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Thornton residents press council on backyard encampments, suspected drug activity and code enforcement limits
Summary
Multiple Thornton residents told the council they are experiencing persistent problems with people living in backyards, drug activity and code compliance issues; council requested staff follow up and signaled interest in reexamining enforcement tools.
Several Thornton residents used the public-comment period on Feb. 11 to describe ongoing safety and quality-of-life problems tied to people living in yards, suspected drug activity and perceived limits on code and police enforcement.
Marlene Caso, who lives in Ward 1, said neighbors report transient populations and people living in campers and trailers in backyards near a cul-de-sac; she said she and other neighbors no longer feel safe and asked the city for options. The mayor asked staff to have a police and code-enforcement representative follow up with the resident.
Carl Sayer, who said he lives in the 9600 block of Lane Street and has raised the issue for seven years, told the council he regularly documents drug deals, people living in campers in backyards, yard poisoning and other nuisance problems. Sayer said previous meetings with police, the city manager and past chiefs have not resolved the situation and asked for a meeting to pursue solutions.
Council members acknowledged the complaints and directed staff to follow up. Council member Martinez said the complaints appear to be part of a pattern across older neighborhoods and asked staff to review enforcement procedures and, if necessary, present options to improve code enforcement and visibility into backyards that are not directly observable from the street. The city manager indicated staff have been in contact and would follow up.
Staff responses recorded at the meeting said code enforcement and police had made proactive efforts in the cases raised and that staff would reconnect with the residents. No formal policy changes or votes were taken at the meeting; council members asked for additional staff work and indicated they may discuss changes to procedures or rules if needed.
Ending
Council asked staff to contact the residents who spoke and to brief council later about possible procedural or code changes to improve enforcement and address recurring nuisance sites.
