Council gives first reading to ordinance retooling code enforcement, including odor rules

City staff and councilors presented Ordinance 16-06, a code enforcement update that converts some misdemeanor provisions to civil infractions, raises fines to more enforceable levels, and specifically addresses odor enforcement. A councilor and code enforcement staff described the update as targeted to repeat, obstinate offenders while providing exemptions for normal household activities. "It puts us enforcing the code for odor," a planning/council speaker said when explaining the change, and staff clarified that the Clean Air Agency would still assist on pollution matters but not serve as the city's code enforcer for odor nuisances.