CODE ENFORCEMENT
The code enforcement profession balances the community’s quality of life by using professional skills and techniques tailored to the community's factors for sustainable living.
An effective Code Enforcement Division strives to prevent repeat offenses through education, effective communication, and enforcement. The divisions’ priority is to identify and abate violations of all applicable laws and code of ordinances related to:
General Nuisance
Property Maintenance Issues
Solid Waste
Hoarding Behaviors
Abandoned Properties and Neglect
Zoning Violations
Soil and Erosion
Building Regulations and Permitting Requirements
Officers and Inspectors methodically use professional skill sets with deliberate intent to serve the community better in the areas of:
A proactive code enforcement division recognizes the need for efficiency and time management. The division serves the community by meeting the need of ACCESSIBILITY:
To the public
Approachable department
Convenient to public access
Customer Service Area
Education and Meeting Room
Coordinating Compliance with other departments to serve the customer better
To other departments
Planning and Zoning
Building and Permitting
Fire Department Personnel
Environmental Health Department
Engineering
Tax Assessors/Commissioners Office
Property Records
Ownership Issues
Business and Licensing
Legal, Judicial Systems
Court Cases
Inspection Warrant
Abatement Procedures
A division with skilled personnel is dedicated and responsive to community improvement. Inspectors and officers work cooperatively with the public to ensure neighborhoods are educated and feel comfortable relying on code enforcement. The department proves to be a diversified group of subject matter experts who team up to make a difference. Educated and Experienced in:
Management and Public Education
Professionals who provide experience in code enforcement as it relates to and benefits the efforts of community improvement, sustainable living, and economic development.
Ability to target subject matter to the needs of individual neighborhoods.
Code enforcement experts recognize not all customers have the same needs or are on the same educational level. Trained Officers, inspectors, and specialists provide communication and educational needs to any target audience.
Public Administration, Business, and Economic Development
Provides the public with alternative solutions and effectively holds the subject of compliance as a must,
Communicates effectively through written and verbal means, Recognizing the customer's ability to understand and adapt,
Recognizes the potential for growth,
Criminal Justice, Police Techniques, and Court Procedures
Provides the community with a sense of security and assurance of active code enforcement
Officers recognize that customer concerns are important and handled effectively. Code enforcement officers provide security for the non-POST inspectors to effectively gain entrance to open and often vagrant-filled houses.
Officers and Inspectors provide effective, clear testimony bearing facts of a case before the Judicial Powers.
Officers and inspectors of an effective division are well-versed and knowledgeable of the City and County Code of Ordinances.
A team of experienced code enforcement professionals has a willingness to improve. Meeting the following needs will improve the division's performance.
Employee Training
Public Education
Improve community relationships with the department.
Media Access
Flyers, information packages, and message boards
Equip officers and inspectors with handouts that educate and promote community pride.
Improve enforcement methods by adding educational instruments to explain compliance processes and requirements.
Target area informational notices and advisements
Division evaluates violations.
Sends education and advice literature.
Documents progress and implements abatement procedure.
Policy and Procedure update
Department/division Professional Meetings
Improve Monthly Reports
Implement data relative to compliance activities.
Report community involvement activities
Implement quarterly summarized reports.
Improve and provide adequate equipment.
Vehicles
Cameras
Flashlights
Phones and IPADS
Update computer programs
For code enforcement, one of the most important skill sets acquired through employee training opportunities is customer service. This skill set should be performed professionally and efficiently every day. Code enforcement professionals can strategically apply their skill sets with deliberate intent to serve the community better in all areas of Customer Service. Effective customer service provided to the three most valuable players in the code enforcement field will only improve a community's attitude.
As a team-oriented staff, each member acknowledges, “Together, Everyone Achieves More.” As Teammates, they recognize each other’s strengths and abilities. Most, if not all, tasks can be achieved successfully when the team applies a more uniform approach.
Complainants are treated as concerned citizens, and a professional staff serves citizens effectively by listening to their concerns, gaining clarity on the issues, and responding in a strategic effort to educate the citizens on how the division will proceed by assessing the situation and validating the need for action to be taken promptly and professionally. Most importantly, it is important to communicate effectively with the responsible party. Code enforcement professionals understand and practice customer service strategies to proactively engage customers who may or may not understand that they have violated an ordinance that negatively impacts community values. It is a priority of each team member to communicate with such efficiency as to gain willful compliance by assessing the customers’ ability to comply and correspond with positive solutions while being direct and confirming consequences for non-compliance.
Those who take the Enforcement Techniques class receive this from me. I wanted to share. It is my hope it helps in some professional and personal way to grow your already super code enforcement department.
