Vista talks of 'proactive' code enforcement

By: CRAIG TENBROECK - Staff Writer
April 17, 2007

VISTA -- Stating concerns about health and safety, some City Council members said Tuesday that they would like Vista's code compliance officers to crack down on nonpermitted home additions and illegally converted garages ---- frequently signs of crowded living arrangements.

"This is just rampant in our town, and causes so, so, so many problems that I think we need to deal with it," Councilman Steve Gronke said.

Gronke's suggestion, supported by a several others on the council, came during a broad discussion of what types of code violations the city should confront on a "proactive" basis.

Currently, the city's code compliance division works reactively, responding mainly to formal complaints, Deputy City Manager Patrick Johnson said.

Vista has five code compliance officers, though two deal strictly with abandoned vehicles and parking enforcement. In the last year, the division received more than 1,700 complaints, which required 7,334 inspections and follow-up visits, a city report states.

The council suggested several types of violations that they would like to see less of, from illegal signs to automobiles parked on front lawns to transient camps.

After the meeting, City Manager Rita Geldert said she would evaluate the council members' suggestions and return with a realistic and prioritized list in June when the council is scheduled to approve the city's budget.

Geldert indicated, however, that even if the city hired two code compliance officers, as she had proposed, "you'd need quite a few more" to actively crack down on everything the council requested.

The annual salary and benefits for a code compliance officer is between $82,355 to $94,521, depending on expertise, a city report states. There are also one-time costs for purchasing vehicles, computers and other pieces of equipment.

Geldert cautioned that actively canvassing neighborhoods for nonpermitted home additions and converted garages could displace some people.

Nevertheless, several council members said it was an idea worth pursuing.

"Even if there is a displacement factor, we'll just have to deal with it," Councilman Bob Campbell said.

The bulk of the workshop was spent talking about cleaning up signage in the city.

John Conley, the city's acting director of community development, showed photographs of business signs that were either illegal or had been legally installed but no longer conform to the city's sign code.

City staff members recommended using one of the new code compliance officers to inventory all signs in the city, a process that could take up to two years. Active enforcement could begin once that baseline had been established, officials said.

In the meantime, council members directed Conley to draft revisions to the city's sign code that would provide more stringent guidelines for temporary signs.

"I don't think I've ever been in a city, or worked in a city, that hasn't had a sign problem," Mayor Morris Vance said. "It's a difficult one to solve, but I think we're up to the task."

-- Contact staff writer Craig TenBroeck at (760) 631-6621 or ctenbroeck@nctimes.com.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/04 ... _17_07.txt

Comments On This Story

Greg in Oceanside wrote on April 17, 2007 10:26 PM:"Bravo! It's about time cities like Vista, Oceanside, San Marcos, and Escondido start enforcing city code and clean up the neighborhoods. And I'd be willing to bet this will flush out the hoards of illegal aliens living in garages and multiple familes living on single family properties. Displacement? Hmm, sounds like a pretty good idea to me!"

Sue wrote on April 18, 2007 5:03 AM:"Hello...they are still living in the garage on the corner. Vista code people you know which place that is..."

To Greg wrote on April 18, 2007 6:43 AM:"Why is it that someone always has to make everything an "illegal alien" issue? Are you really that naive and narrow minded? Or wait, I won't make those assumptions about you. Homes are expensive in San Diego County. People will pack families into a small house if it means they, collectively, can own their own home. Try being a bit more sensitive to that. Or better yet, imagine yourself in an unprivileged family growing up and trying to move your family up the socio-economic ladder."

Like it wrote on April 18, 2007 7:52 AM:"Ever notice how often homes with 4 families, 8 cars and converted garages also take the least pride in keeping the property maintained? Issue citation to pay for the salaries of new enforcement officers. Let's restore our communities a little."

Lynette wrote on April 18, 2007 7:55 AM:"Code enforcement can't keep up with reported problems, so now they want to add canvasing neighborhoods for illegal garage conversions to their to do list? How exactly do they plan to "deal with" the "displacement factor"? Will the city be opening shelters for the people they force out of their homes? Somehow I doubt that. With housing prices so ridiculous here having a large number of people live in a small home is the only way to enter the housing market. Is code enforcement getting a piece of the new sales tax pie to go illegal addition hunting? Why don't they go after graffiti first, and leave people to do what they wish with their own homes!"

