HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-26-07 Item 7D, Code Enforcement Issues Response
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Request for Council Action
Prepared By:
Dept.:
MW
Community Development/Protective
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Agenda Item:
7.D.
Response to Resident Concerns Regarding Code Enforcement Issues
Council Mtg. Date:
Final Action Needed By:
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Budgeted Amount:
Actual Amount:
Funding Source:_
N/A
N/A
N/A
Information.
X Memorandum from City Administrator Wolfe dated 11-26-07 I
No.: ,
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Recommendation: I
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Recommendation:
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response to concerns
by a resident at a recent
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MEMORANDUM
DATE:
November 26, 2007
Mayor and City Council ,)
Michelle Wolfe, City Administrator~
Response to Mr. Richard Wenzel Regarding Code Enforcement Concerns
AGENDA ITEM: 7.D
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
BACKGROUND
Arden Hills' resident Richard Wenzel appeared before the City Council at a recent meeting to voice
concerns regarding code enforcement issues with two properties along County Road D. Mr. Wenzel also
referenced issues related to animal control enforcement and a recent citation he received. At that time,
staff indicated that we would respond to Mr. Wenzel's concerns and report back at a future Council
meeting.
DISCUSSION
Mr. Wenzel has previously raised concerns to staff and Council regarding two properties along County
Road D. Staff has been working with these property owners on a number of code enforcement issues
since early 2006. Members of City staff have had more than 30 contacts with the property owner at one
location and 15 contacts with the other property owner at the other location due to code compliance
issues. In early November 2007, staff again visited both locations, noted violations, issued letters to the
owners, and notified them that re-inspections would occur in late November.
These enforcement issues point to the general difficulty in code enforcement. While staff has had
ongoing contact with the property owners and many of the violations were corrected, staff has limited
tools for ensuring continued compliance. Many of the issues are those that can be in or out of compliance
on a day-to-day basis. Although most properties quickly comply with code enforcement notifications,
there are some properties that continue to have code enforcement issues despite the actions taken by the
City, Sherriff, and/or the City Attorney.
There are tools that can be implemented in the future to assist staff with enforcement, such as
administrative fines, but they are not available to staff at this time. Administrative fines can be a useful
tool in code enforcement and compliance; however, there is still no guarantee that all properties will be in
compliance with the code one hundred percent of the time. Despite the difficulties of enforcing the Code,
the City does have an enduring commitment to enforcing the Code.
Mr. Scherbel contacted Mr. Wenzel and informed him that staff has been actively working on the code
enforcement issues with the properties on County Road D. Mr. Wenzel was also informed that this item
would be scheduled for the November 26 City Council meeting.
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