REGULATION OF GRASS HEIGHT BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OCTOBER 28, 2014

CHAPTER 20. NUISANCES ORDINANCE 1.Today I have provided an ordinance revision for your review to amend the height regulation of grass from 18” to 12”. This will affect all properties in unincorporated Citrus County. 2. I will discuss the actions proposed by the County if the grass reaches a height of 24”. 3.I will also provide you with information about the financial ramifications for such amendment. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS – OCTOBER 28,

ARTICLE VI. EXCESSIVE GROWTH AND ACCUMULATION OF VEGETATION BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS – OCTOBER 28,

ARTICLE VI. EXCESSIVE GROWTH AND ACCUMULATION OF VEGETATION Sec Prohibition: It shall be unlawful for any person owning, leasing, occupying or having control of any property subject to the provisions of this section to permit or maintain grass, weeds, brush and undergrowth in excess of 12 inches in height, or an accumulation of vegetative matter. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS – OCTOBER 28,

PHOTOGRAPHS OF 12” GRASS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - OCTOBER 28,

20-63 NOTICE; HEARING; REMOVAL (b)The notice shall further provide that if such a demand is not complied with and the Nuisance Vegetation exceeds 24 inches the County may cause the violation to be remedied and the cost thereof will constitute a lien against the land so benefited… BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - OCTOBER 28,

ARTICLE VI. EXCESSIVE GROWTH AND ACCUMULATION OF VEGETATION Sec Affected properties: (a)The following properties are subject to the provisions of this article: (1) Lands zoned residential within recorded and unrecorded subdivisions, as defined in the county’s Land Development Code; (2) Lots within public/semi-public, professional service/office, commercial, industrial and recreational zoning districts; Continued… BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS – OCTOBER 28,

ARTICLE VI. EXCESSIVE GROWTH AND ACCUMULATION OF VEGETATION Sec Affected properties: (3) Agricultural and rural residential lots of one acre or less; or (4) Any other tract or parcel not zoned agricultural, to the extent the Nuisance Vegetation lies within 100 feet of any improved property. (b)The height provisions of this section shall not apply to parcels with natural vegetation, which shall be defined as any parcel of land considered naturally vegetated if the parcel has not been cleared or mowed subsequent to April 12, BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - OCTOBER 28,

EXAMPLE OF PROPERTIES BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - OCTOBER 28,

BACKGROUND - REGULATION Nuisance Ordinance originally adopted in Prior to 2008 there was funding for clean-up. Existing program provides 30 day violation notice, then goes to Special Master hearing 60 days from date of notice. Special Master allows a minimum of 30 days before liens may be imposed. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS – OCTOBER 28,

GRASS COMPLAINT STATISTICS Grass Complaint Stats Jan/Feb/March April/May/June July/Aug/Sep Oct/Nov/Dec TOTALS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS – OCTOBER 28,

COST ANALYSIS Full TimeSubsequent Start upYears Salary 30, Benefits, Work Comp, Taxes,FRS 17, County Vehicle 15, Vehicle Maintenance 1, Fuel & Lube Expenses 2, Special Equipment (cameras) Uniforms & Boots Software Licenses Software maintenance MS Office Norton Antivirus Training/Dues Travel & Per diem Office Supplies 1, Postage 1, Cell Phones Office Telephone Furniture 1, Total Costs $ 73, $ 55, BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - OCTOBER 28,

Hiring a Mowing Contractor would be necessary to include in 14/15 Budget to mow properties over 24” COST ANALYSIS - MOWING BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - OCTOBER 28,

GRASS COMPLAINT STATISTICS Complaints InvestigatedAll Complaints Grass Complaints Percentage of Grass/All 20104, % 20113, % 20123, % 2013*3, % 20142, % BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS – OCTOBER 28, *In 2013, the Code Compliance Division reviewed 3,411 citizen complaints divided between 5.5 Code Officers/ averages 620 complaints per full-time officer per year. This equates to 52/month.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS  County’s Administrative Regulation (AR: ) has response time for “overgrown and vegetative material” as a Priority III (3- day response).  Current Workloads are requiring reprioritizing response time for “overgrown and vegetative material” up to seven days.  We anticipate there will be a dramatic increase in grass complaints, therefore amending the height requirement will require hiring a full-time Code Compliance Officer to manage the increase. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS – OCTOBER 28,

WHAT DO OTHER COUNTIES DO? JurisdictionGrass Height Citrus County18 inches Flagler CountyDoes not regulate Hernando County18 inches Hillsborough County10 inches Leon County18 inches Pasco County12 inches Pinellas County12 inches Polk County18 inches Palm Beach County18 inches – vacant property BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - OCTOBER 28,

GRASS PHOTOS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - OCTOBER 28,

PROPOSAL Require vegetation to be considered a violation when it is in excess of 12 inches in height. Hire a company to mow properties over 24” ~ $25,000 Administrative regulation extend beyond the 3- day response time-frame to allow Code Officers more time to effectively respond to grass complaints. Hire additional Code Compliance Officer a full-time ($73,896) to handle the expanded case load if grass height is reduced to 12 inches. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS – OCTOBER 28,

QUESTIONS? BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS – OCTOBER 28,