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Home My WebLink About8A - 2004 Code Enforcement Rpt. 16200 Eagle Creek Avenue S.E. Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: AGENDA #: PREPARED BY: MARCH 7, 2005 SA MICHAEL PETERSON, BUILDING INSPECTOR AGENDA ITEM: CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE 2004 CODE ENFORCEMENT YEAREND REPORT DISCUSSION: Historv: The purpose of this report is to provide the City Council with information regarding complaints, code violations, and the code enforcement activity for the year 2004. This report consists of a year-end summary of the total number of complaints and code violations in order to provide the Council with insight that may be useful in evaluating current resident concerns and future regulatory decisions. A great majority of City residents have pride in their neighborhoods and community. They feel an obligation to maintain a neat appearance on their respective properties, as well as a concern, that adjoining properties do the same. The City of Prior Lake received one hundred twenty two (122) complaints in 2004 for a decrease of thirty-six (36%) compared to the one hundred ninety-two (192) complaints in 2003. Code violations relating to property appearance and health issues topped the list of violations and included thirty-two (32) illegal storage of junk and junk vehicles, nineteen (19) improper recreational vehicle parking or vehicles parked in required yard areas, and accessory structures (sheds) not meeting required setbacks to property lines. Animal control complaints also totaled ten (10) and included excessive barking, running at large, no waste pickup and the keeping of more than 3 domestic animals (dogs & cats). Overgrown grass (12") and weed complaints totaled twenty-four (24), followed by nine (9) public nuisance, snow on sidewalks, downed trees, etc., and six (6) for improper disposal of garbage and refuse. The remaining fourteen (14) are as follows; five (5) for building code violations, three (3) each for parking commercial vehicles and shore land district, two (2) for erosion and one (1) for a fence. The unique nature of Prior Lake, Spring Lake and the surrounding Shore land District also creates challenging issues regarding land use and code compliance. The City received only www.cityofpriorlake.com 1:\codeent\U4 year end report. doc Phone 952.447.4230 / Fax 952.447.4245 page 1 ALTERNATIVES: RECOMMENDED MOTION: REVIEWED BY: 1:\codeent\04 year end report. doc three (3) complaints for code violations in the Shoreland District and included filling and grading work without permits. There is no clear explanation for this sharp drop compared to other years. The attached statistics sheet (Exhibit A) begins with the total number of complaints received, including invalid complaints. Invalid complaints are those cases where, upon inspection, it was determined that no code violation existed, or where the issue was a matter between private property owners. The number of actual violations was determined upon inspection of the properties, and includes secondary or multiple violations on a subject property. The total number of violations is then broken down and displayed as code category subtotals. Exhibit B is for year to year comparison. As of the date of this report, one hundred sixteen (116) complaint cases have been closed with the average time required to document, investigate, and enforce compliance of a violation was forty-two (42) days. The remaining six (6) cases are pending active investigations and/or under enforcement proceedings. On two (2) of the pending cases the process for a permit or a variance has been started. Current Circumstances: The Planning Commission considered this year end report on February 28, 2005, and forwarded the report to the City Council with no specific comments. Conclusion: The Planning Commission and staff recommend approval of this report. The City Council has two alternatives: 1. Accept the code enforcement year end report as part of the consent agenda. 2. Provide the staff with additional direction. The staff recommends alternative # 1. A motion and second 0 approve the variance summary report as P1f the consent a nda is required. Page 2 City of Prior Lake Code Complaint & Violation Statistics Report Exhibit A I. Total Complaints for 2004: 122 a) Not valid Complaints (undetermined, civil issue) b) Valid Complaint Violations (8) 114 II. Total Code Violations for 2004: 122 100% START a) Zonin2 Ord. (drivewavs. vehicle parking. sheds. signs) 19 15% b) Over2rown Grass & Weeds (over 12" ht.) 24 19% c) Parkin2 Junk Vehicles (outdoor stora2e) 10 80/0 d) Disposal of Garba2e & Refuse (outdoor storage) 6 50/0 e) Animal Control (barking. running. waste) 10 80/0 t) Stora2e of Junk (outdoor storage) 22 180/0 2) Public Nuisance (public welfare. clean sidewalks) 9 7% h) Screenin2" Fences (height. location. visibility) 1 .08% i) Buildin2 Permit Violations (accessory bldg.. decks) 5 4% n Shore land District (Excavations. ImP. Surface) 3 2O~ k) Home Occupation (permitted uses) 0 00/0 n Erosion Control (soil erosion silt fence) 2 10/0 m) Parkin!! Commercial Vehicle (R1 District) 3 20/0 n) Invalid Complaints (no violation found) 8 60/0 The City received a total of one hundred twenty two (122) complaints in the year 2004. This amounts to a thirty six percent (360/0) complaint activity decrease when compared with one hundred and ninety two (192) total complaints in 2003. Of the 122 complaints three (3) were referred to the appropriate city department or other government agency. One violation was referred to the Scott Joint Prosecution Association for court action. Invalid complaints totaled eight (8) and included undetermined violations or civil matters unrelated to city codes. 1:\codeenf\04 year end report. doc Page 3 U) z 0 i= 150 :s 0 :> LL 0 ~ w 100 m :lE ~ z 50 EXHIBIT B CODE VIOLA TION ACTIVITY 1997 - 2004 250 200 o 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 1:\codeenf\04 year end report. doc Page 4