Since a majority of the subdivisions in West Sacramento do not have Home Owner Association’s governing them, how do plan to address/fund code enforcement throughout the city?
Mark Johannessen
Email: mark@markjohannessen.com
Website: www.markjohannessen.com
Phone: (916) 371-0661
In order to attract people and quality development to West Sacramento, we need to be conscious of our city’s image and do what we can do to enhance that image. That includes neighborhood beautification all over our city.
Presently code enforcement is handled by a unit in the Police Department. For those who live in areas with homeowners associations, residents can use the rules and procedures set out in their association documents to help address nuisance issues. Those living in areas without homeowners associations must rely on the city to provide relief to nuisance issues such as junk, rubbish and weeds, inoperative/unregistered vehicles, lawn or yard parking, automotive repairs and other violations of our city’s ordinances. In order to address this, our code enforcement division must be properly staffed and trained. In addition, we should review our ordinances to make sure they are in harmony with our vision of what a first rate city should look like.
I would begin by educating people on what is acceptable under the city’s ordinances, and what is not. This could be done in conjunction with the organization of Neighborhood Watch groups for crime prevention, with a block by block focus.
I would like to achieve code compliance by using incentives rather than punitive measures wherever possible. We can’t be too hasty in fining people for code violations and must recognize that some people are simply unable to comply due to age, financial or other circumstances. To help people comply with our nuisance ordinances, we can enlist the help of the many non-profit and community groups in West Sacramento, we can create programs through grants that will allow funds for clean up and renovation, and we can partner with organizations that can help in our clean up efforts.
Chris Ledesma
Email: info@chrisledesma.com
Website: www.chrisledesma.com
Phone: (916) 203-6925
A home is the biggest investment most will ever make, and we need to take a community-wide approach to ensuring the quality of our neighborhoods. Code enforcement is an important part of our overall strategy, and I plan to work with our police department to make sure it is adequately staffed and is an active part of our overall strategy for the entire community.
Mary Lasell
Email: eyeonwsac@hotmail.com
Phone: (916) 372-8121
First of all, code enforcement should be proactive instead of reactive. To accomplish this, more code enforcement officers are probably needed. I do know that our residents are calling code enforcement to report various violations. Some people might have financial or health issues and that is why they aren’t in compliance. I would like to see our City have volunteers that help our neighbors who might need a hand to come into compliance. Funding would come out of the Police Department’s fund which comes out of the general fund. When people are fined, we would have those resources.
Wes Beers
Email: wesbeers@gowes.org
Website: www.gowes.org
Phone: (916) 372-0130
Ensuring our neighborhoods and business districts are clean and well maintained is an important component of a healthy City.
Code Enforcement is a key tool in that effort and the City is making major strides in improving this effort with the hiring of a new Code Enforcement Manager and combining code enforcement with parking within the Police Department. While specific code/parking violations will continue to be responded to as they are reported, the new emphasis will be on looking at entire neighborhoods, so that a comprehensive approach is taken on improving the overall character of the neighborhood.
While Code Enforcement is important, it is equally important that we provide incentives to residents and businesses to maintain and improve their properties, such as the annual home improvement award program and the building fee holiday. Both of these programs reward positive efforts that clean up and enhance our community.
Finally, Code Enforcement is a General fund activity and should continue to be funded to the appropriate level to meet the community’s needs.
Jim Cahill
Email: jim@jimcahill.org
Website: www.jimcahill.org
Phone: (916) 531-6264
While it is true that the majority of neighborhoods in West Sacramento do not have Homeowners’ Associations, such a lack does not preclude a good Code Enforcement system.
Not every neighborhood lends itself to the creation of a Homeowners’ Association. In those neighborhoods where the residents choose this option, the City should coordinate code enforcement efforts through the HOA whenever possible. In the downtown areas of West Sacramento, a property based improvement district (“PBID”) will eventually augment code enforcement efforts.
Most Cities, like West Sacramento, pay for Code Enforcement programs out of General Fund revenues. This is an appropriate source, since Code Enforcement clearly falls under the “public safety” duties a city undertakes when it incorporates. Therefore, funding levels are determined by the City Council in the budget process and are presumed to reflect the priorities established by Council Members.
If an insufficient budget commitment to Code Enforcement exists, a re-direction of General Fund revenues is necessary. The General Fund budget is a “zero-sum game” in which funding to augment one program must necessarily be taken away from another program. I believe Code Enforcement, as a fundamental duty of the City, ought to receive far greater commitment and funding.
Much of the new revenue from the Measure K sales tax has been diluted into numerous social programs which, while perhaps of a positive nature, do not merit funding in the proportion that has been awarded. I would re-direct Measure K funds away from social programs and towards fundamental government responsibilities, like Code Enforcement.