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Seaside reports progress after cockroach complaints at Seabreeze Apartments; 32 violation notices issued
Summary
City code enforcement says repeated inspections and weekly exterminator treatments have reduced cockroach activity at Seabreeze Apartments; 32 notices and 12 closed cases were reported, and staff are pursuing inspections of nonresponsive units.
Alfred Soto, the city’s code compliance coordinator, told the Seaside City Council that follow-up inspections and weekly exterminator treatments have produced “complete remediation or significant reduction” in cockroach activity at the Seabreeze Apartments, a property that drew 46 initial complaints to the city.
Soto said the city received 46 initial tenant complaints, of which seven complainants later retracted their reports. After inspection, seven units showed no evidence of infestation; the city issued 32 violation notices to the property owner and has closed 12 cases so far. Staff are continuing post-treatment reinspections and attempting to contact residents who have not responded to inspection requests.
The update came at the council’s Dec. 5 meeting as staff described the enforcement procedures used at the complex. Soto said code enforcement maintains a daily presence at Seabreeze to perform re-inspections, leave business cards at unresponsive units, post inspection-request notices on doors, and distribute educational handouts about mold prevention, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and pest-control measures. The city also receives treatment logs from the exterminator and is conducting inspections of adjacent units to prevent re-infestation.
Council members asked whether city staff had determined why seven residents retracted complaints and how the city communicates with tenants who are not compliant. Soto said the retractions were not explained to staff and that the city continues to attempt contact. He described communication methods used with tenants as phone calls, text messages and exchanging photos when useful. He also said staff communicates inspection results with the property manager and notifies the owner about units requiring additional treatment.
Council members pressed staff on how the city verifies that mold and other non-pest violations are resolved. Soto said inspectors check the originally reported locations and that his post-inspection observations did not show visible mold on those surfaces. He also said reported issues such as missing electrical faceplates, water pressure problems and missing alarms have been resolved in inspected units.
City officials emphasized that staff are operating “at the edge of our legal authority” but are continuing the inspections and enforcement actions available under city code. Soto said educational handouts are available at city hall for tenants, and the city will print staff reports on request for members of the public who need them.
The council did not take formal action on the presentation; staff said reinspections and outreach will continue and that they will return with additional updates as necessary.
Details provided by code enforcement during the Dec. 5 council meeting include the number of initial complaints (46), retracted complaints (7), units inspected showing no infestation (7), violation notices issued (32), and closed cases (12).
