Code Compliance Spring 2010 City Council Update Brandon Scott Bennett Code Compliance Director May 11, 2010

2222 Presentation Overview Status Report on Tall Grass Enforcement Update on Substandard Buildings Animal Care and Control Update Project Status

3 Tall Grass Update 3

44 Tall Grass Expenditure Trends YTD – 50% of budget expended

55555 High Grass Trends

6666 Operational Status Public education continues Outreach letters sent to 6,000 property owners that were in violation last year. Identify violations at 18 inches instead of 12 inches Re-mow violations every 45 days instead of 21 Monitor budget and make adjustments to mowing schedule where required Issue citations where possible

7 Vacant Lot Density 7 40,216 Vacant Lots 7,722 Commercial 902 Have Structures 6,820 Vacant Land 32,494 Residential 8,795 Have Structures 23,699 Vacant Land 1,685 City owned lots

8 Substandard Buildings Update 8

9999 Demolition Update $490,000 CDBG Budget (100% Expended) 45 Substandard structures demolished 39 Residential 6 Commercial $203,000 General Fund Budget (48% Expended) 30 Residential 1 Commercial Budget re-estimates predict full expenditure in early fourth quarter

10 CDBG Demolitions

11 CDBG Demolitions

12 High Risk Motel Project Focused attention and frequent inspections continue Collaboration with State of Texas Hotel Association Formed Ad Hoc strategy team with City staff, Tarrant County Hotel Association and hotel owners and managers Initiated educational forums for high risk facilities New ordinance drafted and will work with the Ad Hoc Team and industry to develop a final draft for City Council consideration

13 Building Standards Commission (BSC)

14 BSC Highlights Park Terrace Manor Apartments Blighted apartment complex with history of crime Order to partially vacate Order to repair or demolish - extensive remodel underway Working with Code and Police on “crime free” strategies Eco Inn Motel Blighted motel with history of crime Order to vacate entire premises Order to repair or demolish – extensive remodel underway Working with Code and Police on “crime free “strategies 14

15 Incident: Wyndham Pointe Apartments Carl Smart, Executive Director, Fire Department Office of Emergency Management May 11, 2010

16 Overview Wyndham Pointe Apartments –Electrical Disconnects –Families without electricity –49 counts of tampering/damage –Situation deemed hazardous

17 Wyndham Pointe Apartments Arial View of Complex

18 Damage Overview

19 Damage Overview

20 Damage Overview

21 Damage Overview

22 Response Team –Police –Community Relations –Code Compliance –Planning and Development –Parks and Community Services –Oncor Delivery Service –Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD) American Red Cross, Salvation Army, 211/United Way of Tarrant County –The T –Media Relations –Fire/Office of Emergency Management

23 Emergency Response Security Basic Needs: food, water and shelter Restoration of Power

24 Coordinated Team Effort Provide Security –24 hour presence by Police –Volunteer assistance Ministers Against Crime (MAC) Provide Assistance to Families without Power –Meals, water, provided by Salvation Army and American Red Cross –Daytime shelter/cooling station provided at Handley Meadowbrook Community Center –Mediation between residents and management

25 Coordinated Team Effort Provide Social Services and Referrals –Check residents’ eligibility for financial assistance (PACS - Community Action Partners) –Negotiate with TXU Energy to waive fees –Take fair housing complaints Community Relations Enforcement Division –Seek additional assistance from 211/United Way of Tarrant County for eligible residents

26 Coordinated Team Effort Code Compliance/Planning and Development –Issue violation notices to owner Require repairs to damaged electrical systems Restoration of power to occupied units or vacate –Identify all units without power –Coordinate repair work by electrical contractor –Inspect all work completed by Electrical Inspector –Insure reinstallation of meters (Oncor)

27 Future Actions  Work with Oncor to facilitate more communications in advance of major electrical problems and disconnects  Develop emergency response plans to more effectively respond to similar situations  Provide information to public and city departments on services available to assist families in need  Upgrade notification process to all departments

28 Animal Care and Control 28

29 Animal Care and Control Activities 29

30 Pet Adoption Center Total pets adopted: Shelter 126 Adoption Center Total pets adopted during the same period in 2009: 81 No adoptable pets euthanized since opening

31 Fund Raising Update 31 Contributions will cover at least 18 months of operations Working on additional partnerships for grooming, obedience training, supplies, etc. Citizen advocacy groups working on additional contributions for an operational endowment and equipment: –Specialized transportation vehicle for adoptable pets: $38,000 –Mobile Adoption and Spay/Neuter Clinic: $176,000

32 Operational Highlights Added on-site low-cost vaccination clinics on weekdays Increased community-based low-cost clinics (Saturdays) Added ‘Fence Fridays’ collaboration with Code Officer RFP for low cost on-site spay/neuter clinic American Humane Society and City of Fort Worth national training class for sheltering animals in disasters Continue to use Goodwill contract workers and volunteers to reduce costs Responsible pet ownership and pet adoption partnership with Fort Worth Cats

33 Current and Future Projects

34 Current Major Projects Fowl Ordinance Revisions Minimum Parking Standards Ordinance Civil Penalties Ordinance Code Ranger and Volunteer Recruitment Crime Free Multi-Housing Hotel/Motel Ordinance Development Privatization Study Las Vegas Trail Apartment Study 34

Questions and Discussion