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FOAC approves scope for code compliance audit focusing on five nuisance categories
Summary
The Financial Oversight and Audit Committee approved the scope and objectives for a code compliance audit covering fiscal years 2024 and 2025, focusing on brush/trash/debris, illegal dumping, illegal parking, junk vehicles and sidewalk obstructions; committee members discussed department reorganization and data sampling methods.
The Financial Oversight and Audit Committee voted unanimously to accept the scope and objectives for a code compliance audit that will examine enforcement of nuisance violations for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. The motion passed 3-0.
Mondo Calderon, chief internal auditor, said the audit planning included input from FOAC members, the city manager and the code enforcement director and that auditors reviewed sample data from the Acela system and comparable audits from other cities. The audit will assess whether enforcement processes conform to city ordinances, whether penalties and costs follow established fee schedules, examine education and outreach, and analyze budget and staffing levels for enforcement.
Calderon said auditors narrowed the engagement to the five most common nuisance categories identified in interviews and data analysis: (1) brush (including weeds, trash and debris); (2) illegal dumping; (3) illegal parking; (4) junk vehicles; and (5) sidewalk obstructions. He said the audit will use sampling techniques to cover the entire city and plans to include all eight city districts in the analysis.
Committee members emphasized that code enforcement had recently been reorganized and that comparisons across 2024 and 2025 should note the change. A committee member asked that the audit explicitly state that, before April 2025, code enforcement functioned as a division inside the Police Department and that the stand-alone Code Compliance Department was created in April 2025; Calderon agreed the audit background will document that timeline. Calderon also said he will attempt to include court data where available but noted availability is "to be determined."
FOAC indicated staff should sample broadly — district by district — and provide analysis of repeat violators and how long cases remain unresolved, including cases pending in court. Calderon said the team expects to complete the field work within roughly 90 days after starting the audit but noted the work is large and may use contingency time.
The committee voted 3-0 to accept the audit scope and objectives and authorize staff to begin the audit work.
