Resident calls on council to investigate code enforcement practices after repeated complaints

A Yuba City resident publicly urged the council to investigate alleged misconduct by the city’s Code Enforcement staff and to discipline or remove employees he said were responsible.

Richard Dixon, who identified himself as a resident of more than 20 years, described multiple code enforcement complaints filed against his household that he called false or petty, including a complaint about a chair on his front porch used by a 76‑year‑old relative; another complaint, he said, alleged his doorway was too narrow for medical personnel (Dixon said that claim was demonstrably false). He said code enforcement actions have caused mental anguish for household members, who include elders and a spouse undergoing cancer treatment.

Dixon asked the council to order an internal investigation into Code Enforcement’s practices, to terminate an identified code enforcement officer (he named Austin Piven), and to discipline the officer’s supervisor (he named Doug Libby). He said a Yuba City police officer who responded to a related complaint found it baseless.

Council members acknowledged the complaint and asked staff to flag the matter for follow‑up. City staff indicated they would review and take appropriate action consistent with personnel rules; no personnel decisions were taken on the dais. The mayor asked staff to put the matter on their radar for further review.

No formal hearing or investigation outcome was announced at the meeting; staff will follow up through appropriate internal channels.