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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, February 25, 2008 Page 14 Codes Coordinator Don Munson and Code Enforcement Officer Rick Talbot pro- vided apresentation on land use code enforcement procedures and programs, comparisons of surrounding cities, and options for consideration and further dis- cussion, as previously requested by the City Council. Staff provided a bench handout prepared by Mr. Muivson entitled, "Land Use Code Enforcement -Options for Council's Consideration." Mr. Munson noted that staff had met with staff from ten other conununities with similar aged housing stock; and a comparison matrix of their procedures and pro- grams was part ol'the staff reporC. Considerations were based on similar housing and population sizes; which departments handled code enforcement; nwnber of full-time employees; yearly budget; number of cases; and whether seasonal em- ployees were used. Further considerations included proactive versus reactive en- forcement; fines; administrative tickets; abatements; court citations; and council involvement. Several innovative programs and methods were highlighted, such as canvassing neighborhoods for violations (i.e., "Shoreview Shines"); escalating fines/mandatory fines, charging fees for abatements; assigning unpaid fines and fees to taxes; free trash pick-up; informational brochures; segments on cable channels; rental licensing; and point-of--sale inspections. Trends observed included aging-in-place populations (with code enforcement compliance issues related to finances or physical incapacities); assistance pro- grams; more proactive enforcement; more aggressive enforcement; canvassing of neighborhoods for violations; over-crowding of rental properties; and covering costs through fines and fees. Staff provided other duties of the Land Use/Code Enforcement officials; process- ing commitment for the enforcement process whether through abatement or Ram- sey County Court Citation; compassionate compliance programming; seasonal is- sues creating needed extensions for compliance; and volunteers and agencies util- ized by staff in assisting in code compliance. Staff further highlighted the department's flexibility in working with those mak- ing an honest effort and progressing toward compliance, differences in City Council direction for intensity of enforcement, from 1997 to-date; average num- ber of compliance over the last five years at 441, similar to other cities; with fif- teen court citations issued over the last ten years; 32 abatements performed in 2007; 7 administrative tickets issues in 2007; and recent modification to notice language making it stronger. Staff noted that of a total of 425 cases in 2007, 404 (95%) had been closed, 21 remaining open (5%). Staff noted the other day-to-day duties and workload in the department with approximately 150 annual inspec-