The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCOW 2005-04-11 Item 4C - Briefing - 2004 Code Enforcement Activities vi l LA, COUNCIL A GENDA SYNOP p r s Initials ITEM No. s O 1 Meeting Date Prepared 1 Mayor's review Council review i th 42...41 April 11, 2005 1 r4C 1 I I ITEM INFORMATION CAS NUMBER: 05-063 ORIGINAL AGENDA DATE: APRIL 11, 2005 AGENDA ITEM TITLE Briefing on 2004 Code Enforcement Activities CATEGOR Discussion n Motion Resolution Ordinance Bid Award Public U Other Mtg Date Mtg Date Mtg Date Mtg Date Mtg Date g is Mtg Date SPONSOR Council Mayor Adrn DCD E Finance Fire Legal P &R Police PW SPONSOR'S on 2004 Code Enforcement Activities SUMMARY REVIEWED BY COW Mtg. CA &P Cmte F &S Cmte L Transportation Cmte Utilities Cmte El Arts Comm. Parks Comm. n Planning Comm. DATE: 3/15/05 RECOMMENDATIONS: SPONSOR /ADMIN. DCD Code Enforcement COMMITTEE Forward to COW COST IMPACT FUND SOURCE EXPENDITURE REQUIRED AMOUNT BUDGETED APPROPRIATION REQUIRED Fund Source: Comments: MTG. DATE RECORD OF COUNCIL ACTION 4 -11 -05 MTG. DATE ATTACHMENTS 4 -11 -05 Memo dated 4/6/05 from S. Lancaster ~-. ~ - - ~ - --.... City of Tukwila Steven M: Mullet, Mayor Department of Community Development Steve Lancaster, Director FROM: Committee of the Whole X I fV Steve Lancaster, Director of Dept. of C~ity Development DATE: April 6, 2005 SUBJ: Briefing on 2004 Code Enforcement Activities The purpose of this paper is to provide the Committee of the Whole with an overview of current activities in the Code EQforcerp.ent d~partment.Code Enforcement continues to work closely with other 'departments and agencies in an effort to improve the conditions and appearance of Tukwila neighborhoods and businesses. Input from Council members and the community at large reinforce the need to continually assess housing conditions in our community, and embrace changes that continue to enhance the quality of life in Tukwila. 2004 Statistics Code Enforcement currently works on a complaint basis. These issues come from residents, City employees and others, and are received via telephone, email, or personal visits at the Building Department counter. In 2004, there were 320 new cases opened reported and investigated. The majority of cases continue to involve building issues, trash/debris, and junk vehicles. As in the past three years, these types of issues make up more than half of all municipal code violations: Types of Complaints Rcceived 2002 2003 2004 Trash 16% 25% 17% Signs 13% 16% 13% Housing 11% 3% 5% Use 9% 8% 1% Building 2% 18% 26% Vehicles 27% 12% 16% Landscape 18% 7% 10% Other 4% 11% 1% 249 (77%) of these cases were also resolved and closed, usually within the first 90 days. In addition, 48 old, unresolved cases (1999 - 2003) were closed. Most noteworthy are the ~ following: Kitty Litter Factory. Factory was demolished Burned out home on 40th Ave. was demolished and site cleared Burned out home on Poverty Hill, completely demolished, site cleared Hy 99 and 133 S1. Multiple buildings/junk vehicles/campers, trash, etc., site completely cleared RF A04-082 S. 10ih (Beacon Hill) Abandoned. unsafe house demolished 6300 South center Boulevard, Suite #100 · Tukwila, Washington 98188 · Phone: 206-431-3670 · Fax: 206-431-3665 RFA03-017 RFA02-116 RF A02-008 RF A03-077 Committee of the Whole April 6, 2005 Page 2 A strategy was developed and implemented to resolve the remaining, most grievous cases (aka the "Dirty Dozen"). Each case was analyzed and reviewed with the City Attorney and prioritized, based on health and safety, environmental, and other concerns. Staff are working with counsel to aggressively pursue legal recourse to abate these cases as quickly and efficiently as possible. Several of these cases go back as far as 1997. In some cases, property owners cannot be located, requiring a great deal of staff time in conducting "detective" work, and processing the required legal notices prior to any abatement by the City. i In 2004, the City Council adopted four new ordinances which address the appearance of our neighborhoods, align the- City's code -enforcement tools more closely with other departments, and provide a more timely mechanism for recouping abatement costs incurred by the City: . Ordinance No. 2057 - Adoption of the International Property Maintenance Code . Ordinance No. 2056 - Regulations for Vehicle Parking and Storage on Private Property . Ordinance No. 2045 - New regulations for junk vehicles and storage ofvehic1es . Ordinance No. 2067 - Tax Lien Ordinance 2005 WORK PLAN In 2005, Code Enforcement staff will direct its efforts in several key areas: . Resolution of outstanding cases Staff will continue to resolve open violations in the most timely, efficient manner possible. . Public Awareness and education Several articles regarding recently passed ordinances were communicated with residents through the Hazelnut, City website, and presentations given to internal and external groups. In December, January and February, staff sought out potential violations of the new parking ordinance, and pro actively sent reminder letters and brochures to residents. . Administrative Processes Code Enforcement will be completing work on a Procedure Manual, and continuing to streamline administrative processes (processing complaints, conducting investigations, etc.) to utilize resources efficiently.