Councilmembers pressed city staff Sept. 15 about the pace and funding of demolition and code-enforcement work after the planning and code-enforcement team described recent activity and a partial shift of demolition dollars into lot-clearing contracts. "We have 25 demolition cases in FY25," the planning presenter said, and the city reported that 15 properties were demolished by owners, five by the city and 12 remained in progress or court for the most recent fiscal year figures. Staff said the city placed liens and daily fines on properties and has recovered some costs when properties later sold. Why it matters: Council members said visible, long-standing blight depresses property values and the tax base and urged more proactive use of funds and clearer reporting on which properties are in court or scheduled for work. Nut graf: City staff said demolition work has proceeded but resource limits and legal complexity (including locating heirs to deceased owners) slow some removals. The city manager and planning staff said they have shifted a portion of demolition funding into lot clearing and contracted local vendors to perform mowing and lot cleanup beyond the capacity of city crews. What staff presented: The planning presenter and municipal judge gave counts and cost details for two fiscal years. For FY24 staff reported 22 demolition cases: 10 self-demolitions and eight city-funded demolitions; the city said it spent roughly $23,000 on demolitions and used or provided about 40 dumpsters (some provided at no charge by contractors). For FY25 staff reported 25 cases with about 15 owner demolitions and five city demolitions and city demolition expenditures reported at about $6,009; staff said the city received about 23 comped dumpsters and paid for nine. Staff said they apply liens to recover city costs and that in some cases daily fines have grown to more than $50,000 without prompt remediation. Council concerns and staff response: Councilman Hancock said the public keeps asking why the city is not more proactive in cleanup efforts and called for the city to provide clearer case lists. "If you can identify what it is that needs to be changed, that would be beneficial," the municipal judge said when asked about reporting; the judge and staff noted quarterly reports include case information and that lists of top properties had been shared previously. The city manager said locating owners and heirs — particularly when owners are deceased — adds legal complexity and cost. The manager also said the city has begun using a bidding list of local lawn contractors for lot clearing and cited the limits of in-house crews, which are committed to other maintenance duties such as mowing and utilities work. No formal action tonight: Staff said the shift of some demolition funds into a lot-clearing line item is already reflected in the draft budget; council did not adopt any ordinance or new program at the workshop. Ending: Councilmembers urged staff to provide clearer, address-level status reports on demolition and lot-clearing cases and asked for continued use of targeted grants and local contractor lists to help supplement city resources.