Item 02 - Code Enforcement Overview & Direction - Power PointSmall Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus
Code Enforcement
Overview & Direction
Los Gatos Town Council
September 4, 2012
Small Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus
Background
•Study Session
–Rising community and neighborhood concerns
–Requested by Town Council
–Policy direction, not specific issues/complaints
•What is Code Enforcement?
–Building Codes, including Health & Safety
–Planning Permits and Conditions
–Neighborhood and Other Nuisances
Small Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus
Past Two Fiscal Years
ACTIVITY NUMBER PERCENTAGE - RATE
Phone calls 2,145 3 to 4 per day
Complaints Received 606 5 to 6 per week
No Violation 82 14 %
Sign Violations 122 20 %
Building Code 83 14 %
Noise 68 11 %
Vehicles 50 8 %
Encroachment/Obstruction 46 8 %
Garbage & Rubbish 45 7 %
CUP’s & Use Violations 32 5 %
Overgrown Weeds/Brush 28 5 %
Miscellaneous 116 19 %
Small Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus
Current Practices
•Staffing
–Position vacant/eliminated since late 2008
–Duties split between multiple offices/positions
–Limited training and consistency
•Standards
–Reactive, complaint-based enforcement
–Focus on compliance, not punishment
–Abate enforcement pending resolution
Small Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus
Proposed Hybrid Approach
•Complaints remain highest priority
•Staff-initiated enforcement of same issues
for neighborhood and nearby businesses
•Staff-initiated enforcement of
Downtown and CUP enforcement
Small Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus
Increased Enforcement
•Resurrect dedicated staffing
–This year with unbudgeted excess revenues
–Permanent thru mid-year or next year budget
•Create Planning Enforcement Database
–CUP conditions and schedule
–Downtown signage, seating and operations
–Other performance conditions
Small Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus
Compliance
•Suspend enforcement only for:
–Timely & tangible progress up to 90 days max
–Appeals, as required
•Permit or Policy Changes
–Compliance required prior to consideration
–Include documentation in staff reports
•Exceptions require Council concurrence
Small Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus
Citizen Engagement
•Increased outreach and education
•Research complainant appeal process
•Encourage facilitated solutions
•Consider neighborhood engagement
•Avoid intractable disputes
•Support independent actions
Small Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus
COUNCIL DIRECTION
1.Restore dedicated staffing
2.Begin staff-initiated enforcement
a)Nearby residences and businesses
b)Downtown and C.U.P.’s
3.Up to 90 day maximum abatement period
Not for Permit or Policy changes
4.Research complainant appeal process
5.Increased outreach and engagement