Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Code Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Englewood code enforcement credits seasonal staff for spike in grass-and-weeds cases; reinspections lag weeks
Summary
City code enforcement reported a large rise in grass-and-weeds cases tied to seasonal enforcement staff, while ongoing staff shortages and reinspection timing limit proactive enforcement in other categories including parks, parking and nuisance complaints.
At a meeting of the Englewood Code Enforcement Committee, staff presented July enforcement statistics showing a large increase in grass-and-weeds cases tied to seasonal workers and described limits on follow-up inspections because of staffing constraints.
AJ, a code enforcement staff member, told the committee that grass-and-weeds cases rose sharply compared with the prior year, citing the example that “grass and weeds were 174 last year. This year, they were 1,603.” Staff said the seasonal increase is the main driver of the change: seasonal hires arrived later last year and this year’s seasonals were on duty in July, producing more notices and warnings than earlier months.
The committee’s context: current field staffing comprises two seasonal employees and three full-time code officers. AJ said the department does not proactively walk every block and must prioritize incoming reports. He explained that seasonals generally handle properties with single violations or properties already open in the system, while district code officers handle more complex cases that may require summons or abatement.
On timing, staff said property owners receive an initial notice of violation and usually have 14 days to comply. Reinspections are typically scheduled about three to four weeks after the initial inspection; “the second round, we can tell properties that haven't done anything all season versus properties that have cut. Maybe they need that nudge again,” AJ said. For properties that show no compliance, staff said they may proceed directly to abatement when appropriate.
Committee members pressed on related categories where numbers changed sharply. Parking enforcement and nuisance cases fell compared with the prior year; staff attributed much of that decline to police traffic and parking officers taking primary responsibility for July 4 crowd control and towing abandoned RVs during periods when code officers were reassigned. Park-related complaints dropped as well after the city’s park ranger entered the police academy; staff said parks enforcement is being covered by the three code officers and traffic staff until the new park ranger starts in September.
The committee discussed right-of-way violations separately from grass-and-weeds. AJ said right-of-way violations include overgrown vegetation blocking sidewalks or alleys and are coded differently from grass-and-weeds notices.
Committee members asked for several clarifications and confirmed staffing plans: a new code officer is scheduled to start next week; one seasonal will remain through September and another part-time seasonal through about October 1; a new park ranger has been selected with a start date in late September. Staff warned that more stringent regulatory changes would require council support and possibly additional budgeted staff to ensure enforcement could be completed in the field.
The committee did not take legislative action on enforcement rules at this meeting but requested a follow-up when the grass-and-weeds subcommittee’s proposed language is integrated with existing code and when staff has reviewed enforcement feasibility.
