Fresno County reports code enforcement backlog nearly halved; staffing and data system upgrades planned
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Summary
County officials told the board the code enforcement backlog fell from over 3,000 to about 1,600 cases, outlined a three-tiered response system and said they will reach full staffing (10 officers) and deploy a new case-management system to improve metrics and cost recovery.
County Chief Operating Officer Ed Hill and Code Enforcement Division Manager Alessania Harrison briefed the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 27 on quarterly performance and operations for the Code Enforcement Program.
They reported the program——backlog has been reduced from more than 3,000 cases to about 1,600 since the unit moved under the Administrative Office in August. Staff described a three-tiered response prioritization: tier 1 (health and safety) aims for a 24——to 48-hour initial response and is being met roughly 91% of the time; tier 2 (construction without permit, illegal dumping, illegal occupancy) targets a three-day response (meeting about 63% of the time); tier 3 (rubbish, abandoned vehicles, noncompliant land use) targets 3——to 5-day initial response (meeting about 76% of the time).
Hill said the division added five enforcement officers and expects to be fully staffed with 10 officers by February, at which point training and deployment will accelerate case progress. The county also has implemented a cost-recovery system: last calendar year it issued $168,000 in special assessments and collected $84,000, and staff plan to bill hourly rates into noncompliant properties going forward.
Officials acknowledged remaining challenges, including new staff training (estimated six months to ramp up) and an outdated data system; they noted a completed RFP and plan to bring a code-enforcement-specific software system to improve reporting and benchmarking.
Board members thanked staff for progress and requested updates as staffing and the new system come online.