325. • There were 76 Inoperable Vehicle incidents. Inoperable Vehicles is a reference to cars that are parked on private property. Abandoned Vehicles (20 incidents) are cars that are actually parked on the street. Vehicles parked on sidewalks are addressed by a Parking Control Officer. Safety Services has six Code Enforcement Officers; two of which are designated as Parking Control Officers and four as Code Officers. • The Dog Park is progressing on schedule and will open August 12 1 ". VII. Topics for Next Meeting • Modification of Language in the Off Road Vehicle Ordinance. • Section 11-5-5 Property Owner's Responsibility for Public Right of Way. • Foreclosed and Abandoned Properties. • FunFest Event. VIII. Adjournment Member Bleile made a motion to adjourn; this was seconded by Member Mosman. The motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 7:36 p.m. 4 • • • .,. • • • May 3 lst, 2006 To: Mr. Dan Brotzman From: Chris Hoagland, Code Enforcement Advisory Committee Re : Proposed definition changes to 15 -9-2 "trailers". Dear Mr. Brotzman: As you may know, the CEAC, at their last meeting, voted to decline to support your proposed changes to the ordinance to harmonize the ordinance's language with the CDOT Model Traffic Code for two reasons. Firstly, since the Title 15 Definitions section already references the Model Traffic Code in creating trailer definitions, we felt further reference to the Model Traffic Code in 15-9-2 and elsewhere was unnecessary. Secondly, we felt that changing these definitions carried with it the risk of unintended consequenses, particularly further redcucing allowed trailer sizes and possibly creating problems with other sections of the Ordinances. In light of the fact that Title 15 already references the CDOT Model Traffic Code, can't we safely omit these changes? Sincerely, qd,L1~ C~is Hoagland ftZr~ ~ ~ J__~ V-~;:..__. ~ b~ ~) ~ 7 If-. '\ ' ( ~ ~ \ {' Cl. • .e_ v" s~ pt, I I J-ej' '\-' ~i ,, ~-· ,--\ ( l k-, I~ \ /'v._ I eV', t" ({ .... l-c+; l.' ~ " ..-;--. ( .e.~ ~ 1~. ~ ~ . ' .. Ii .,. ' I / r1 / 15-1-2 HEALTH, SANITATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 15-1-2 • Trailer: A Trailer or Utility Trailer as defined in the 1995 Model Traffic Code, as adopted. Trailer, Small: For the purpose of Title 15, Englewood Municipal Code only, a small trailer is a ny wheeled vehicle, without motive power 'and h a ving an empty weight of two thousand (2,000) pounds or less, which is designed to be drawn by a motor vehicle and to carry its cargo load wholly · upon its own structure and which is generally and commonly used to carry and transport property ov er the public highways . Trash: Discarded materials including, but not limited to household wastes, furniture, construc- tion supplies and materials, garden, lawn and landscaping supplies and wastes, scrap wood, metal, or other materials, clothing and bedding. .The terms waste and trash are interchangeable for purposes of this Ordinance . Trash Container: A container of metal, wood or plastic with a top or cover that can be securely fashioned on the container to . prevent the con- tents from being carried or scattered by the ele- ments or animals . Paper or plastic bags are not permitted trash containers except for grass clip- pings and leaves, if properly secured. Trash Hauler: Any person, partnership, or cor- poration transporting trash for disposal for any fee or other compensation in the City of Englewood. Truck: Any motor v;ehicle equipped with a body designed to carry property and which is generally and commonly used to carry and transport prop- erty over the public highways. Usable Op en Space: On-site space that is ab- s e nt of any building or structure. Open space could contain, but is not limited to the following: sidewalks, trellises, swings, arbors, swimming pools, tennis courts, and landscaping. Surface parking is not to be considered as usable open space. Vehicle: Means any device which is capable of moving itself, or of being moved, from place to place upon wheels or endless tracks; such term, for the purpose of this Title, shall not include any farm tractor or any implement of husbandry designed primarily or exclusively for use and used in agricultural operation or any device moved by muscular power. This definition also means any self-propelled vehicle, which is designed prima- rily for travel on the public highways and which is generally and commonly used to transport p er- sons and property over the public highways. Vehicle, Commercial: Any motor vehicle li- censed by the State of Colorado as a commercial vehicle. Any vehicle designed, maintained or used primarily for the trans portation of property. Vehicl e, Hobby: Any vehicle of the following type in the process of being built, r es tored or ma!ntained as a hobby or diversion from one 's regular occupation: boat, classic car, experimental car, off-road vehicle, and race car and derelict vehicle. Vehicle, Motor: Any self-propelled vehicle that is designed primarily for travel on the public highways and which is generally and commonly used to transport persons and property ov er the public highways. Waste: The t erms "waste" and "trash" have the same meaning and are interchangeable for pur-• poses of this Ordinance. (S ee also Trash) Weea'.: Weeds, grass, brush or other r a nk or noxious vegetation that has grown to maturity or is in excess of six inches (6") in height. Yard: An existing or r equired open space, other than a court, on the same lot with a principal building or structure, open, unoccup~ed and un- obstructed from the ground to the sky, exc ept as otherwise provided herein. Yard, Front: A yard extending across the full width of the lot between the front lot line and the nearest line or point for buildings as required by setback r equirements. Yard, Rear: A yard extending across the full width of the lot between the rear lot line and the nearest line or point of the principal building. Yard, Side: A yard between the side line of the lot and the nearest line of the building and extending from the front yard to the rear yard, or in the absence of either of such yards, to the front or rear lot line, as may be . (Ord. 98-39; Ord . 00-7, § 226 , 3-6-00; Ord. 03-44; Ord. 03-52; Ord. 04-15) • Supp. No. 13 CD15:7