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City reports progress on vacant and abandoned properties; code enforcement cites 164 cases since 2022
Summary
City code enforcement staff reported progress removing hazards and moving properties onto a vacant-and-abandoned registry; staff said 164 cases were logged since January 2022 with 41 abated and 19 active unsafe cases remaining.
City code enforcement staff reported progress on nuisance, vacant and unsafe properties during the Madison City Council meeting on Aug. 19, describing enforcement activity, property outcomes and changes under a new vacant-and-abandoned structures ordinance.
The presenter said they began tracking cases in January 2022. “From January, I've had 164 cases. 41 of those have been abated,” the presenter said, and noted that under the new vacant-and-abandoned structures registry the office moved about 96 properties from the “unsafe” list into the vacant-and-abandoned inventory while continuing inspections and owner notifications.
Staff described a roughly 75/25 mix between nuisance matters resolved voluntarily and those abated through city action, and said 19 unsafe cases remained active. The presenter and councilors showed before-and-after photos of resolved properties and highlighted examples of recent voluntary compliance after owners produced plans and abated hazards.
Council discussion referenced ongoing court processes for one property and the city attorney’s effort to pursue mediation. The mayor and council also described efforts to speed enforcement by coordinating with the Ordinance Violations Bureau to issue more immediate citations; staff noted the current nuisance ordinance requires a 20-day period before a fine is issued.
Councilors praised the progress and said the preference was voluntary plans and compliance rather than litigation. The presentation included plans to refine fines and benchmarking against neighboring communities; staff said further changes to fines and the violations process would be proposed for council consideration later in the year.
No formal council action was taken on the presentation; it was provided for council information and to guide ongoing enforcement work.
