Starting in 2018, the department began tracking all of the code enforcement cases geospatially, so that this data could be used to show trends and “repeat cases” in terms of Code Enforcement. The Code Enforcement function of our department primarily works on violations of the City’s nuisance codes in regard to (1) Loose Trash and Debris, and (2) Grass and Weeds in excess of 10 inches. In 2022, the PABD had a total of 564 code enforcement cases, 568 total violations, and 1,103 total inspections. Each violation must be inspected at least twice, but some of the inspections are combined if an address has multiple violations at one time. A case is opened each time the department receives a complaint, whether or not there is a violation. A location can have multiple violations, but it is more typical that it only have one violation. A number of the metrics in this report are new and we are able to share due to the recent implementation of the Citizenserve platform, a fully cloud-based system which increases department efficiency, minimizes human error, and provides more insight into the daily operations of the department.
With the addition of Code Enforcement in CitizenServe, PABD staff has been capturing more historic and current data. This allows PABD to track repeat code enforcement violators.
This chart is a breakdown of amount of time it takes from opening the case to completely closing the case. The average time this year was 16 days. We strive to quickly and effectively resolve all code enforcement complaints because these violations cause real measurable impacts on the surrounding neighborhood. Quick responses and resolutions to these code violations help sustain property values and character in our community.
For a vast majority of these cases, the PABD staff can work with the property owners to ensure the problem is resolved, but in some instances where the property owner will not or cannot comply with orders to remediate the problem we have to request assistance through other City Department to perform this work and the bill for that work becomes a lien recorded against the property. This chart shows the break-down of how many cases needed additional intervention through the City's Board of Public Work's and Safety (BOW). Due to the legal notice requirements involved in sending a case to the BOW, additional time is added to the resolution of these code enforcement cases, so we work to resolve as many cases as possible without involving the BOW. In 2022 the number of cases needing intervention by the BOW was 198 (35.1%).