KenBone wrote on April 18, 2007 7:58 AM:"Grand idea that begs pursuing. Get those cars off the front lawns. Stash the trash cans out of sight. And defintely the out-of-code living spaces. These are great steps to getting the town in shape. Pushing back on the "broken window" theory."

to To Greg wrote on April 18, 2007 8:03 AM:"This story really is about the problem of illegal immigration but the NCT rarely uses the word "ILLEGAL". OK, maybe there is a small percentage of non-illegal aliens that this story could be addressing, but lets get over this need to always be politically correct so that good, positive change can be made. By the way, you forgot to call Greg "racist"."

Judy wrote on April 18, 2007 8:11 AM:"SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS means simply that:'SINGLE-FAMILY'. We moved to Vista a little over two yrs. ago assuming that term was enforced legally. We hope that will be resolved soon, through your upgraded canvassing of neighborhoods. Hopefully, displacement arrangements will be in place to help those being 'removed'."

Hey NCT just print it wrote on April 18, 2007 12:09 PM:"Greg- Oceanside is NOT cranking down on non-permitted home additions and illegally converted garages. In my neighborhood some even squatter on city property and build shacks. We have one house where the garage is converted, they have a shack on city property, they have people living in a trailer, and just about a family in every room. At least 8 or more families in this home; in addition they have taken over the side property, which is city property also and started adding on. I called Oceanside CODE ENFORCEMENT and they act really stupid like they don't know what I am talking about. We have so many of these houses in our neighborhood and lets not talk about the parking. Our neighborhood is literally turning into a cactus grove. For some strange reason every one of these homes is planting a bunch of cactuses all around the homes. The most despicable thing is the Oceanside does not have a CODE ENFORCEMENT Department. "

Oops do you think people wrote on April 18, 2007 1:10 PM:"are upset? PREMEDITATED MERGER Angry truckers to encircle D.C. with 'blockade' Protesting administration plan to allow Mexican long-haulers on U.S. roads American truckers plan to circle the White House and state capitals in a "rolling blockade" to protest a federal government plan to allow Mexican long-haul rigs to operate throughout the U.S. Drivers who participate in "Truck-Out" also are being asked to run their rigs at the minimum speed permitted by law. The protest is scheduled for April 23-25 to coordinate with the "Hold Their Feet to the Fire" rally and radio talk show marathon in Washington planned by the Federation for American Immigration Reform. "

OSIDE MOM wrote on April 18, 2007 1:47 PM:"I hope Oceanside will take some proactive measures, too. For now, my advice to anyone buying a home in North County is to make sure there is a homeowner's association. The neighborhoods that never had an HOA, or got rid of theirs have the worst problems. Many of these neighborhoods used to be considered upscale, but then people started with the overcrowding, letting their lawns go, replacing them with gravel, or literally creating a parking lot surrounding the house. Who is going to pay high home prices just for their investment to be brought down by obnoxiously painted houses, cars on blocks and people living out of the garages and trailers? The city might do something, but it might take getting sued first. Your best bet is the association. It costs a little more, but consider it insurance. "

To Hey NCT & OSIDE MOM wrote on April 18, 2007 4:10 PM:"HEY NCT: I actually had a need to contact OSide's code enforcement department this week and was entirely surprised & impressed by the quick response time. A member of their team came to my home to address my concerns and informed me of what steps were being taken to have the violations corrected. Maybe you should call again or submit the complaint form available on the city's website. OSIDE MOM: HOA's? I don't think so. I've lived both in and out of HOA areas and learned they're nothing more than lame duck organizations who gladly collect your incredibly bloated fees while taking 6 months to a year (if ever) to address violations. I live in Fire Mountain. There is no association and the overwhelming majority of properties are uniquely beautiful, well groomed and well kept. There can be property value damaging issues either way, but the only way the problem is solved is to take your own proactive approach and address questionable situations early instead of taking the standard wait and see approach until the cold becomes a cancer that much more difficult to treat."

Skip wrote on April 18, 2007 5:32 PM:"UHHHH UHHHHH Kind of sounds "Racist" to me dude."

Lee wrote on April 18, 2007 5:36 PM:"We have finally paid off our mortgage after living here since 1973.What use to be a quiet neighborhood with one single family dwellings are now with many people residing in one home. Sometimes as many as three or four families. That also makes it difficult for our own friends and family who come to visit, because there is no place to park. And when there are celebrations for whatever reason, the noise from our neighbors is very disturbing. It took a lot of years to get where we are in the purchase of our home. It is a single family home and thats what it should be for everyone else. I do hope the city of Vista does something about this. And you are right,it is expensive to buy a home but thats part of becoming responsible in life and able to accomplish it on your own.


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