Plainview staff report sharper code enforcement, big jump in construction valuation

Philip Myers, Plainview’s chief building official, told the City Council on June 24 that the Community Development Department increased proactive code-enforcement activity and saw a marked rise in permit valuation tied largely to a new Walmart facility.

Myers said the department expanded area “sweeps” — targeted outreach and inspections in defined grids — and increased its emphasis on education after sending pre-sweep flyers in English and Spanish. “That’s what some people call us,” Myers said of code compliance, explaining the unit’s role in identifying debris, trash, illegal parking and tall weeds.

He gave these figures for the most recent reporting year and year-to-date comparisons that the department presented to council: letters sent for area sweeps rose from 1,710 to 2,479; violation notices increased from 486 to 508; total violations recorded rose from 1,343 to 1,620; trash collected rose from about 11 tons to 16 tons. Citations resulting from violations were 61 last year and 31 this year, while citations issued overall were 330 last year and 126 so far this year. Myers said the department’s compliance rate after education…