City Council to Discuss Ways to Boost Code Enforcement

Numerous complaints by residents and the discovery of a house inhabited by 25 people last month have prompted City Council members to call a special meeting tonight. The subject: code enforcement.

Council members said they will focus on how to improve code enforcement operations in the city’s residential neighborhoods. But it’s less a matter of being unhappy with the current operations than wanting to make changes that will make the programs more effective and efficient, they said.

“I’d like to clean up the city,” Councilman David John Shawver said. “People are always calling about how the city looks.”

Creative solutions are needed, Shawver said. He said the city needs to consider a public education campaign so residents learn the rules and regulations of the city, as well as what they can do to clean up their neighborhoods. “People need a chance to get to know what the laws are, what the problems are and how to solve them,” he said.

In addition, Shawver said, the council should consider adding to the scant code enforcement staff of two. The limited staff makes it difficult to focus on all the council’s priorities, he said.

Community Development Director Mark Lloyd said he is looking forward to tonight’s meeting.

It’s always good to have council members clarify what they want, he said. “It gives us a chance to touch base with the council about the priorities of code enforcement.”

The special meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 7800 Katella Ave.

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Judy Silber can be reached at (714) 966-5988.