Funds OKd for Flyers on Amnesty Program

The Culver City Council voted 4 to 1 this week to spend almost $26,000 to print and mail 33,000 flyers announcing an amnesty program for Zoning and Building Code violators.

Owners of properties with illegal structures, room additions and garage conversions will be given until Nov. 13 to report their violations and qualify for amnesty, according to the flyer. Under the amnesty program, they will be exempt from fines and penalties and will not be required to correct the violations until the property is sold and title transferred.

Health and Safety Code violations, however, although exempt from fines and penalties under the amnesty program, must be brought up to code immediately.

Building and zoning violators who do not file for amnesty and are later caught will be given six months to a year to bring their property into compliance with the law, according to the pamphlet.

Councilman Jim Boulgarides, who favors stricter enforcement of the codes, voted against the measure at the council’s Monday night meeting.

The council in February approved a program to crackdown on “bootleg” apartments and other illegal conversions, which city officials said are causing traffic problems in residential neighborhoods and benefiting from city services without paying taxes.

The council adopted the present amnesty program in May after homeowners complained that the crackdown would penalize them for violations they did not know about when they bought the property.

Residents with questions about potential violations can call (213) 280-5944. Complaints will be kept confidential and anonymity will be respected for callers inquiring about their own properties, according to the flyer.

The funds approved Monday also include about $8,000 to buy advertisements announcing the amnesty program in local newspapers.