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Code enforcement reports 350+ inspections; council and staff to review abandoned-vehicle rules and RV nuisance response
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Summary
Code enforcement presented a 2024 annual report showing more than 350 inspections and quicker case closures. Public comments raised persistent RV and abandoned-vehicle problems. Staff and council agreed to review the abandoned-vehicle ordinance and return with proposals; no formal ordinance change was adopted at the meeting.
The City of Ukiah’s code enforcement division presented its annual report for 2024 and highlighted more than 350 inspections, average case resolution times of roughly 23 days, and six notices of violation issued last year.
Sean Connell, the city’s code enforcement inspector, told council the division’s primary workload continues to be abandoned and improperly stored vehicles on public streets. He said the department has implemented bright-green notification stickers and a schedule that gives owners time to remove vehicles before towing, and that staff are working to coordinate with tow companies and police to clear long-term public-road obstructions.
During public comment, Rick Johnson — identified as a Planning Commissioner speaking as a private citizen — urged stronger enforcement of RVs that are used for long-term parking or camping on city streets and suggested amending the city code to declare repeat RV violations a nuisance subject to abatement after repeated citations. Resident Bill Wester described near-miss collisions at crosswalks and urged stepped-up enforcement for pedestrian safety.
Matt Kaiser, the city’s chief code enforcement officer, and Connell both said the city and police department recently agreed on an internal policy for handling RV-related issues and that logistics — including finding tow operators with suitable equipment — can complicate enforcement. Kaiser recommended reviewing the abandoned-vehicle abatement ordinance to consider changes that would make enforcement more effective against repeat offenders who shift vehicles between nearby streets.
Councilmembers expressed appreciation for the new CitizenServe online complaint system and suggested outreach (including Spanish-language materials) to increase public awareness. Staff said the 2024 report format consolidates prior separate reports (shopping carts, tobacco, nitrous oxide) into a single annual code-enforcement presentation and that the department will continue the annual format unless council directs otherwise.
Council consensus emerged for staff to review the abandoned-vehicle ordinance and return with options for potential changes and improved enforcement; staff noted changes may require attorney review and additional staff resources and funding decisions by council.
