DATE: December 15, 2004
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT: Reinstatement of Code Enforcement Officer Positions

SUMMARY:
Overview
In response to the State’s reduction of General Purpose Revenue received by the County, seven positions were cut from the Code Enforcement Program in the 2004-2005 Budget.

The number of code enforcement complaints has not decreased and stands now at a total of over 2,300 individual complaints and cases. In addition, there have been concerns and complaints about the County’s inability to monitor conditions placed on special use permits.

To address the backlog of cases, some of which cannot be investigated for more than six months, and to ensure that special use permits are properly monitored, the seven positions must be reinstated.

Recommendation
CHAIRWOMAN DIANNE JACOB AND SUPERVISOR GREG COX
Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to add six Code Enforcement Officer positions and one Building Inspector position to the Department of Planning and Land Use, and increase the Department’s General Fund Appropriations by $300,000 based on available fund balance for these positions for the remainder of FY04-05 and refer the ongoing funding of these positions to the FY 05-06 budget process.

Fiscal Impact
Annual cost to reinstate these positions is approximately $600,000 dollars.

BACKGROUND:
Code enforcement responsibilities are performed by Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) positions in the Code Enforcement Division of the Department of Planning and Land Use.

Functions performed by CEOs include, but are not limited to, responding to: stormwater violations; clearing/grading violations; noise complaints; open space easement violations; and violations that represent significant and immediate health, life, or safety concerns. CEOs typically handle several hundred cases a year, some of which involve Civil Court actions.

In response to the State’s reduction of General Purpose Revenue received by the County, seven positions were cut from the Code Enforcement Program in the 2004-2005 Budget.

The number of code enforcement complaints has not decreased and stands now at a total of over 2,300 individual complaints and cases. In addition, there have been concerns and complaints about the County’s inability to monitor conditions placed on special use permits.

To address the backlog of cases, some of which cannot be investigated for more than six months, and to ensure that special use permits are properly monitored, the seven positions must be reinstated.

We urge your support,



DIANNE JACOB
Chairwoman
Supervisor, Second District

GREG COX
Supervisor, First District