Code Enforcement Update: Staff Describes Modernized Procedures, High Compliance and Outreach Plans

Brooke Svoboda, director overseeing code enforcement, gave council a detailed briefing on March 17 about how the city’s code‑enforcement program has changed and where staff see remaining issues.

Svoboda described a multi‑year shift away from an earlier “clean sweep” approach — which had produced community pushback — toward a process that emphasizes voluntary compliance, clearer and consistent code language, streamlined abatement hearings and stronger coordination with other departments and community partners. Staff said they updated abatement procedures to ensure due process, instituted a mechanism to secure standing court orders for chronic violators and decriminalized nuisance chapter violations (except for land‑use provisions that require other legal handling).

Svoboda said the department aims to secure voluntary compliance in most cases and uses court action only as a last resort. Staff provided two years of activity data: in 2023 the department logged approximately 1,600 cases and in 2024 the department handled about 2,900 case actions across residential, multifamily and commercial properties; the presentation said compliance remains in the high‑90s percentage range. Svoboda said the department recently reduced chronic violator cases by using standing court authority and clarified that some protracted, behind‑fence or Fourth Amendment–restricted situations limit staff ability to inspect private property without consent.

The department highlighted an abatement‑assistance program of $10,000 total, with up to $1,000 per income‑qualified household, used selectively to help remove barriers to compliance. Svoboda and staff also described collaboration with CREW (community response and conflict‑resolution resources) for mediation and to prevent weaponization of code complaints in neighbor‑on‑neighbor disputes.

Council members asked about tiering and prioritization (staff described four tiers: urgent life‑safety and blight proactives, lower‑priority complaint responses and interdepartmental coordination cases), responses to seasonal issues (landscaping/weed cycles and winter extensions), diversion and support options for residents who lack resources, and whether current staffing levels and rotation practices prevent perceived targeting of particular neighbors. Svoboda said officers rotate assignments every two years to reduce bias and that staff pursue community education, dumpster days and block‑cleanup programs to reduce complaints and encourage voluntary compliance.

Council members and staff discussed next steps: expanded public communication about enforcement priorities and resources for residents (including welcome/outreach materials and the existing free dumpster program for five or more neighbors), possible deeper data reporting back to council on safety‑sensitive zones and month‑of‑day patterns, and continued use of CREW for conflict resolution. No additional ordinance changes or new fees were proposed at the meeting; council asked staff to return with any specific recommendations if council wants adjustments to priorities or metrics.

Provenance (selected transcript evidence): "When I stepped in, I looked at this as this is busy work for staff ... we were creating data saying we're making contact, but we're not affecting results," (Director Brooke Svoboda). "Since we implemented chronic‑violator handling in 2021 we have almost no chronic violators anymore," (Svoboda). "We have a $10,000 budget up to $1,000 a home income qualified folks," (Svoboda).