04-B Task Force Min 9-25-07
MINUTES
WORK SESSION
CITY COUNCIL TASK FORCE ON CODE ENFORCEMENT
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
107 E. KAUFMAN STREET
PARIS, TEXAS
THURSDA V, SEPTEMBER 25, 2007
5:00 O'CLOCK P.M.
1. The City Council Task Force on Code Enforcement was called to order by Don
Wilson.
A. The following members were present:
Don Wilson, Chairman
Steve Brown
Bruce Frazier
Jim Lassiter
Don B. Taylor
Charles Richards
John S. House
Cheryt Moore
Marilyn Bellevance
Zachary Saffle
Pete Kampfer
Charles Fulbright
Bee Garmon
Oscar Johnson
B. The following members were absent:
Will Biard
Jerome Pipkins
Chris Brown
C. Also present was Lisa Wright, Director of Community Development;
Kent Mcllyar, City Attorney; Kevin Carruth, City Manager; Shawn Napier,
City Engineer/Public Works Director; Edwayne Sam is, Sanitation
Supervisor; Todd Varner, Code Enforcement Officer; Karl Louis, Police
Chief, John Lestock, Asst. City Attorney/Municipal Court Prosecutor;
John Brunson, Asst. Public Works Director; Vance Woodard, Fire
Marshal.
2. Approva/ of minutes from previous meetings. Motion was made by Don
Taylor, seconded by Oscar Johnson, to approve the minutes of the September
6, 2007 meeting as corrected. Motion carried unanimously.
3. Discussion of and possible action on recommending revisions to any and all
ordinances necessary to allow issuance of on-site code enforcement
citations. Lisa Wright explained that the purpose of the citation was to allow
Code Enforcement to expedite court action on repeat offenders and
individuals who did not comply with agreed upon clean-up schedules. She
said that citations would not be issued as matter of regular business. Motion
to recommend to Council to allow the issuance of citations was made by Bee
Garmon, seconded by Oscar Johnson. Motion carried unanimously.
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4. Discussion of and possible action on recommending a special City-wide
project to target junked vehicles. Chairman Wilson stated he wants a
concerted effort to target these by having the staff move forward on this and
stepping back from other items for a week or two. He further stated that staff
needs to identify the cars, go across the entire City and identify locations,
assemble information, and then determine how we can achieve this with the
staff we have and the jobs they already do.
Todd Varner went through the procedure for the Task Force. He stated most
people don't realize it's a violation. He advised the Task Force that he has
worked 271 junk vehicle cases so far this year. Charles Richards stated that
the City of San Antonio shortened their declaration time to 10 days.
Chairman Wilson stated that we should not wait for a complaint; let's start an
effort and go find them. He further asked how we can do this more efficiently.
Lisa Wright advised the Task Force that this is high grass and weeds season,
so Code Enforcement could stop working on this, but it would likely create a
major problem. She recommended waiting until growing season stopped.
Chairman Wilson recommended November. Todd Varner advised the
Commission that he had over 100 reports pending that he was inspecting, and
Lisa Wright stated that 100 reports would actually result in over 500 cases
since Code Enforcement staff worked all violations in sight when in a reported
area. She added that the paperwork was very labor intensive, causing Code
Enforcement staff to spend at least half their time in the office instead of in
the field. Chairman Wilson stated that we could ask the Council for more
money for a part time person.
Pete Kampfer recommended that we put up signs or post on billboards and
undertake clean up efforts. He said the Chamber can help pay for that. He
recommended such incentives as Yard of the Month. He said we could also
use the postal system or walking route so everyone gets notice. The cost
when Rockwall did this was roughly 6 cents a letter. Chairman Wilson
appointed Pete Kampfer to the Education Committee, along with Bee Garmon,
Cheryt Moore, Marilyn Bellevance, and Bruce Frazier.
Chairman Wilson asked the Task Force to figure out how we can come
together with volunteers and start the education process. Also, how can we
educate the public on what a junk vehicle is, what will we do, and how will we
do it?
Chairman Wilson stated that we need to have a way to report violations on
line. Lisa Wright said she could put something very primitive together that
would work until we got some better software. Todd Varner stated that the
dilemma on making reporting easier is that it still takes a while to get to the
inspections because we have so many complaints. Marilyn Bellevance stated
that we should put that in an article so people will know it takes time.
Motion was made by Steve Brown, seconded by Don Taylor, to lower the time
required to declare a vehicle as junk to 10 days. Motion carried unanimously.
Chairman Wilson asked the staff to report at the next meeting on how we can
set up a more efficient system and a website.
5. Discussion of and possible action on recommending revisions to existing
ordinances and/or polices as follows:
A. Procedures for brush pickup. Shawn Napier handed out procedures
and went through the policy. Motion was made by Pete Kampfer,
seconded by Marilyn Bellevance, to approve the policy revisions.
Motion carried unanimously.
Shawn Napier reported that they are changing the compost hours and
went over the related memo. Chairman Wilson stated he has a problem
with changing hours during the various seasons. When people get
used to it, it's hard to change. Shawn Napier stated brush truck runs
on Wednesday, so they need it open at the end of the week. Motion
was made by Charles Richards, seconded by Oscar Johnson, to
approve the following new hours: all day Wednesday, Thursday, and
Friday and Saturday from 10am to 2pm year around, with hours to be
posted at the site. Motion carried unanimously.
B. Rules and procedures for trash placement and pickup. Shawn Napier
went through ordinance changes, stating that they tried to make them
mirror the policy. Chairman Wilson asked what difference does it make
if they don't call it in. Shawn Napier stated the crew may not go down
every street. Edwayne Samis stated it gives people opportunity to
request a price and haul it to the landfill if they think it's too much.
There was a general consensus to double the entire fee for non-called-
in items. Chairman Wilson recommended that we be lenient until the
policy was in place a little while. Oscar Johnson suggested they run a
series of articles.
C. Policy for picking up trash at locations with no water account or bulk
items for which pickup has not been requested. Shawn Napier stated
that we generally pick up these items or turn them over to Code
Enforcement, so we need to do a combination of all. Chairman Wilson
stated that the staff should work this out. Shawn Napier stated that the
make-up of the trash will determine what we do. Kent Mcllyar stated it
also depends on where it is sitting. If it's not in the right-of-way, we
have to follow due process. Chairman Wilson asked if sanitation called
Code Enforcement. Edwayne Samis stated no they don't, but they can
have that part of what they do now.
6. Request items for future agendas. Steve Brown asked to look at camper
trailers parked in the yards and semi-trailers parked in residential areas.
Chairman Wilson stated that we need to look first at outdoor storage because
it's rampant and it makes the town look bad. He asked staff to take photos,
look at what ordinances can be changed, and look at what items can't be in
front yard. He also asked for a report from the Education Committee.
7. The meeting adjourned at 6:55 pm.
APPROVED THIS 16TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2007.
Don Wilson, Chairman