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<br />-1 <br /> <br />CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION <br /> <br />Ciry of ~ <br />RAMSEY <br /> <br />Topic Report: Use of Abatement for ZoninglBuiIding/Public Nuisance <br />Violations <br />By: Amber G. Miller, Community Development Director <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br />In August 2007, the City implemented a new abatement process that enables City Staff and its <br />contractors to enter a property and remedy code violations. The process has been working well. <br />However, Staff is encountering situations where, in the opinion of City Staff, the use of <br />abatement is not practical and additional administrative remedies are being proposed. Some <br />examples of situations where administrative versus abatement remedies are preferable include: <br /> <br />1. Completing unfInished buildings: siding, roofmg, etc. (City Code reqUires exterior <br />completion 1 year from date of building permit). <br />2. Moving accessory structures to meet setbacks (pools, sheds). <br />3. Removing fences that do not meet setback requirements or are constructed of unapproved <br />materials~ <br />4. Removing an.i.J:nals that violate animal regulations (too many dogs on a parcel, keeping <br />typical farm animals on less than 3 acres, barking dogs, dogs at large, etc.). <br />5. Installation of lawns, grass or ground cover (code requires establishment of yard 1 year <br />from date of certificate of occupancy). <br />6. Illegal home occupations. <br />7. Tracks and trails for motorized recreational equipment in residential neighborhoods.. . <br /> <br />When this item was discussed at length at the July 8,2008 Work Session there were several <br />items the Council recommended staff incorporate into the Code moving forward. Staff has <br />prepared a table of the more common situations that staff doesn't believe are adaptable to the <br />abatement program as a remedy. The table includes a brief summary of the current code <br />regulations, the enforcement procedure prior to administrative fmes, and the proposed <br />enforcement procedure recommended since the implementation of abatement and administrative <br />fines. <br /> <br />-1- <br />