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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7-24-07 ....... CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT/CODE ENFORCEMENT Meeting Minutes July 24,2007 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 5:50 p.m. in Conference Room 229 of City Hall. ATTENDANCE The following Committee members were present: David Benavides, Carlos Bustamante and Michele Martinez Staff present were: Jay Trevino, Executive Director Planning and Building Agency; Ben Kaufman, Chief Assistant City Attorney; Bruce Dunams, Community Preservation Manager; Will Hayes, Maintenance Services Manager; Danell Mercado, Project Manager; Dave Hermance, Senior Community Preservation Inspector; and Paula Lomeli, Senior Community Preservation Inspector. AGENDA ITEMS ....... 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. September 26, 2006 Meeting B. April 30, 2007 Meeting Approved by a vote of 3:0. 2. HUMAN SIGNS Ben Kaufman gave an update on progress over the last couple of months. He advised that staff had been looking at existing codes to use instead of coming up with a new ordinance. He explained that several sweeps have taken place with both the Police Department and Community Preservation staff with warnings being given at first. In later sweeps, citations were issued and in one case, an arraignment date has been set for August 9, 2007. It was recommended that staff continue using current code sections and see how the aforementioned case does in court before considering any ordinance revision. 3. SHOPPING CART PROGRAM UPDATE ....... Bruce Dunams provided council and staff with a binder of information detailing Community Preservation's enforcement program. He explained how Community Preservation staff will be in contact with the contractor and will be dispatching calls as they come in. Bruce also indicated that Community Preservation would have dedicated staff to assist throughout the week in the event the contractor cannot quickly attend to all calls. Bruce advised that he and Supervisor Alvaro Nunez were in contact with members of CommLink who advised of certain "hot spots' throughout the city. Bruce gave a list of these areas to the contractor. Councilmember Martinez asked about weekend enforcement and provided an area of concern to her. Mr. Dunams indicated there would be 7-day a week coverage. Bruce advised that he felt it would be approximately a month before strict enforcement begins with store owners. .., 4. GRAFFITI PROGRAM UPDATE Will Hayes gave a brief overview of the graffiti program. He indicated there was now a live body to take calls/complaints and that staff was continuing to look at electronic tracking. Council member Martinez asked about being able to submit complaints online and Mr. Hayes responded that they had been having some difficulty but was working with IT staff. Mr. Hayes advised that Community Preservation was assisting with the program regarding problem property owners; the art contest was completed; the website had been expanded; brochures were in progress; staff was looking at marketing tools, and researching window treatments; and they were looking into neighborhood association volunteerism. Danell Mercado shared the winning art contest ideas and shared information gathered by the Police Department in regards to the graffiti tracker system. Councilmember Bustamante suggested the marketing tools and brochures also be prepared in Spanish and that there should be some discussion on advising parents what to do if they suspect their kids are tagging. Community member Glen Stroud indicated he would like to have a means to find out what kinds of punishment are being handed out when taggers are caught. He also expressed his frustration that the police department never attended meetings to discuss the issue. Councilmember Martinez indicated she'd recently met with the police department and judges. She advised that kids are being released because of the overcrowded jail system. She also stated that the Board of Supervisors needed to be involved and provide more money to combat the problem. .., 5. DOOR HANGERS Ben Kaufman suggested that a new ordinance be written to put the responsibility back on property owners to go after companies that improperly leave material. He indicated that as long as the property was posted with a "no soliciting" sign, homeowners would be able to use the small claims court system. Council members agreed to proceed with the ordinance. 6. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS Julie Stroud commented on the fact that the meetings had been changed from monthly to quarterly and she strongly urged the council members to consider going back to a monthly format. Steve McGuigan said he was glad to see action happening on the human signs but indicated there were more and more signs popping up on chain link fences and vacant properties from establishments in other cities. He provided a couple of locations where "billboard" type signs are being erected. Steve also indicated he would prefer monthly meetings. Evangeline Gawronski seconded Julie's sentiment on the commitment and timeliness of the meetings. .., 2 July 24, 2007 Neighborhood ImprovemenVCode Enforcement Council Committee Minutes '"' Glen Stroud was concerned that money and time could be wasted by staff by not holding monthly meetings. He felt that staff could take off in one direction on an issue and by the time another meeting was held, Council would re-direct them in another direction. Mary Bloom-Ramos also indicated she would prefer monthly meetings and suggested they be held at the Police Community Room. There was some frustration that the community didn't always know which room at City Hall the meetings were taking place in. 7. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS Councilmember Martinez indicated some discussion had taken place at the last meeting on scavengers and she wanted to discuss the topic further. She also stated that she was fine going back to a monthly format. Councilmember Benavides asked Mr. Dunams to report out on a new task force. Mr. Dunams briefly explained that, so as not to ignore existing neighborhoods, a task force was being set up with a number of agencies and will begin inspecting certain neighborhoods, similar to the old "Weed and Seed" program. The hope is to create a model program. Councilmember Benavides indicated he was open to discussing monthly meetings but did not want to commit at this time. '"' Councilmember Bustamante apologized for the meeting starting late and indicated that he too was open to discuss monthly meetings and to also discuss different times of the day, i.e. breakfast or lunch meetings. He stated he was sitting on a new Finance Committee, which looks at ways of bringing in new revenue to the City. Jay Trevino expressed to the councilmembers that whatever new programs were being considered, it was necessary to consider staffing levels before approving them. 8. ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING - None .//f -- / ADJOURNMENt - 7:3q P.M './ ./ , (~ ') / ./.- /' ....--.--...-- Bruce Dunams C0mmunity Preservation Manager Rlanning & Building Agency BD:PL:rb rb:Council CommlNICE CC/NICE Minutes 07-24-07 '"' Neighborhood ImprovemenVCode Enforcement Council Committee Minutes 3 July 24, 2007