HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-11-12 - AGENDA REPORTS - CODE ENFORCEMENT CITATION (2)AGENDA REPORT
City Manager Approvalb�[f/,�J/^__
Item to be presented
CONSENT CALENDAR Lynn M. Harris 42
DATE: November 12, 1991
SUBJECT: Code Enforcement Citation Authority
Resolution Number: 91-178
DEPARTMENT: Community Development
BACKGROUND
In examining ways to provide for more effective enforcement of the City's
Municipal Code, staff is requesting the City Council to direct the. Code
Enforcement Officers of the Community Development -Department to develop and
implement its citation power.
The City's. Code Enforcement Section has been in service for three years.
During this time, a large number of. code violations have been handled. Almost
all of our enforcement cases are resolved without intervention by theDistrict
Attorney's office. In rare cases, when an office conference with the District
Attorney's- Office is needed, the code violator is persuaded towards
compliance. Staff spends an inordinate amount of time on these cases,
conducting field meetings, office conferences, letters and phone contacts. -
In addition, when the City receives complaints regarding the distribution of
handbills and curb painting, Code Enforcement responds immediately. Sometimes
the individuals violating the City codes are met by the enforcement staff in
the field. When they are, they can give little more than a verbal warning and
get a promise from the violator to discontinue the illegal activity. Because
only a warning is issued, these individuals often return to committing the
same violation because there is little incentive for them to.comply with the
City's regulations.
Citation power, when used with discretion, reduces the amount of time staff
uses in getting the code violator to comply. In addition, by imposing a fee
on code violators, revenues are generated to reduce. the financial burden
caused by recalcitrant offenders to the City and the incidence of recidivism
is reduced. Finally, the procedure. is effective. It gets the offender's
attention quickly.
It is for this reason, to provide for more effective and efficient service to
the public, that we are requesting the City. Council to direct the Code
Enforcement staff to develop and implement its citation authority.
Adopt Resolution No. 91-178. Adopted:
Attachment:
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Resolution No. 91-178 Agcn�:i.! Item:
RESOLUTION NO. 91-178
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA,
DIRECTING CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS OF THE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO
ISSUE CITATIONS AND NOTICES TO APPEAR FOR VIOLATIONS
OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE PURSUANT TO CITY ORDINANCE
87-2 SECTION 1.08.050 IN ACCORDANCE WITH
PENAL CODES 836.5 AND 853.6 et seq.
THE CITY COUNCIL DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1
A. Complaints have been made by residents to the City regarding
violations of City Municipal Codes and current enforcement efforts to provide
for expeditious compliance .in some cases, has been difficult.
B. Current enforcement efforts to obtain compliance from some code
violations have been costly and time consuming for the City. The City will be
able to provide a more expedient service to the community, conserve staff time
and reduce the cost of enforcement to the City by issuing citations.
C. By imposing fines, the time frame in obtaining code compliance
will be reduced, revenues will be generated to reduce the financial burden
caused by recalcitrant offenders to the City and the incidence of recidivism
will be reduced.
D. Dependence by the code enforcement staff on the Sheriff for
citation of various offenses, will be reduced, allowing the Sheriff
opportunity to utilize their resources for more urgent matters.
SECTION 2. Based on this information, the City Council finds that
the direction to the code enforcement officers of the 'Community Development
Department to issue citations and notices to appear for code violations is
consistent with the City policy to provide for more effective enforcement
procedures and service to the community.
SECTION 3. Based upon the foregoing, the City Council does hereby
direct code enforcement officers of the Community Development Department to
utilize its citation authority as a means to obtain compliance from code
violators.
SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this
Resolution.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this day of 1991.
ATTEST:
Donna M. Grindey, City Clerk
Carl Boyer, Mayor
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES) ss
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA)
I, Donna M. Grindey, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the above and foregoing
Resolution was duly adopted by .the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita
at a regular meeting thereof, held on the day of , 1991
by the following vote of Council:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
Donna M. Grindey, City Clerk