Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Mayor Kuzma shared that he likes the idea of changing the title from Code Enforcement Officer <br />to Property Maintenance Coordinator as he thinks this will ease the anxieties of residents. <br /> <br />Councilmember Specht stated that a title change may help residents see the purpose of this program <br />as education rather than being confrontational. He added that he would like the Code Enforcement <br />Officer to receive more training on being educational with property owners when they are out of <br />compliance. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Hanson explained that they have spoken with the Code <br />Enforcement Officer about the way he approaches these situations with residents. She noted they <br />have not had any complaints since this was addressed. <br /> <br />Councilmember Specht said he would like to turn this program into a more educational program <br />rather than strict enforcement. <br /> <br />Councilmember Howell noted that she requested this case be brought forward as she did receive <br />some feedback from members of the public. She said residents informed her that the interactions <br />they had with the Code Enforcement Officer were negative. She shared that her concern is that this <br />seems to be an ongoing issue with the program that has popped up many times. She stated she <br />would support pausing this program and reevaluating what they want. She noted that a surrounding <br />city uses the title of Code Educator, and this is an approach she would like to take with code <br />enforcement. <br /> <br />Councilmember Musgrove shared that when she first joined the Council, they went through <br />lengthy discussions around different steps that will be taken to address these issues and they set <br />up steps that would make each interaction consistent. She added that when there were issues with <br />compliance, the Council would hear these issues and address how they would continue. She said <br />the Council is no longer hearing about these issues until they have been escalated. She noted that <br />she does not like this kind of program if they are going to be hearing from the residents that it is <br />not helpful or beneficial. She agreed with Councilmember Howell that they should pause this <br />program while they reevaluate. <br /> <br />Councilmember Riley explained that several years ago they had a lot of residents giving feedback <br />that nothing was happening with code compliance issues. He noted that they are not currently <br />hearing issues about this, which means the program is working. He added that they can make some <br />changes on tact and education; however, they are not getting any complaints that violations are not <br />being corrected. He said the City in general has benefitted from this program so he would not like <br />to pause it at the moment. <br /> <br />Recess and Reconvene <br />The meeting recessed at 6:56 p.m. <br />The meeting reconvened at 8:36 p.m. <br />City Council Work Session / September 24, 2024 <br />Page 9 of 13 <br /> <br />