Commission renews Clean and Safe Community Initiative; program has generated nearly $2.7 million over eight years

The City Commission voted to reestablish the Clean and Safe Community Initiative by approving Resolution 25‑R67, continuing the program and its current $1-per-utility-bill fee.

Sarai Reyes, presenting for code enforcement, told commissioners the program was created in 2017 and expanded in 2022 to fund nuisance abatement, public-safety activities and animal services. Reyes said total revenue over the eight‑year period was “almost $2,700,000,” with the fund remaining a restricted account that carries forward any unspent balance. The presenter and finance director said the program has an available restricted balance of roughly $250,000.

Reyes told commissioners nuisance-abatement work includes lot cutting, securing vacant structures, green pools, vehicle removal, foreclosure-related costs and other remediation activities. Staff said orders issued through the nuisance-abatement process are effective for 12 months, reducing repeated case processing for recurring overgrowth.

Commissioners discussed monitoring expenses, and Finance Director Donna Morris explained some large expenditures posted in the fiscal‑year accounting records represented earlier work whose invoices were paid in the current year. Commissioners asked staff to return with a more detailed trend analysis over multiple fiscal years and a recommendation on whether the $1 fee remains sufficient; the commission also asked staff to provide details on transfer thresholds and approval processes for significant cleanups.

The resolution passed on a roll-call vote with Commissioners Broderick, Gaines and Mayor Pro Tem Johnson recorded as yes.