01/18/2005 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 1/18/2(105 through the Building, Zoning & Development Committee. Several public meetings have been held to discuss the issue in committee. There have also been meetings with the administration members and chairperson Gareau where a review of the legislation was undertaken and recommendations were made on an on-going basis in consultation with the Building, Planning and Law departments as well as the city inspector and Safety Department. As a result, the committee was able to come forward with comprehensive changes which will benefit the city in terms of property maintenance. It was a substantial overwrite. Previously, we were dealing with a section of the code regarding the maintenance of exterior premises, hazards and unsanitary conditions. Hazards and unsanitary conditions were generally the focus of the work by the real property maintenance inspector. The appearance of physical structures which weren't hazards or in unsanitary conditions wasn't really being addressed in the residential component of our community. That area of hazards and unsanitary conditions has been expanded and included now is upkeep and the appearance of structures which may not specifically be hazards or in unsanitary conditions. For example, now included in residential districts are the storage of commercial and industrial equipment or waste; the storage of equipment, materials or waste other than those which were referred to in the previous section; the parking and storage of vehicles; landscaping as there has been some issue of landscaping over the years and overlapping jurisdiction within the city. This provides some enforcement power to our maintenance officer for landscaping issues in residential areas. Also, included within his juri~iction will be signs and trash containers and receptacles and how those are to be stored. There is a general maintenance provision which goes a bit further and talks about the general condition of numerous aspects of the exterior of the property and the house. It also moves in under that section into the issue of laundry-laundry poles and such items which have a blighting effect upon the neighborhood. Those items are not prohibited but must be placed in the back yard and not the front yard. Numerical changes were made to the section of property maintenance for non-residential. Changes were made in a section concerning gutters and downspouts. Resident Paul Barker mentioned there seems to be an issue with respect to neglected downspouts and gutters. The committee did make a change to Section 1363.07 (a) (7), regarding gutters and downspouts. It now reads, "All gutters and downspouts shall be placed in compliance with the Building Code and maintained to collect and transport surface water from roofs. Rusted or broken or damaged gutters and downspouts shall be promptly repaired and replaced. Gutters shall not be permitted to become clogged, nor the flow of water thereon restricted by vegetation or other materials growing, placed or otherwise existing therein." Previously, the section did not say the gutters had to work, it jilst said they had to be there. Language was added to insure that the gutters are working anal properly functioning. The committee unanimously recommended approval of Ordinance 2004- 80 asamended. Councilman Gareau made a motion to amend Ordinance 2004-80 at 1363.07 (a) (7). The motion was seconded by Councilman McKay and passed unanimously. Ordinance 2004-80 amended. • Resolution 2004-202, a resolution authorizing the Director of Law to proceed with negotiations with property owners of one or more sites that have been identified as acceptable by the Fire Dept. and by the recommendation of the Planning Commission 7