SAN CLEMENTE : Program to Improve City to Be Continued

The City Council this week unanimously voted to continue the Neighborhood Pride Program, which council members said has been successful in improving blighted conditions in the city.

The program, which began on a small scale in 1990 but was expanded last December to a 52-block area, focuses on improving the appearance of the neighborhood and cracking down on parking and municipal code violations.

Since a more aggressive parking program was instituted in the area, more than 300 cars have been ticketed for various parking violations, city officials said in a quarterly report presented to the council.

The city hired a new code enforcement officer this month who is responsible for cracking down on municipal code violations, such as bootleg apartment units, as well as scouting for nuisances, including inoperable vehicles, boats and campers parked in driveways and improperly discarded furniture.

Since December, the city’s code enforcement division has opened 29 new cases within the program area and is working with property owners to stem various municipal code violations, said Leslie Davis, an associate city planner who coordinates the Neighborhood Pride Program.

A brochure detailing the program was sent out to 6,000 property owners within the project area last month. Davis said she believes it has made them more aware of what they need to do to avoid being cited.

“A lot has happened since the program was implemented in the area,” Davis said. “During the last three months, we’ve gained a lot of attention from property owners. It’s evident that the program has made a difference and, given time, it will continue to make an even bigger difference.”

A Neighborhood Pride Task Force has also been created and is made up of city staff members from the community development, police, fire, maintenance, and beaches, parks and recreation departments.

The task force has been meeting twice a month to discuss problems with specific properties and other neighborhood issues.

Davis said the city is still working to solve ongoing concerns such as street lighting, car repairs being done on public streets, inspection of garages and a property rehabilitation program for the more than 300 properties in the area that need repairs and improvements.