BREA : Special Prosecutor To Enforce Codes

After many complaints that they were not moving quickly enough to investigate code enforcement violations, city officials have retained a special prosecutor to handle neighborhood-preservation ordinance cases.

Martin J. Mayer, who also handles similar cases for 30 other surrounding cities, will look into reports of cars parked on lawns, garages that are illegally converted into residences, construction material that is improperly stored and other violations the city’s neighborhood-preservation ordinance.

Although most violations can be handled with a letter or visit from city officials, City Manager Frank Benest said, a few cases require more aggressive action. The city attorney’s office has been handling those cases, but Benest said the process has been time-consuming and expensive for the city.

“Basically it was like filing a suit,” he said.

Because the city prosecutor will focus only on matters involving the ordinance and the city code, the process will be streamlined, Benest said.

The procedure for notifying code violators will not change, Benest said.

Code enforcement officers will visit residents believed to be in violation of city codes and will send them a written report of the violation and what is needed to correct it.

“In most cases, that is all it takes” to bring about compliance, Benest said.