HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-11-12; 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WITHDRAWN • RETURNED TO STAFF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