I. RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt the proposed Clean City Initiative framework and direct staff to implement enhanced enforcement, outreach, and abatement actions as outlined in this report to further the City’s Strategic Goal emanating from the City’s strategic planning efforts.
II. BACKGROUND:
Community cleanliness and property maintenance are directly linked to public health, neighborhood stability, and economic vitality. Over time, several areas of the City have experienced increased visual blight and deferred maintenance, including vacant and burned structures, accumulation of debris, unmaintained landscaping, and inoperable vehicles visible from the public right-of-way.
Council requested code revisions and enhanced enforcement protocols. Staff was able to include the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) in the requisite adoption of the 2026 California Model Codes. The IPMC codifies minimum habitability, and exterior maintenance standards, while removing ambiguity and vague standards in the California Model Codes making standards less vulnerable to appeal and selective enforcement claims.
The adoption of the 2024 IPMC as well as a robust, logical and well communicated plan to systematically increase enforcement in the City is what staff believes the Council requested. Overall, existing code enforcement tools remain effective, and staff has outlined a more structured, visible, and coordinated initiative that combines enforcement with outreach and clear expectations to meet Council’s directive.
III. DISCUSSION:
Staff has developed a robust and logical plan to begin the implementation of the Council’s Clean City Initiative. The following underlined sub-headings highlight recommended actions.
Removal of Burned and Unsafe Structures:
Burned-out and structurally compromised residences present ongoing safety hazards, attract illegal activity, and contribute significantly to neighborhood blight.
Staff proposes prioritizing:
- Identification and cataloging of burned or fire-damaged structures
- Continuing coordination with Building, Fire, and Legal staff to determine appropriate abatement paths with a bi-weekly meeting to discuss statuses and next steps
- Continued and vigorous use of existing nuisance abatement authority, including notices, administrative citations, and demolition where warranted. The City will incur upfront costs, with cost recovery a long-term, realistic pursuit.
Removal of these structures is expected to have an immediate and measurable impact on neighborhood conditions.
Enhanced Code Enforcement Strategy:
The Clean City Initiative will utilize rotating, targeted enforcement efforts focused on common, observable violations that significantly affect neighborhood appearance and compliance.
Targeted enforcement categories will include in order of priority:
- Accumulation of trash and debris
- Boarded or unsecured residences
- Unmaintained or dead landscaping
- Vehicles parked or stored on unpaved surfaces
- Inoperable vehicles located within front yard setback
Enforcement will rotate by category and geographic area to ensure:
- Consistent citywide coverage
- Manageable workload for staff
- Clear messaging to residents regarding expectations
This “low-hanging fruit” approach is intended to achieve rapid, visible improvements while reinforcing compliance norms.
Community Notification and Outreach:
To support transparency and voluntary compliance, staff recommends the deployment of advance mailers and public notices prior to targeted enforcement periods. Additionally, staff recommends posting rolling messages on the City’s electronic and social media platforms. This outreach-first approach supports fairness and reduces enforcement resistance. Outreach tools may include:
- Citywide or neighborhood-specific mailers
- Social media announcements and website updates
- Coordination with neighborhood groups or community organizations
Mailers/Outreach will outline:
- Upcoming enforcement focus areas
- Applicable municipal code sections
- Compliance timelines
- Contact information for questions or assistance
Implementation and Staffing
The initiative will be implemented using existing staff and authority, with enforcement intensity scaled based on capacity and observed results. Interdepartmental coordination among Code Enforcement, Building, Police, Fire, and Public Works will be emphasized. Increased staffing will increase results and speed at which results can be expected but is not recommended at this time as plan implementation and community response may change this over time. Adjustments to enforcement focus and outreach methods will be made as necessary.
Staff will track and report to Council:
- Number of violations addressed
- Compliance rates
- Abatement actions completed
- Community feedback
Staff will also track and report Council directed performance measures, and adjust enforcement as directed.
IV. ALTERNATIVES:
- Direct Staff to implement the Clean City Initiative as outlined by staff above (Recommendation)
- Direct staff to not implement changes to current Code Enforcement practices (Not Recommended)
V. FISCAL IMPACT:
The Clean City Initiative is expected to be implemented largely within existing operational resources. Varied costs associated with mailers exist; inserts into utility bills are a less costly outreach method, although staff recommends post card size mailers at a cost of ~$5k-$7K per mailer. Additionally, abatement actions, and contracted demolition may be incurred; however, these costs should be largely offset through administrative citations, penalties, and cost recovery where permitted by law.
At this time, staff recommends an initial expenditure of ~$5k-$7k for a post-card sized mailer to be mailed to all households and businesses to properly socialize the increased enforcement actions, and address community concerns early. |