Resident tells council code enforcement is failing on Veterans Avenue and elsewhere

Donald Andrew, a resident since 1958, told the council during citizens forum that properties along Veterans Avenue and other roads present ongoing code concerns and that enforcement appears uneven.

Andrew said many properties are “unsightly,” with brush, furniture and tall grass visible from the street. He said some property owners only mow after a complaint and that backyards remain unmaintained because code enforcement treats rear yards differently if not visible from the street. He said realtors avoid certain streets because of appearance and suggested the city adopt or enforce ordinances requiring property maintenance; he offered to help enforce complaints for free if the city would accept such assistance.

Andrew acknowledged the difficulty of code enforcement and said the department must balance citizen expectations with personnel limits. No staff response or council action was recorded on the record during the meeting.