Code enforcement reports 167 inspections, outlines nuisance-abatement steps including possible demolition

The city’s code-enforcement official told the council on Dec. 1 that the department had recorded 167 inspections year to date and outlined aggressive enforcement steps for dilapidated properties.

The officer said one property had accumulated 125 citations; overall, staff recorded about 51 citizen complaints and roughly 115 self-initiated cases in the period referenced in the report. For multi-family complexes, the officer said inspections are performed without prior warning to better protect residents. The official described using air-quality testing equipment to verify hazards and said several units have been required to make repairs or temporarily close for remediation.

On enforcement procedure, the officer described the city’s nuisance-abatement pathway: written notice, 30 days to respond, then an affidavit to a judge and a series of court dates. If owners fail to comply, staff described an escalation that was referenced in the meeting as an '18% tax increase' step and said the city can move forward with demolition and recoup costs from subsequent property sale proceeds; staff said it has obtained demolition funds in past years through county programs that cover a limited number of demolitions annually (staff cited an example of three houses per year under a county program). The officer also recounted an individual case (identified in the transcript as "Tracy") in which shelter and services were offered but the resident later returned to an uninhabitable home; staff said the city has followed required steps and may proceed under nuisance-abatement law if the owner does not remedy the property.

Council did not vote on new enforcement rules at the meeting but discussed possible code changes and the limits of state law on shortening court timelines.