CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
City of Anaheim
PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT
200 S. Anaheim Blvd.
Suite #162
Anaheim, CA 92805
Tel: (714) 765-5139
Fax: (714) 765-5280
www.anaheim.net
DATE: JULY 19, 2022
FROM: PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE AN INCREASE TO THE GENERAL FUND
BUDGET TO ADD CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND
ASSOCIATED VEHICLES TO THE PLANNING AND
BUILDING DEPARTMENT BUDGET TO SUPPORT
PROACTIVE CODE ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS ON
COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS
ATTACHMENT (Y/N): YES ITEM # 11
REQUESTED ACTION:
That the City Council, by Motion, amend the Planning and Building Department’s General Fund budget for Fiscal Year 22/23 in the amount of $375,000 to provide for the hiring of two Full-Time Code Enforcement Officers, one Part-Time Code Enforcement Officer, and the purchase of two associated vehicles, to support proactive code enforcement efforts on commercial corridors.
DISCUSSION:
At the June 21, 2022 City Council meeting, Mayor Pro Tem O’Neil requested an agenda item to discuss an increase in the City’s General Fund budget to support proactive code enforcement efforts on the City’s commercial corridors.
At the December 7, 2021 City Council meeting, the Council held a Rebuild Beach workshop focusing on City efforts to address on-going blight and criminal activity along the Beach Boulevard commercial corridor. An important component of the City’s inter-department strategy to improve the quality of life along Beach Boulevard is the implementation of proactive code enforcement measures. Proactive code enforcement measures are intended to educate and hold property owners and businesses accountable to community expectations for the maintenance and operations of businesses and properties. These community expectations are established standards and regulations in the Anaheim Municipal Code and are not new or more restrictive standards.
To date, the enhanced level of code enforcement on Beach Boulevard has been accomplished with the partial redeployment of Code Enforcement Officers from their typical duties, including responding to citizen complaints within their assigned areas. If the Council wishes to maintain the proactive enforcement effort on Beach Authorize an Increase to the General Fund Budget for the Planning and Building Department to support Pro-Active Code Enforcement efforts on Commercial Corridors
July 19, 2022
Boulevard, and expand these efforts to other priority commercial corridors throughout the City, additional staffing levels would significantly improve the City’s ability to accomplish the goal of addressing blight and improving the quality of commercial corridors.
In order to successfully implement this program, staff recommends the addition of two full-time Code Enforcement Officers, one part-time Code Enforcement Officer, and the purchase of two associated vehicles. The requested budget for this program is $375,000, of which approximately $275,000 would be designated for on-going staff salaries, and $100,000 earmarked for the one- time purchase of vehicles. The new positions would be added to a part-time Code Enforcement Officer position that was approved as part of the City’s FY 22/23 Budget to form a team of four (two full-time and two part-time) code enforcement officers assigned to this program.
The proactive enforcement program will emphasize compliance with commercial property standards contained in the Anaheim Municipal Code. No new standards or requirements are proposed as part of this program. Provided as an attachment to this report (Commercial Property Standards) is a draft handout that will be used to communicate the priority areas to be emphasized in proactive enforcement efforts, including: maintenance of landscape areas with live plant materials, groundcover, and mulch; maintenance of parking lots and other ground surfaces; daily pick-up and removal of trash and debris; graffiti removal; compliance with signs, banners, and temporary display regulations; appropriate storage of materials; and, the overall quality and maintenance of buildings and structures.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
The Planning and Building Department’s General Fund budget will be increased by $375,000 for Fiscal Year 22/23. Subsequent years will be subject to City Council’s approval of budget appropriations.
Respectfully submitted,
Ted White
Planning and Building Director
Attachment:
1. Commercial Property Standards (Draft Informational Handout)