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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,April 7, 2014 Page 14 b. Annual Reports for Community Development's Land Use Code Enforcement and Business Property Enhancement Program Activities in 2013 Codes Coordinator Don Munson provided an update on two separate programs of the Community Development Department: Land Use Code Enforcement and the Business Property Enhancement Program (BPEP); and staff involved in each pro- gram. In his presentation on the residential Neighborhood Enhancement Program (NEP), Mr. Munson noted the downward trends in violations from 2012 to 2013, as de- tailed in the RCA; with the program successfully working as designed. Mr. Munson noted that 2013 was the first year in expanding the NEP from resi- dential to commercial and multi-family rental properties; and was found to be very well-received by property owners and the public. Mr. Munson advised that the intent was to continue the residential NEP for years one and two of a three year cycle, with the third year used for the BPEP program for commercial areas. At the request of Councilmember Willmus in recognizing the thirty-six violations for snow, Mr. Munson advised that violations were typically snow plowed and piled inadvertently on sidewalks, or business not shoveling sidewalks. Mr. Mun- son advised that this was usually due to a new manager of the property not realiz- ing their responsibility to shovel their property; with most found pretty coopera- tive, and while not necessarily in agreement with it, agreeing to comply. At the request of Councilmember McGehee, Mr. Munson reviewed the BPEP and the soon-to-be-implemented Rental Licensing Program for multi-family buildings of five or more units, being finalized at this time. Mr. Munson advised that those initial inspections were anticipated to begin this May, and that program would take the place of any BPEP and/or NEP inspections this first year. Councilmember McGehee questioned whether consideration had been given to a reasonable end date for projects as part of the permit and construction process. Mr. Munson noted that, technically, a building permit is valid as long as there was work continuing on a project; however, under the City's Public Nuisance Code, the City could require that many property maintenance issues be addressed within a certain deadline before abatement was pursued. Further discussion ensued related to time limits for building permits at six months if no activity is evident, with state building code regulations trumping any city re- strictions.