Loading...
04-B-1 City Council Task Force Code Enf MINUTES WORK SESSION CITY COUNCIL TASK FORCE ON CODE ENFORCEMENT CITV COUNCIL CHAMBERS 107 E. KAUFMAN STREET PARIS. TEXAS WEDNESDA V. AUGUST 1. 2007 5:30 O'CLOCK P.M. 1. The City Council Task Force on Code Enforcement was called to order by Will Biard. A. The following members were present: Will Biard Don Wilson . Steve Brown B. Will Biard announced that the first order of business was to elect a Chairman. Steve Brown nominated Don Wilson, seconded by Will . Biard. Motion carried 2-0. 2. Discussion and consideration of appointments to the City Council Task Force on Code Enforcement. Chairman Wilson thanked the crowd for attending and participating in this effort. He stated that the purpose of the Task Force is not to get into complaints about who didn't return phone calls; instead, it's a forum for citizen input and to help us gain partnerships to clean up the town. He stated that the staff can't do it all. He said that this will take time because we have a lot to cover. The Task Force will do this by breaking into several sessions, undertaking a needs assessment, and reviewing existing ordinances. He said that this will be like the Charter Committee. It will take two or three months, but we want to do this right, and we need the people's help to assist in implementing what comes out of the Task Force. He stated that there was already negative press again this, complaining that fixing the infrastructure was more important. He advised those in attendance that fixing the infrastructure in under different rules and under a different budget. He said we are not taking away from one to do the other. We can do both at one time. He asked the crowd to please sign up and volunteer. He stated there will be 11 to 13 embers appointed by the City Council either on the 13th or the later meeting in August. 3. Discussion and consideration of the goals and objectives of the City Council TaskForce on Code Enforcement. Chairman Wilson then walked those in attendance through a PowerPoint presentation and covered the following topics: A. Property Rights - Chairman Wilson asked who had more rights, the person who kept their property neat and clean or the neighbor across the street who had been working on his house for over three years. B. Storage and Trash in the Front Yard, on the Front Porch, and in Carports and Garages - Chairman Wilson showed several photos of properties around town with junk and storage at the front of the house. C. Junked Vehicles - Chairman Wilson showed photos of vehicles with windows busted out, and properties with several junked vehicles parked all over them. D. Parking in the Front Yard - Chairman Wilson showed photos of properties with people parking vehicles on the grass and blocking public sidewalks. E. Recreational Vehicle Parking - Chairman Wilson asked Lisa Wright to explain the current ordinance. She stated that he existing ordinance was written in 1970 or earlier, and it states that no travel trailer is permitted to be parked anywhere inside the city limits. She stated that, to her knowledge, the ordinance has n"ot been enforced in quite some time. She showed a photographs of two travel trailers, one parked on the street, and one parked on a concrete pad with a covered garage. She stated that the dilemma Code Enforcement has with these is in how to deal with them. One may be stored better than the other; however, technically, neither is supposed to be stored inside the city. F. Fences in Front Yards - Chairman Wilson photos of incomplete fences and chain link fences on corner lots. with shrubbery so high that it could create a traffic hazard. G. Fencing Materials - Chairman Wilson showed photos of wire fences with barbed wire on top and construction fences used in front yards. He asked if the community thought this kind of material was okay. H. Swimming Pools and Playground Equipment in the Front Yard _ Chairman Wilson showed photos of plastic swimming pools in front yards. He stated that this was an attractive nuisance to children and could create some liability for the property owner. I. High Grass and Weeds - Chairman Wilson showed photos of yards that were mowed; however, the property owners did not mow the drainage ditch on their lot. He stated that education is needed to inform people that they own the ditches and the city is not responsible for their upkeep. J. Brush and Limbs - Chairman Wilson showed photos of limbs that were piled improperly on the property and could not be picked up by Sanitation. K. Railroad Rights-of-way - Chairman Wilson showed photos of Railroad property that was overgrown. He stated that this was something the City would have to work with Railroads on. L. Signs - Chairman Wilson showed photos of abandoned signs, signs hanging over the streets, and a sign on the side of a truck parked along the highway. M. Demolition by Neglect - Chairman Wilson showed photos of structures that were deteriorating because the property owners were not maintaining them. Ken Kohls asked if requiring repairs could run counter to Historic Preservation requirements. Chairman Wilson said that was something the Task Force would need to look into. N. Incomplete or Abandoned Demolition or Building Projects - Chairman Wilson showed photos of projects that had been incomplete for some time. He stated that the Task Force needs to consider recommended that demolition companies place a bond with the City so that, if they don't complete a demolition and they leave a mess behind, the City can complete the job using their bond. O. Illegal Dumping - Chairman Wilson showed photos of lots where mattresses and sofas had been dumped. P. Dust-free Parking - Chairman Wilson showed photos of a paved lot and a lot with gravel. Q. Trash Pickup - Chairman Wilson showed photos of construction debris placed on the curb, stating that the debris in one of the photos remained on the curb for over two weeks because the City cannot pick up this kind of material. He also showed photos of trash that was placed behind the curb where Sanitation cannot pick it up and piles that were placed out improperly. R. Building Permits - Chairman Wilson showed photos of accessory buildings placed without permits that were too close to the neighbors' property lines. S. Zoning - Commercial Activities in a Residential Area - Chairman Wilson showed photos of commercial and industrial activities that were next to people's homes. Chairman Wilson again requested that everyone in the room volunteer to help with the effort. He stated that the staff would be at the next meeting to answer any questions. He stated that the City is looking into software programs to help receive citizen reports. Chairman Wilson said we need to consider if we can turn this into a revenue producer. We need to treat both sides fairly, the taxpayers and the people using the service. We have to decide how much service we want. He stated that just passing an ordinance doesn't work. The City needs to participate and not hide behind the rules, and we need to determine as a city how much we want to pay for that. He said that we want input, and we need to respond appropriately and determine what resources we need in order to be able to do that. He said that it all goes back to education. He recognized Pete Kampfer from the PEDC and said that Pete has a difficult job selling Paris when they see the condition of the town. If we want businesses, we have to clean up. Chairman Wilson stated that there will be seven members, one from each district, and four at-large members. There will also be representatives from volunteer organizations. He then opened the floor and asked the crowd if there was anything they thought the Task Force needed to look into that was not covered tonight. Carl Harcrowe stated that property owners have problems getting items taken to the landfill unless they do the work themselves. He said you have to provide a copy of your water bill and license, so a property owner can't hire someone to clean up their yard for them. He recommended that the compost site stay open later. Other items mentioned by the crowd included: A. City-owned property B. Animal control - Chairman Wilson said this was probably something that needed to be looking into separately instead of by this group. C. Semi-trucks parked in residential neighborhoods. Karl Louis stated that we need to look into the ordinance and see if it needs updating. D. Reporting code violation via e-mail - Chairman Wilson stated that a member of the IT Department would be on the Task Force. E. Increase the budget to -add more people F. Have a representative from the County Attorney's Office on the Task Force - Karl Louis stated that, if a person appeals a court case, it just sits in the D.A.'s office or gets dismissed. We could have our Assistant City Attorney prosecute under the D.A.'s direction. G. Grass clippings in the street H. Code enforcement tickets I. Weeds on curb and gutter J. Require that trash be put in bags K. Drainage ditches L. Livestock inside the city limits 4. Meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m. APPROVED THIS DAY OF ,2007. DON WILSON, CHAIRMAN