Neighborhood Cleanup
Police officers, firefighters, and building inspectors—these are City employees with which most people are familiar. But what's a Code Enforcement officer? And what does one do?
The Code Enforcement office is under the Fire Department. As Deputy Fire Marshals, the primary role of the code enforcement team is to prevent fires and eliminate hazards that could affect public safety. This includes notifying residents of issues like tall weeds or grass, abandoned vehicles, or refrigerators left outside. While they can issue citations, their primary goal is for problems to be fixed by the property owner.
"Our focus is the health and safety of the community," says Julie Canady, Code Enforcement Supervisor. "An area full of tall weeds or grass can quickly become an inviting habitat for snakes, rodents, or other undesirable critters. A refrigerator can seem like an interesting place to hide for a child, but can be deadly when the door shuts and won't open. We're out on the streets every day to identify and address these kinds of hazards."
Canady says the Code Enforcement team averages about six new cases each day. Given that each case may take several follow-up contacts to resolve, the City's three Code Enforcement officers are a busy bunch.
A common problem is stagnant water. "Even a low area in someone's yard that puddles water can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Kiddie pools and old tires can also be a problem," says Canady.
Code enforcement also addresses "bandit" signs and other violations of the City's sign ordinance. Garage and open house signs in the right-of-way or on utility poles can block views at intersections and clutter up the landscape. In addition, the nails and screws used to attached signs to utility poles create a safety hazard for utility workers who climb the poles, and eventually can compromise the structural integrity of the pole itself.
Directional signs in the right-of-way for special events like street festivals are allowed, but they must be approved as part of a special events permit.
One of the ways that the Code Enforcement team helps to minimize some common problems is through neighborhood cleanups. This summer, Code Enforcement sponsored cleanups in the San Jose and Old Town neighborhoods so that residents could get rid of brush piles, old appliances, and other bulky items. Other neighborhoods will be targeted for future cleanups.
