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Home My WebLink About2013-11-12; City Council; 21421; Update on City Code Enforcement Program EffortsCITY OF CARLSBAD - AGENDA BILL AB# 21,421 RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON THE CITY'S CODE ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM EFFORTS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION AS APPROPRIATE DEPT.DIRECTOR i^ff^/^T^^' MTG. 11/12/2013 RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON THE CITY'S CODE ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM EFFORTS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION AS APPROPRIATE CITY ATTY. (7^ J^'- DEPT. CED RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON THE CITY'S CODE ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM EFFORTS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION AS APPROPRIATE CITY MGR. \^\^ RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive an update on the city's code enforcement program efforts and provide direction as appropriate. ITEM EXPLANATION: Staff will update City Council on the new FY 13-14 Code Enforcement City Council Priority Project and describe what it will accomplish. Code Enforcement staff is proceeding with other regulatory and enforcement changes, however, there are additional issues that need remedy. Staff will also update the City Council as follows: • Existing property regulations • Examples of current issues o Pine Avenue o Signage • Potential remedy and issue resolution options o Strengthen code enforcement related ordinances o Increase code enforcement resources o Add land use regulations Staff will be seeking City Council direction on the issue resolution options and will return to the City Council at a future meeting for consideration of draft code and/or policy changes necessary to implement the direction given. FISCAL IMPACT: No funding is being requested at this time. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: Pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21065, this action does not constitute a "project" within the meaning of CEQA in that it has no potential to cause either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and therefore does not require environmental review. DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Kathy Dodson, 760-602-2744, kathv.dodson@carlsbadca.gov EOR CITY CLERKS USE ONLY. COUNCIL ACTION: APPROVED • CONTINUED TO DATE SPECIFIC • DENIED • CONTINUED TO DATE UNKNOWN • WITHDRAWN • RETURNED TO STAFF AMENDED • COUNCIL RECEIVED THE REPORT/PRESENTATION OTHER-SEE MINUTES • Code Compliance Priority Project Better Case Management Enhanced Enforcement Tools Proactive Response Operational Plan (Resource Expansion) Code Complaints Are Increasing •Statewide statistics reflect an increase in code compliance cases in many communities •Carlsbad has seen an increase in complaints and neighbor to neighbor disputes •More zoning and building use violations being reported to our office, in part due to increasing infill development Enhancing Code Compliance Efforts There are several methods for strengthening Carlsbad’s code compliance efforts: •Strengthen code enforcement related ordinances •Improve technology •Increase code enforcement resources •Add land use regulations Strengthening Ordinances There are a variety of different ordinances that can be strengthened to give staff the tools to enforce our codes: •Nuisance Ordinance •Definitions related to residential infill development projects •Requirements for leasing in residential areas •Enhanced development/architectural standards Improving Technology GOEnforce is a web- based solution to centrally manage code enforcement efforts GOEnforce •Residents can report violations using a phone app •Complaints can be tracked online •Officers have Ipads in the field and spend less time at their desks •Important deadlines are tracked automatically •Cases are automatically documented and archived •Managers can track productivity Code Enforcement Resources •Carlsbad’s model has been based on code “compliance” not code “enforcement” •Currently operating on a complaint basis instead of a proactive basis •Industry standard is 1 code compliance officer per 20,000 residents •Carlsbad currently has one code compliance officer Land Use Regulations •We are seeing an increase in infill development complaints that may be addressed through changes to our land use regulations. Complaint Case Study •Large Single Family Home divided into 2 units; Second Dwelling Unit (<640sf) on site as well. •Zoning only allows for 1 SFH & 1 SDU; large home design out of scale with neighborhood •Improvements completed to SFH and garage w/o building permit •Property owner not living in SFH or SDU; renting all units •Possible use of 1 or more of the rental homes less than 30 days (vacation rental) Complaint Case Study Issues of Concern: •Too much home for the lot •Home out of character with the neighborhood; too bulky •Parking problems •Large number of people living on a single family lot; unanticipated impact on public services •Neighbors expected a single family household and now have a defacto apartment building with multiple families Addressing the Issue •Improve definitions such as dwelling unit, kitchen; add definition of “wet bar” •Enhanced architectural guidelines for single family homes, and maybe revised standards in some cases are needed. •Stricter review of building permit plans for single family homes is needed to ensure we are not approving a future code compliance problem Current Staff Action •Reviewing codes •Implementing GOEnforce •Analyzing code enforcement staffing needs by utilizing light duty officers – we will return with a budget recommendation •Enhancing our review of building permit plans for single family homes to ensure we are not approving a future code compliance problem Council Recommendations •Strengthen code enforcement related issues –Allow City Manager or designee to declare public nuisances and require abatement –Review & potentially increase penalties and remedies •Add definitions to land use ordinances •Consider adding land use regulations such as architectural guidelines •Consider licensing and inspecting rental units