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<br />City Administrator Ulrich stated the citations have been on the Consent Agenda because discussion <br />is not necessary at the abatement point in the process. He added a work session is a better way to <br />review these issues and solve problems. <br /> <br />Chief Katers stated the Police Department follows an administrative process for resolving these <br />issues. He added, historically, the City Council did not want to hear these issues at their regular <br />meetings because they can be lengthy and involve statutory requirements, so they were sent to an <br />administrative hearing. <br /> <br />Councilmember Heineman expressed his appreciation for Senior Planner McGuire Brigl and <br />Zoning Code Enforcement Officer Raines, for all the hard work they have done putting cases <br />together. He added there are regulations at City Staff level, but the City Council can review <br />complaints in a different way, which are not necessarily contradictory. He noted these are two <br />jobs that need to co-exist. <br /> <br />Councilmember Musgrove stated it would be helpful if the Code violation was listed in the letter <br />along with suggestions for ways to fix it. She added, when property owners bring the letter to the <br />City Council, Councilmembers will have more information about what the barriers are and why <br />the issue cannot be resolved. She noted it would be helpful to have a list of violations and what <br />can be done to abate them. <br /> <br />Councilmember Howell stated City Staff has indicated they do not feel supported by the City <br />Council. She added she finds it difficult from her perspective, because there is a lack of <br />consistency in terms of how property owners are treated by City Staff for similar issues. She noted <br />City Staff wants the City Council to support them, but it is difficult to understand why <br />accommodations are made for some properties while others are singled out for violations. <br /> <br />City Administrator Ulrich stated it will be helpful to articulate in a letter the options that are <br />available to the property owner and follow the process without skipping any steps. He added every <br />case is different, and it is not the intention of City Staff to discriminate or do inequal enforcement. <br />He noted it might be the nature of the Code. <br /> <br />City Administrator Ulrich stated one solution might be to change some of the Codes, if the City <br />Council sees a pattern of objections to Code requirements and receives repeated complaints from <br />property owners. <br /> <br />Zoning Code Enforcement Officer Raines stated the first notice includes abatement options for <br />property owners. She added these options are usually not taken seriously until there is a citation. <br />She noted City Staff does try to give them options. <br /> <br />Police Chief Katers stated the City Code was written in 1978 and City Staff does not regularly go <br />through and make revisions without City Council direction. He added there is a significant <br />investment associated with making changes to City Code, and some changes are necessary based <br />on what is going on at the State and Federal legislature. He noted the City Code can be reviewed <br />and revised upon City Council direction. <br />City Council Work Session / August 24, 2021 <br />Page 15 of 19 <br /> <br />