County reports fewer compliance agreements, steady abatement permits under code section C1-71

The county planning and development department told the committee Thursday that it continues to use voluntary compliance agreements sparingly while prioritizing permit-based corrections under ordinance code section C1‑71.

“During this past year, we had 65 permits that we issued to abate violations. Forty-two of those permits affected habitability and 23 were demolition permits,” said Michael Alvarez, deputy director and county building official, summarizing the department’s annual report. The department also reported that code enforcement processed 21 compliance agreements in the past year and six of those agreements were recorded.

Jacqueline Anciano, director of Planning and Development, said the program approved by the board in 2021 aims to reduce the number of formal compliance agreements by working with applicants to bring properties into compliance through permits when possible. “We have been working to not utilize compliance agreements as much as possible,” Anciano said.

Deputy County Counsel Michael Rossi told supervisors that county council has only had to file civil actions to enforce a compliance agreement twice since 2014 and that staff are auditing outstanding agreements to determine which need further action. “We are currently auditing all outstanding compliance agreements to determine compliance,” Rossi said.

Committee members praised the annual report and asked that the department continue to return yearly updates. One supervisor described the work as a balance between flexibility for property owners and ensuring enforcement when necessary. “The goal should be to solve the problem…limited time and resources here at the county are better spent actually fixing the problem than tap-dancing through the minefield of compliance agreements,” a supervisory member said when moving to receive the report.

The committee voted to receive the report. Vice Chairperson Subidien and Chairperson Arenas recorded affirmative votes.

Staff said the county’s compliance agreements are voluntary and that the department offers limited financial hardship provisions and flexibility on time frames when property owners can demonstrate barriers. The county council and enforcement teams continue to review agreements and will recommend further actions where necessary.

The item was presented as an annual status update; no new ordinance changes or enforcement actions were adopted at the meeting.