HomeMy WebLinkAbout7A - 2006 Code Enforcement Report
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE:
AGENDA #:
PREPARED BY:
AGENDA ITEM:
MARCH 5, 2007
7A
MICHAEL PETERSON, BUILDING INSPECTOR
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A REPORT ON THE 2006 CODE
ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY
DISCUSSION:
Introduction
Every year the staff presents a report to the City Council on the previous year's
code enforcement activity. 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 2006.
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 thirty-two (132) complaints in
2006 for a decrease of twenty-three percent (23%) compared to the one
hundred seventy-one (171) complaints in 2005. Overgrown grass (12") and
weed complaints topped the list of violations and totaled twenty-nine (29).
Code violations relating to property appearance and health issues totaled
twenty-eight (28) including, illegal storage of junk and junk vehicles, twenty
(20) 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 totaled three (3) and included
excessive barking, running at large, no waste pickup and the keeping of more
than 3 domestic animals (dogs & cats), followed by six (6) building permit
violations, six (6) erosion control complaints, twelve (12) public nuisance, snow
on sidewalks, downed trees, etc., nine (9) for improper disposal of garbage
and refuse and eight (8) for parking commercial vehicles in an R-1 residential
neighborhood. The remaining fifteen (15) are as follows; ten (10) invalid
complaints, two (2) for fence violations, two (2) for home occupation, and one
(1) for illegal grading in the Shoreland District.
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 three (3) complaints for code violations in
the Shoreland District and included filling and grading work without permits.
One was handled by staff and two (2) were given directly to the Minnesota
Department Of Natural Resources
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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 a year to year comparison.
The Planning Commission considered this year end report on February 12,
2007, and forwarded the report to the City Council with no specific comments.
ISSUES:
As of the date of this report, one hundred twenty-seven (127) complaint cases
have been closed with the average time required to document, investigate, and
enforce compliance of a violation being thirteen (13) days. The remaining five
(5) cases are pending active investigations and/or under enforcement
proceedings. One (1) of the pending cases will not be concluded until spring.
FINANCIAL
IMPACT:
There is no financial impact as a result of this report.
ALTERNATIVES:
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.
RECOMMENDED
MOTION:
A motion and second to approve the year-end code enforcement report as part
of the consent agenda is required.
Reviewed by:
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City of Prior Lake
Code Complaint & Violation Statistics Report
Exhibit A
I. Total Complaints for 2006:
132
a) Not valid Complaints (undetermined, civil issue)
b) Valid Complaint Violations
(10)
122
II. Total Code Violations for 2006: 132 100%
START
a) Zonin~ Ord. (drivewavs. vehicle parking. sheds. signs) 20 15%
b) Overe:rown Grass & Weeds (over 12" ht.) 29 22%
c) Parkine: Junk Vehicles (outdoor storae:e) 13 11%
d) DisDosal of Garbae:e & Refuse (outdoor storage) 9 7%
e) Animal Control (barking. running. waste) 3 2%
n Stora~e of Junk (outdoor storage) 15 11%
~) Public Nuisance (oublic welfare. clean sidewalks) 12 9%
h) Screenine:. Fences (height. location. visibility) 2 1%
i) Duildine: Permit Violations (accessorv bldg.. decks) 6 6%
j) Shore land District (Excavations. Imo. Surface) 1 NA
k) Home OccuDation (oermitted uses) 2 1%
l) Erosion Control (soil erosion silt fence) 2 1%
m) Parkine: Commercial Vehicle (R1 District) 8 6%
n) Invalid Complaints (no violation found) 10 8%
The City received a total of one thirty-two (132) complaints in the year 2006. This amounts to a
twenty-three percent (23%) complaint activity decrease when it is compared with one hundred
and seventy-one (171) total complaints in 2005. Of the one hundred thirty-two (132) complaints
three (3) were referred to the appropriate City department or other government agency. One (1)
violation was referred to the Scott Joint Prosecution Association for court action. Invalid
complaints totaled ten (10) and included undetermined violations or civil matters unrelated to
city codes.
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EXHIBIT B
CODE VIOLA TION ACTIVITY
2000 . 2006
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2000
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2006
2002
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2004
2005
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