The City of Fresno is adding officers to their Code Enforcement Strike Team, and will pursue criminal charges if needed — to force slumlords to fix their properties.
Two code enforcement officers will be reassigned and report directly to City Manager Bruce Rudd, while Mayor Ashley Swearengin has set aside fiscal 2016 funds to pay for to hiring two more code enforcement officers to fill their shoes.
“You’re on notice – within the next 30 days, you could have our task force knocking on your door, so take advantage of that 30 days to correct those things that we’re going to find or could find because if we find them it’s going to be far more expensive then, than it is now.” -Bruce Rudd, Fresno City Manager.
Rudd says they will perform random inspections – both exterior and interior, and the code enforcement officers will work with City Attorney Doug Sloan and Fresno Police to conduct these inspections – either by asking permission of landlords to enter the property or obtaining warrants if denied entry.
Most code violations are misdemeanors, and most landlords comply, but the City Attorney Doug Sloan says he will partner with the District Attorney and they will pursue criminal charges against the worst offenders.
Sloan says in a joint effort by both offices they will: pursue all options, and have a hearing officer hear all cases, consider a change to the code to address problems, and consider criminal charges under state law or deputize an attorney to handle federal cases.
Section 8 residents will be made aware before a property is inspected so they can be in attendance or not.
At the press conference, held December 8, 2015 at the Summerset Village Apartments, City Council Member Clint Olivier says “I’m so pleased that the City has created a strike force to try and turn the tide.”
The Summerset Village Apartments have 1,800 code violations, and Bruce Rudd says landlord Chris Henry is addressing them.
Mayor Swearengin has set aside $30,000 from the 2016 budget to help with relocation costs for the displaced residents of the Summerset Village Apartments.
The gaslines on that property are expected to be fixed by the week of December 14th.
