POINT ARENA CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
AGENDA ITEM: VIII C
MEETING DATE: 03/25/2025
TITLE
Point Arena Code Enforcement Activities
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Receive Report and Direct Staff Regarding Code Enforcement Activities
ANALYSIS
City Code Enforcement efforts have been inconsistent in Point Arena for an exceptionally long time. The primary challenge has been finding qualified staff at a reasonable cost.
The City attempted to hire two different Code Enforcement consultants in 2015-16.
Neither effort was successful. The City then approached the County to provide Code Enforcement for Point Arena but it was turned down due to the County’s already full caseload. Starting in 2021, the City used SHN, an engineering and planning firm, to provide code enforcement services, but little progress was made. However, SHN canceled its contract with the City in late 2023.
In January 2025, the City Council heard comments from the community regarding Code Enforcement efforts in the City. Properties were identified as needing Code Enforcement activities as well as the need to address vacant storefronts in the downtown area.
Addressing both problems would require qualified staff and funds to address the complaints. Unfortunately, this comes at a time when the /city has suffered a serious financial setback and does not have the staffing and financial resources to address all the City’s concerns. A request was made to the City Council to hire a full-time Code Enforcement Officer. Unfortunately, this is not possible, given the City’s current financial situation.
Instead, the Interim City Manager Ducey identified two properties that were a high priority to be cleaned up:
• 165 Main Street – Wildflower East Hotel
• 31 Port Road – Residential Property
Because of the complexity of action necessary on these properties, Ducey asked the City’s Planning consultant Marie Jones to take the lead on enforcement of these properties. It is expected that the City will have high costs for enforcement so $10,000 was budgeted for this effort. Additionally, the City will host a City clean-up day in June with the intent that the community will come together to address the debris that occupies many private City parcels.
While the City responded promptly to the community's concerns, it is clear that these efforts have not fully addressed the expectations of some residents (Attachment I). The core issue at hand is the City’s limited financial resources. After facing significant fiscal challenges in March 2024, the City is still in the process of stabilizing its finances and is not yet in a position to allocate substantial funds to new initiatives.
Given this context, it is recommended that the City Council approve the initial Code Enforcement actions, which were initiated in February 2025, and direct staff to continue providing bi-monthly updates to the City Council on the progress and outcomes of these actions.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approximately $10,000.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment I: Point Arena Forward Letter
CITY MANAGER SIGNATURE
_________________________________
Peggy Ducey, Interim City Manager