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Woodland commission weighs shifting code enforcement from 'complaint-driven' to proactive model
Summary
The commission discussed removing the phrase 'complaint-driven' from the city's code-enforcement webpage and code, raising fines, reclassifying certain misdemeanor enforcement to civil offenses to enable staff enforcement, and prioritizing active enforcement for RVs, junk vehicles and people living in RVs; no final ordinance changes were adopted, but staff was directed to draft revisions for future action.
At a workshop following the public hearing, Woodland staff proposed a series of changes to how the city enforces its codes, including removing the term "complaint-driven" from the code-enforcement web language and code so staff can pursue proactive enforcement, increasing certain fines, and reclassifying some offenses from misdemeanor to civil to allow administrative enforcement.
Bretta, the city’s code-enforcement officer, reported case volumes (82 cases in 2025 with most closed and 32 so far this year) and said proactive enforcement would help address neighborhoods that have been repeatedly overlooked. Bretta told the commission she already uses postcards and certified letters and that targeted outreach often produces compliance: “I send this one just a couple days ago… I get great response,” she said.
Commissioners and staff discussed specific priority violations for active enforcement: long-term RV storage and RVs being lived in, junk vehicles, unpermitted signage and unpermitted trailer/truck parking in industrial areas. Staff proposed raising initial administrative fines and clarifying fee-schedule language that currently vests discretion with a department head; commissioners indicated support for clearer, less discretionary enforcement language.
The commission also reviewed proposed code changes on construction hours to remove ambiguity (for example, whether Saturday is treated as a weekday) and discussed a draft rewording to make enforcement clearer. Staff and commissioners agreed to bring a consolidated, revised enforcement chapter and draft website language back to a subsequent meeting for formal consideration.
Direction to staff and next steps: commissioners supported removing "complaint-driven" from the website language and asked staff to draft code amendments and consolidated enforcement language for the next meeting; they also asked staff to identify the fee-schedule sections that vest enforcement discretion in department heads so the commission can consider moving some penalties to civil enforcement handled administratively rather than through misdemeanor prosecution.
