The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About8A - Code Enforce Report 2005 MEETING DATE: AGENDA #: PREPARED BY: REVIEWED BY: AGENDA ITEM: DISCUSSION: 16200 Eagle Creek Avenue S.E. Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT MARCH 6, 2006 SA MICHAEL PETERSON, BUILDING INSPECTOR JANE KANSIER, PLANNING DIRECTOR CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A THE 2005 CODE ENFORCEMENT YEAR END REPORT Introduction The purpose of this report is to share the results of our 2005 code enforcement efforts with the City Council. Historv 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. Current Circumstances The City of Prior Lake received one hundred seventy one (171) complaints in 2005 for an increase of twenty-nine percent (29%) compared to the one hundred twenty-two (122) complaints in 2004 Code violations relating to property appearance and health issues topped the list of violations, and included fifty-six (56) illegal storage of junk and junk vehicles (rows c & f), thirty (30) improper recreational vehicle parking, or vehicles parked in required yard areas, and accessory structures (sheds) not meeting required setbacks to property lines (row a). Animal control complaints (row e) totaled twelve (12) 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 (row b) totaled twenty (20), followed by eleven (11) building permit violations (row i), nine (9) erosion control complaints (row I), eight (8) public nuisance, snow on sidewalks, downed trees, etc, (row g), and seven (7) for improper disposal of garbage and refuse (row d). The remaining eighteen (18) are listed in rows h, j, k, m & I, as follows; thirteen (13) invalid complaints, two (2) for fence violations, one (1) each for parking commercial vehicles, shore land district, and illegal home occupation, The unique nature of Prior Lake, Spring Lake and the surrounding Shoreland District also creates challenging issues regarding land use and code compliance, The City received only one (1) complaint for code violations in the Shoreland District and included filling and grading work without permits. There www.cityofpriorlake.com ipIi6ne!952::'1147.4230 / Fax 952.447.4245 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 sixty-five (165) complaint cases have been closed with the average time required to document, investigate, and enforce compliance of a violation was fourteen (14) days. The remaining six (6) cases are pending active investigations and/or under enforcement proceedings, On two (2) of the pending cases should be wrapped up in the spring. The Planning Commission considered this year end report on February 13, 2006, and forwarded the report to the City Council with no specific comments. ALTERNATIVES: 1, Accept the code enforcement year end report as part of the consent agenda, 2. Provide the staff with additional direction. RECOMMENDED MOTION: A motion and second to approve the variance summary report as part of the consent agenda is required. Reviewed by: z o i= :3 150 o 5 u.. o a::: ~ 100 ::liE ::::l Z EXHIBITB CODE VIOLATION ACTIVITY 1998 - 2005 250 238 200 50 o 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 II CODE City of Prior Lake Code Complaint & Violation Statistics Report Exhibit A I. Total Complaints for 2005: 171 a) Not valid Complaints (undetermined, civil issue) b) Valid Complaint Violations (13) 158 II. Total Code Violations for 2005: 171 100% START a) Zonine Ord. (driveways. vehicle parking. sheds. signs) 30 18% b) Overerown Grass & Weeds (over 12" ht.) 20 12% c) Parkine Junk Vehicles (outdoor storaee) 19 11% d) Disposal of Garbaee & Refuse (outdoor storage) 7 4% e) Animal Control (barking. running. waste) 12 7% o Storaee of Junk (outdoor storage) 37 22% e) Public Nuisance (public welfare. clean sidewalks) 8 5% h) Screenine. Fences (height, location. visibility) 2 1% i) Buildine Permit Violations (accessory bldg,. decks) 11 6% j) Shore land District (Excavations. Imp, Surface) 1 NA k) Home Occupation (permitted uses) 1 NA l) Erosion Control (soil erosion silt fence) 9 5% m) Parkine Commercial Vehicle (R1 District) 1 NA n) Invalid Complaints (no violation found) 13 8% The City received a total of one hundred seventy-one (171) complaints in the year 2005. This amounts to a twenty-nine percent (29%) complaint activity increase when compared with one hundred and twenty-two (122) total complaints in 2004. Of the one hundred seventy-one (171) complaints three (3) were referred to the appropriate city department or other government agency. Four (4) violations were referred to the Scott Joint Prosecution Association for court action. And one (1) Hazardous Building complaint was handled by the City Attorneys Office. Invalid complaints totaled thirteen (13) and included undetermined violations or civil matters unrelated to city codes.