10-B9 Task Force on Code Enforcement Min.
MINUTES
WORK SESSION
CITY COUNCIL TASK FORCE ON CODE ENFORCEMENT
107 E. KAUFMAN STREET
p ARIS~ TEXAS
TUESDA y~ DECEMBER 11~ 2007
1. Call meeting to order and roll call.
The City Council Task Force on Code Enforcement was called to order by Chairman
Wilson at 5:02 p.m.
A. The following members were present:
Don Wilson, Chairman
Will Biard
Steve Brown
Jim Lassiter
Charles Richards
John S. House
Marilyn Bellevance
Pete Kampfer
Bee Garmon
Cheryt Moore
Jerome Pipkins
Don B. Taylor
Bruce Frazier
B. The following members were absent:
Oscar Johnson
Chris Brown
Zachary Saffle
Charles Fulbright
C. Also present were Lisa Wright, Director of Community Development; Kent
McIlyar, City Attorney; Nicki Brown, Deputy City Clerk; Todd Varner, Code
Enforcement Officer; Jason Browning, Plumbing Inspector/Code Enforcement
Officer; John Lestock, Assistant City Attorney/Municipal Court Prosecutor;
Ronnie Grooms, Fire Chief; and Lt. William Hodge, Police Department.
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2. Approval of minutes from previous meetings (November 27,2007).
Chairman Wilson asked if there were any corrections. Will Biard asked if Pete Kampfer
was at the last meeting, and Pete stated he was. Will said Pete Kampfer needed to be added to
the present list on the minutes. A Motion to approve the minutes as amended was made by Pete
Kampfer, seconded by Bee Garmon. Motion carried unanimously.
3. Discussion of and possible action on recommending provisions regarding demolition by
neglect and/or the possible adoption of the International Property Maintenance Code.
Chairman Wilson explained the history of the reasons for looking into making provisions
regarding demolition by neglect and the possible adoption of the International Property
Maintenance Code. He said that people are letting their property deteriorate and, if we could
enforce maintenance of properties, we could prevent this deterioration from happening.
A. Slide show of buildings which are neglected.
Lisa Wright presented a slide show of several properties throughout Paris that were deteriorating,
and she provided samples of what some other cities were adopting to address this issue.
B. A discussion of the International Property Maintenance code and demolition by
neglect.
Lisa Wright advised the Task Force that the Historic Preservation Commission was
recommending the adoption of the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) applicable
only to the historic districts, and she was not recommending that it be applied City-wide. She
stated that she had several revisions she would recommend as the Task Force went through the
Code. It was the consensus of the Task Force that the IPMC covered too much, and it might be
too difficult to get the public to buy into right now.
Arvin Starrett stated that the issue in the historic districts was not so much that people with
limited resources could not afford to maintain their properties. He said that most of the issues in
the districts are properties held by people of means who simply do not want to repair their
properties. He stated that the Historic Preservation Commission had recommended that the
IPMC be reviewed by the City Attorney and staff to make local amendments that would make
more sense in Paris. Lisa Wright advised that staff has done that.
Chairman Wilson asked the Task Force how far they wanted to go to address this matter and how
much time it wanted to devote to it. The consensus was that the IPMC was too much at this
time. Cheryt Moore asked Lisa Wright what the City needed right now to help address this
issue, and Lisa Wright stated that the City needed something to bridge the gap. She stated that
the City could currently cite someone who had a hole in the roof, but could not cite someone
whose roofing tiles were beginning to slough off, but this is the point at which the deterioration
is starting to take place. She added that many cities required residents to protect the outside
finishes of their properties using paint, sealant, or other methods, because unprotected wood or
other surfaces will lead to deterioration. Once the deterioration starts, it could be too late.
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The Task Force asked why the City couldn't cite someone about roof leaks. Chairman Wilson
stated that there was a building he knew about that had a leak. Kent McIlyar explained the
procedure in getting search warrants to observe inside problems. He stated that Code
Enforcement staff could not enter property without a search warrant that included an affidavit of
probable cause signed by someone with knowledge of the interior. He said that the staff could
only cite what it sees from the street without a search warrant.
A motion to table item # 2 was made by Pete Kampfer. Chairman Wilson asked that the staff
review and bring suggestions to the next meeting to deal with roofing and exterior finishes.
Chairman Wilson reminded the Committee that this is on a timeline and needs to be addressed at
the next meeting.
4. Receipt of report from the Code Enforcement Education Committee
A. Pete Kampfer explained that clean up is contagious and they are implementing a
two step program.
1. Involvement
2. To introduce New Rules.
B. A brochure is in the process of being prepared to engage the community to become
active. The brochure will be put on hold until more components are ready.
C. No action was taken.
5. Discussion of and possible action on recommending the adoption of fencing regulations.
A slide show was presented by Chairman Wilson showing front yard fencing and the
various materials used throughout town. Because time was short, the Task Force will address
this at the next meeting. Chairman Wilson advised the members that they had a sample
ordinance in their packet with those items that had originally been included in the outdoor
storage ordinance; however, the Task Force has chosen to handle this matter separately. He
stated that the Task Force would address front yard fencing, temporary fencing, and fencing
materials.
6. Request items for future agendas.
Chairman Wilson scheduled the next meeting for Thursday, January 3, 2008, at 5:00 p.m.
7. Adjournment.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
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