Minutes - Council Work Session - 06/28/2011

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Councilmember Tossey asked if staff could contact the owners/banks to do the mowing, adding at times the growth covers the sidewalks. Parks Supervisor Riverblood said they could but this would take more effort to contact and abatement. Councilmember Wise agreed staff would spend more time contacting and following up with the owners than actually mowing. Councilmember Tossey asked about the administrative citation process. City Administrator Ulrich said staff does increase enforcement for these intervals making this a more efficient process. Councilmember Tossey inquired about enforcement for the occupied lots. City Administrator Ulrich said staff issues a citation, allow times for abatement and then if not done, will abate and send a bill. He said the change was in shortening the timeframe for abatement. Councilmember Tossey asked why this process couldn't be used for the bank owners. City Administrator Ulrich said ownership doesn't matter because the same process would be used. Parks Supervisor Riverblood spoke about the abatement person and policy, adding it can get discretionary and convoluted. Senior Planner Tim Gladhill said the struggle is vacant lots, adding the City could require mowing the entire vacant lot but staff typically trades and does the boulevard only to help mitigate some of the complaints. Public Works Director Olson said we could force owners to mow the right -of -way. Senior Planner Gladhill said probably not the right -of -way but said staff will do more research. Parks Supervisor Riverblood stated there are many complexities that staff is working on with Police, Public Works, and Parks, trying to be consistent across the board. He said staff recognizes the problem and tries to make the best decisions. City Administrator Ulrich said this topic could be discussed more during the July 19 worksession utilizing overlay maps. City Council Work Session / June 28, 2011 Page 4 of 5