Cedar Hill rolls out Operation Clean Sweep in Bradford Park at High Point after Kingswood pilot

Stacy Graves, Cedar Hill director of development services, told the City Council on Feb. 11 that the city will run its Operation Clean Sweep neighborhood code-enforcement program in Bradford Park at High Point this year after completing a campaign in Kingswood.

Graves said the program inspects visible property conditions and pursues compliance through education and progressively formal notices. "In Kingswood, in 2024, a total of 384 inspections were conducted as part of the program. During these inspections, a hundred and 8 properties had at least 1 code violation," Graves said, and she added that city staff recorded 141 total violations because some properties had more than one issue. She told council members that all cases opened during the Kingswood sweep have been resolved.

The program timeline described by Graves calls for two teams of two inspectors to conduct initial inspections across the selected area over about two weeks, followed by re-inspections two to three weeks later. Occupants initially receive door-hanger notices for observed violations; if a violation is not remedied by reinspection, Graves said a mailed notice of violation will be sent to the owner or tenant as appropriate. "We typically find that we can get compliance first on a door hanger, but if we have to, go further, it will be a mailed notice of violation," she said.

Graves said Bradford Park at High Point consists of about 384 parcels, includes alleys and street entrances, and that the High Point Public Improvement District board had reviewed the program and expressed support. Signs and QR codes will be placed at neighborhood entrances directing residents to program information online.

Council members used the briefing to press staff on program scope. Councilor Meaden asked whether the city runs sweeps specifically targeting commercial corridors; Graves said the program has sometimes included business districts and staff can explore a commercial-focused operation. Pro Tem Sims questioned how the city handles neighborhoods with higher violation rates and whether percentages reflect alley vs. street-only inspections; Graves answered that the figures are a snapshot in time and neighborhoods with alleys tend to show higher percentages because inspectors can see more of the property.

Council Member Hayden and other councilors raised concerns about how rental properties are notified. Graves said door hangers are the typical initial contact because many violations are tenant-generated, but staff will notify property owners when research shows a management company or owner is responsible and may use email or phone contact in some cases. On fines, Graves acknowledged that the ordinance sets fines (the notice indicates fine amounts) and that the party cited depends on the nature of the violation—owners remain ultimately responsible for their property, but a citation can be issued to a tenant when the tenant is responsible for the offense (for example, a junk vehicle registered to the tenant).

Graves also described related partnerships with the Parks Department and the Beautification and Environmental Sustainability Team (BEST) Board on litter and commercial trash concerns and said the city has a dedicated code enforcement officer assigned to commercial areas.

Council members who spoke at the briefing voiced support for continuing and expanding the program: "I support council member Hayden's comments about the commercial businesses," Pro Tem Sims said. Mayor and council members thanked Graves for the work and emphasized customer service and clear timelines; Graves said reinspections are generally scheduled with a 10–14 day window during Clean Sweep operations.

The city manager told council that staff will provide an update to the council on the program at completion.