Taft council reviews updated code-enforcement tools after property abatements and encampment cleanups

Valerie Escalante, outside counsel with Civica Law Group, and Taft staff presented a study session on updated code-enforcement procedures and recent property abatements at the City of Taft council meeting on June 17, 2025.

The presentation summarized work that began after the council in June 2023 directed updates to the Taft Municipal Code to reflect recent federal and state case law and to give staff clearer administrative tools. City staff reported that 40 formal code-enforcement cases were opened under the revised code; 30 were closed with compliance and five remain active. Staff also said hundreds of informal complaints were resolved without opening formal cases.

Why it matters: city officials said the code updates give enforcement staff clearer authority to pursue inspections, administrative citations, stop-work notices, liens and court-ordered receiverships when property owners fail to act. Council members framed the changes as an effort to balance public safety, property rights and due process while addressing blight in commercial corridors and public rights of way.

Escalante and city staff described several specific enforcement outcomes the council has used since the code changes: an emergency abatement and fencing at 405 Centre Street after a 2023 fire; cleanup and securing of 209 Centre Street where the owner was deceased; a consent cleanup and red tag at 213 Center; long-term receivership and court-supervised sale and rehabilitation of a large blighted property at 122 Hearne. Staff said the receivership sale resulted in the purchaser undertaking roof, plumbing, electrical and interior rehabilitation.

Staff described the typical enforcement workflow as starting with personal contact and voluntary compliance, followed by administrative citations when necessary, and escalating to court-authorized inspections, liens or receivership when there is no cooperation. The presentation noted that the city has used court orders to appoint third-party receivers in at least one case and that public-works crews regularly patrol alleys and ditches to remove hazardous debris.

The report said encampments and hazardous accumulations in alleyways and underpasses have been a major focus: staff reported “hundreds” of cleanups since June 2023 and described regular patrols by public works and targeted interventions by code enforcement when ownership could be identified. Staff also explained a process to give individuals time to collect belongings before removing abandoned material.

The presentation clarified vendor enforcement policy: sidewalk vendors now require a city vendor permit and, when applicable, a county food-safety permit; larger food trucks are currently prohibited inside the city limits. Staff emphasized that enforcement in unincorporated county areas is the county's responsibility and that Taft staff will refer complaints across jurisdictions when necessary.

Council members asked about whether the city could have conducted similar actions before the code update; Escalante said the earlier code gave less-clear authority and that the new language and training for staff provide stronger, more defensible procedures. City Manager Jones noted the city is exploring adding criminal enforcement tools tied to municipal-code violations for cases where administrative citations and voluntary compliance fail, and that those tools would require coordination with courts and possible further code amendments.

The study session closed with council members thanking code enforcement, public works and police staff for the work to implement the updated code and asking the public to report problem areas so staff can follow the established process.