HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAP 2016-05-09 Item 2D - Discussion - Proactive Code EnforcementCity of Tukwila
Allan Ekberg, Mayor
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
TO: Community Affairs and Parks Committee
FROM: Nora Gierloff, Deputy Community Development Director
BY: Minnie Dhaliwal, Planning Supervisor
CC: Mayor Ekberg
DATE: May 9, 2016
SUBJECT: Proactive Code Enforcement
Issue
Expansion of proactive code enforcement in single family neighborhoods to implement one of
Mayor Ekberg's four core priorities.
Background
Historically code enforcement in Tukwila has been primarily complaint driven which can result in
uneven application of our standards. The exception is the Rental Housing Program that requires
periodic inspections and has been very successful at improving the conditions in the almost
60% of our housing stock that is rented. Expansion of proactive code enforcement to our single
family neighborhoods is proposed as a tool to improve housing conditions.
Concept
Focused resources that would rotate through different neighborhoods could help to promote a
community ethic of improvement and create visible change. Ideally this would spark greater
community involvement and help build relationships between neighbors.
Discussion
Here is an outline of the process:
• Begin outreach about rotating proactive code enforcement through web site and social
media in order to explain the new approach and set expectations.
• Identify the priority order for neighborhoods. Allentown will be the first as we have
already conducted an initial survey.
• Mail a postcard to the residents and property owners in each neighborhood several
weeks before their turn to let them know what to expect, why the City is taking this
approach and ask for volunteers to help their neighbors.
• Focus on a neighborhood for 6-8 weeks. The areas would be sized to allow for an initial
sweep, follow up visit and a first round of violation notices within the time frame,
• Conduct a street by street sweep for the 5 priority issues — life safety, junk vehicles, on-
site parking violations, garbage and weeds.
• Locations with violations will receive a door hanger with itemized issues and user
friendly brochures explaining what the code requires and how to make improvements.
We are looking into how to provide translations on the web site.
• Officers will reinspect 2-3 weeks later and only then begin enforcement if issues have
not been corrected.
• If the violation(s) have been corrected we would send a thank you letter to the resident.
• Consider a 2nd postcard to the neighborhood with results (X many violations resolved, Y
in progress) and another call for volunteers.
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INFORMATIONAL MEMO
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This emphasis on proactive enforcement will likely reduce the number of abatements that code
enforcement is able to complete in 2016. It will also create a larger backlog of open cases as we
will not be able to resolve all issues before moving on to the next area. We also expect that the
Tukwila Works application will result in an increase in code complaints which will require officer
time to respond, investigate and resolve. Hopefully the performance numbers will be seen in the
context of the increased efforts.
We anticipate that many of our residents will face barriers to compliance so the more resources
we are able to offer them, such as free dump passes or vehicle removal, the more quickly we
will see change.
For Consideration
We see the need to have someone to coordinate work parties for neighborhood volunteers and
solicit donations for our residents (tools for yardwork, paint for graffiti, gravel for parking areas,
etc.). We have had people perform court ordered community service by helping clean up
properties for elderly or disabled residents but they need to be supervised. If there were
additional code enforcement personnel to do this then we wouldn't have to pull an officer out of
the field.
Recommendation
The Committee is asked to review and provide feedback before staff moves forward with
neighborhood based proactive code enforcement using the process outlined above.
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