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Proposal for Neighborhood Care Committee advances to further review after debate over volunteers27 role and impartiality
Summary
Council reviewed a proposed Neighborhood Care Committee (ordinance cited in the packet) to help identify code violations, educate owners, and advise enforcement; members were proposed by the presenter but councilors raised conflict-of-interest and procedural concerns and agreed to return the item for revision and clearer separation of outreach and adjudication.
Council reviewed a proposal to establish a five-member Neighborhood Care Committee (NCC) to support Connell27s newly posted part-time code-enforcement officer. The mayor27s description (read by staff) said the committee would be appointed by the mayor with council consent, serve two-year terms, and advise the mayor, police chief, community development manager and code enforcement officer on code-enforcement matters, including preliminary outreach, hearings and appeals.
A presenter (S6) described a vision of neighborhood representation and early education to resolve issues before formal enforcement: "So identify the code issue, connect with the property owner to make aware of the problem... Give the owner options for removal, so it makes it easier for them to deal with it." The presenter proposed initial members by name (Larry Feuerbacher, Abby Peters and Ray Marroquin) and emphasized starting with abandoned vehicles and other low-complexity nuisance items.
Several councilmembers raised procedural and fairness concerns. One councilmember (S3) said volunteer committee members who actively engage with owners could later face conflicts if asked to hear appeals about the same properties and recommended a neutral adjudicatory board that receives documented evidence from the code-enforcement officer. Other members suggested splitting outreach and adjudication functions or strictly separating duties and training volunteers. Members also recommended clear public messaging (mailings and bilingual materials) and allowing several months to draft language and forms.
The council did not adopt an ordinance at the Feb. 4 meeting; members agreed to revisit the proposal after reviewing other cities27 models and clarifying separation of duties and conflict-of-interest rules.
