Code enforcement up for debate

Nearly 700 residents respond to survey

The Porterville City Council will consider Tuesday information regarding results of the city’s code enforcement survey.

Jenni Byers, the city’s community development director, said in a staff report that on April 4 of this year, city council directed staff to distribute a survey and informational brochure regarding the city’s code enforcement efforts. She said staff distributed the information through a variety of methods, including being mailed in the June cycle of city utility bills, being included in the Porterville Chamber of Commerce June newsletter and was made available electronically through the city’s website and the Choose Porterville Facebook page.

The code enforcement survey, Byers said, received an impressive volume of responses compared to other survey efforts with 673 respondents. Byers said the questions were created by the ad hoc committee of Vice Mayor Brian Ward and Councilmember Monte Reyes and city staff. Byers noted that the questions were approved by the council on April 4.

Byers said the majority of respondents live in the northwest quadrant of the city and work in the northeast quadrant of the city, which she said includes the downtown area. Of the options provided, Byers said the three highest priority issues were storing junk in front or side yards (82 percent), overgrown or untended landscaping (74 percent) and noise such as loud music and partying (66 percent).

When asked what were signs of a neglected property, Byers said respondents overwhelmingly identified trash or debris in the front yard, broken windows and overgrown trees and bushes as issues that made a property appear neglected.

The last survey question, Byers said, asked if respondents would be interested in volunteering time to help improve the community. Byers said nearly half (47 percent) noted they would be interested in either participating in or coordinating quarterly clean up efforts. Byers said a field was also provided where respondents could write in comments.

Byers said the comments ranged vastly, from “great job, add more code enforcement officers” to complaints about city streets, speeding traffic and other complaints not listed in the survey. Byers said some statements were not appropriate to be published and that such information was not included in the report.

Byers said the purpose of the survey was to gain insight into the issues most important to members of the community. Of the 12 violation types referenced in the survey, Byers said nine were deemed a high priority by at least 50 percent of the respondents. Byers said the majority of write-in comments were complaints about issues in residential communities, with many responses urging the city to be more consistent or proactive about code enforcement. In other matters:

Will consider pocket parks as an amenity in new residential development.

Will consider community swimming pools as an amenity in new residential development.

Will hold a public hearing considering a resolution, which would approve the establishment of The River Church at 2440 W. Henderson Ave. in the RM-3 Zone District. This item is continued from the city council meeting on July 18.

Will consider approving a policy for activation of the Fallen Heroes Park splash pad as a designated public cooling area.

Will consider awarding a contract in the amount of $443,418 to Clean Cut Landscape Inc. for the project consisting of improvements to the parking lots at the northwest corner of Olive Avenue and Second Street, the southwest corner of Second Street and Mill Avenue, the northwest corner of Second Street and Putnam Avenue, and the northeast corner of Putnam Avenue and Hockett Street. Will also consider authorizing to negotiate construction surveying service.

Will consider awarding a contract in the amount of $2,001,860 to DOD Construction for the project consisting of the micro surfacing of Plano Street from Henderson Avenue to Highway 190 and the Barn Theatre parking lot, and replacement of the existing water main from Date Avenue to Highway 190. Will also consider authorizing to negotiate surveying service and authorizing an additional appropriation of $230,572.36.

The council meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers at Porterville’s City Hall.