Municipal Codes Forum summary

							           MUNICIPAL CODES ENFORCEMENT FORUM
                                        April 13, 2006

Department Survey Results
USC staff distributed the results from the survey instrument sent to the participating departments.
After reviewing the data, participants requested to add three additional questions. USC staff will
send the revised survey to the participants to collect the information. Once the information is
resubmitted and compiled, USC will send a copy of the results to everyone.

USC staff distributed additional information from national research including a summary of the
codes enforcement results from the ICMA Comparative Performance Measurement Project, a
program description of Aurora, CO “Weed and Seed” effort, and an article describing the codes
enforcement strategies in Norfolk, VA.

City of Greenwood Presentation
The City of Greenwood presented an overview of the City’s code enforcement initiatives.
Charlie Barrineau, Assistant City Manager, shared the City’s rental property registry process and
the software used to assist the City in tracking code violations. The software is linked to the
Greenwood County’s tax database, giving the City access to property owner information. City
staff is able to store pictures of inspected properties in the system. The software automatically
generates citation letters for the various code violations by pulling information from the tax
information. Database modules are integrated so that property management and housing cases
can be managed and nuisances can be dually tracked. Both the Police Department and City
Administration are able to enter information into the system about code violations.

Though the number of nuisance letters issued has not decreased, the incidents of public works
having to maintain property have dropped. As a result of using the software, the City is able to
better document and track case information, as well as to reduce the response time to address the
issues. The City has invested approximately $20,000 in the software to date.

City of Clemson Presentation
Bob Vecchico, Zoning/Codes Administrator with the City of Clemson, presented information
regarding the City’s rental property ordinance. The rental property ordinance, which was enacted
in 2000, is incorporated in the City’s business license code. The ordinance requires landlords and
rental management companies to apply for a rental housing permit. Prior to a permit being
issued, each property must have a livability inspection. These inspections are conducted by
Clemson University’s off-duty fire fighters.

One of City council’s priorities is to protect the character of residential neighborhoods. A key
aspect of the ordinance is the strict occupancy standards. The code currently allows for a family
plus one individual, or two unrelated individuals. In order to determine an occupancy violation,
City police monitor the house in question in the early morning for four or more vehicles for 14-
day period. To address other rental property ordinance violations, the City has a Rental Housing
Committee composed of city staff from various departments and a citizen appointed by council.
Round Table Discussion

Housing Rehabilitation

The City of Woodruff has received a $500,000 grant through the CDBG program to rehabilitate
or to demolish houses. The grant is administered through the Department of Commerce’s Small
Cities Program. Some of the challenges in making the grant work are the $32,000 limit per house
and the clear title requirement.

The City of Greenville earmarks a portion of the CDBG money it receives to fund faith-based
organizations for housing rehab programs.

Several cities are working with non-profit organizations to rehabilitate houses. The City of
Florence is working to create a nonprofit. The City of Columbia works with Dreamworks and
Home Builders. World Changers, Christmas in April and Rebuilding Together are other groups
that work with cities in rehabilitating homes.

The City of North Charleston’s community development office is working with local churches to
rehabilitate houses. The City also uses CDBG funds to buy the houses and then turns them over
to communities for rehabilitative work. However, the increasing property market is making this
more difficult.

Neighborhood Collaborative Efforts

The City of Rock Hill has used a Weed and Seed program in the four highest crime
neighborhoods. Through a program called PACE, the City is partnering with a variety of city
agencies, neighborhood associations, and other groups to help correct violations. In the first
neighborhood, the City spent four months to help bring properties up to standard. The City is
also using this PACE model to create a housing agency.

The City of North Charleston uses crime statistics as the reason for entering an area. The City’s
Neighborhood Enhancement Team has officers assigned to each council member’s district. The
City attempts to reach an agreement with the landowner to take care of the property or sign over
the property. Through the use of HUD funds, properties have been torn down and turned into
green space or redeveloped.

Other cities work with a neighborhood associations to help with assessments and clean-up.
Literature is distributed to encourage compliance and educate citizens on code requirements.

Other Issues

The participants discussed the challenges of summons for absentee owners. Some of the methods
used by participating cities include:

      Issuing notices through the local newspaper and using the local sheriff or other agency to
       present the summons
      Using a private investigator
      Issuing civil summons
      Having mortgage companies deed properties to the municipality to resell

The participants discussed the use of demolition contractors. There is a mix of those that use city
employees and contractors. Some of the problems noted with contractors are contract
administration, the bid process, and poor quality. The City of North Charleston contracts this
service out on an individual building basis.

The City of North Charleston gets $150,000 a year in HUD funds for code enforcement, which
funds two code enforcement officers. The City must reapply each year for the funds.

The participants listed the following two issues as possible discussion topics for a forum to be
held in the fall of 2006:

          Livability Courts
          Bridging Gap from Codes Enforcement and Housing Rehabilitation