Presented byCouncil Member Felicia A. MooreAssistant Dustin R. Hillis

District 9 Code Enforcement Seminar

•What is the status of Code Enforcement in District 9?•How can our community members get involved in the Code

Enforcement process in order to positively influence their neighborhoods & NPUs?

•Council Member Moore has made Code Enforcement a top priority for our district. Code Enforcement & Special Projects Assistant Dustin Hillis was hired in February 2015 to focus on improving code enforcement in the district.

•We are currently following around 400 properties in the District with active Code Enforcement cases.

Introduction

•Council Member Felicia Moore: Opening & Introduction▫State of the District & Our Neighborhoods/NPUs

•Dustin Hillis: Why I Am Here & Overview of the Process▫How Did I Get Involved?▫Overview & Steps of the Code Enforcement Process▫What Have I Learned?

•Council Member Felicia Moore: Closing▫What’s Next?▫Q&A/ Concerns

Today’s Plan

•Your District 9 City Council Office is currently following around 400 code enforcement cases in the district.

• In March & April of this year, every neighborhood in District 9 was surveyed for severe violations. Cases already active were followed-up

on, and MANY new cases were initiated due to this survey.•This initial survey focused on open/vacant structures, junk vehicles, and

severe cases of overgrowth and junk/trash/debris.

State of the District

Neighborhood/NPU Total Cases

COURT In Rem

Demo’d/C&C

Grove Park (J) 117 23 18 17

Center Hill (J) 59 13 13 5

G 86 10 24 11

Bankhead/Bolton (H) 79* ? 0 0

Collier Heights (I) 35 8 6 0

Bankhead (K) 11 2 0 0

C & D 10 0 2 4

• Out of around 400 total cases, about 275 are open/vacant (over two-thirds).

• Our area has benefited greatly from increased Code Enforcement budget in FY15. The budget was increased by 80% for FY16. Code Enforcement has demo’d 30 properties in D9 in the past year with many more to come within the next year.

• Corrections is using inmates to secure structurally sound houses with metal boarding. DPW is cutting properties where the only issue is overgrowth. Both of these are actively occurring in our neighborhoods.

State of Our Neighborhoods

• In 2011, the City commissioned a landmark residential parcel survey, known as the Strategic Community Investment (SCI) Report. It consists of a comprehensive overview of observed housing vacancy, parcel conditions and neighborhood analysis.

• Our office used this report as a basis for ranking D9 neighborhoods from the ones that need the most Code Enforcement attention to the least. This was done by compiling the number of “Deteriorated” and “Poor” structures in each neighborhood according to the report. The SCI Report maps were then used to ensure every street was audited.

• The report was conducted in 2012, so we knew conditions were possibly worse in 2015.

Neighborhood Surveys/Audits

•Moved to Atlanta in Summer 2011 and immediately noticed the blight in and surrounding my neighborhood (Riverside).

•Quickly educated myself on the process for the City of Atlanta and subsequently filed complaints.

•This was at a transitional time for Code Enforcement, which was being moved from Buildings to APD and had new leaders being appointed.

•Organized & prioritized cases then requested neighborhood walk through with Council Members and Code Enforcement Commander.

•There were over 50 complaints when I started & four years later, <10!

How Did I Get Involved?

• Violation found by citizen (open/vacant, junk/trash/debris, overgrowth, junk vehicle, etc.) and submitted to Code Enforcement (phone, fax, e-mail, or online form).

• Case is assigned to an inspector and initial inspection date. Once inspected and violations confirmed, a notice is sent to the last known owner stating compliance must be achieved within x (3-45) days, and that the property will then be reinspected.

• Reinspection date: officer again visits the property, if ALL violations are not corrected, a citation is written. A codes officer attempts to serve the citation if owner resides within the City of Atlanta, if unsuccessful or outside City of Atlanta, it is mailed to the local sheriff. If citation is served, a court date is set. If it is unserved, it as marked as such.

• For properties where owners cannot be located or served notice/citation, the case is then sent to Compliance Resolution to begin the In Rem process, which will administer nuisance abatement (cutting overgrowth), cleaning & closing the property (if open/vacant but <51% deterioration), or demolition (51% or greater deterioration).

Overview of Process

•More effective code enforcement was, and still is, needed in our city.•Your best tools are ORGANIZATION, PRIORITIZATION, and

COMMUNICATION.•Many people will respect and love what you’re doing for your

neighborhood, but there are always the few who will not.•You must be dedicated to your cause, compliance does not come quickly

and patience is truly a virtue in this process.•Get to know your neighborhood/NPU codes officer and their area/field

supervisors. Meet with them regularly to discuss issues and progress.

What Did I Learn As a Neighborhood Advocate?

My Transition to Public Service•Appointed to new Code Enforcement Commission in September 2014.•Recruited by Council Member Moore in February 2015.•Able to take my success, knowledge, and relationships from my work

in Riverside over the past four years and apply it to all of District 9.• Immediately went to work by conducting a code enforcement survey

of every neighborhood in District 9.•Since starting with Council Member Moore, we have been able to

comply over 60 properties, have seen over 70 properties to court, and have seen 30 blighted properties demolished.

• Increased Code Enforcement Activity by 308%•Entered into agreement with VPS for installation services to support

clean and close activities (labor by Corrections).• Increased staff capacity in the Solicitor’s Office to address caseload.• Initiated Judicial In Rem initiative in the Westside TAD (8 properties in

English Ave/Vine City.•Worked w/ Center for Community Progress to complete a review of

city’s existing tools to address vacant/abandoned properties.•Total funding of $3.78 million/339 properties addressed.

Code Enforcement in FY15

•D: 2167 Main St•G: 1676 Abner Ct, 1286 Gun Club Rd, 1329 Gun Club Dr, 1030 Hollywood

Rd, 1148 Lotus Ave, 2652 Brown St, 954 Hightower Rd, 1093 Wedgewood Dr, 2219 Abner Pl, 2220 Addison Pl, 1527 Ferno Dr, 2448 Main St

• J: 672 Commercial Ave, 2519 Oldknow Dr, 1950/2046 Lois Pl, 1842 Markone, 1603 Hasty Pl, 33 Mildred Pl, 1695 North Ave, 1884/1888 Markone St, 1428 Blyss Ave, 1805 Charles Pl, 1853 Madrona St, 1907 Baker Rd, 1036 Cato St, 577 Holly St

Properties Demolished in D9 2014-2015

•Request for additional staff for the Solicitor’s Office and APD Code Enforcement Section to support city-wide Judicial In Rem (100 properties).

•Amend existing Housing Code to add civil process as an additional enforcement tool.

•Undertake “Cost of Blight” study with Center for Community Progress and Georgia Tech ($60,000).

•Continue VPS/Corrections program to clean & close properties.• Increase DPW activity (overgrowth cutting) to 240 properties.•Total funding $5.72 million/515 properties to be addressed.

Code Enforcement FY16

•Fix It Up: Aggressively issue citations for non-compliance.•Pay It Up: To the extent that any public funds (direct or indirect) are

expended; insist on full payment as secured by a first priority lien.•Give It Up: In the event of non-payment, force the transfer to a new,

responsible owner.•Recover taxpayer-funded demolition of blighted structures.•Agencies/stakeholders for Judicial In Rem: APD, City Solicitior, Planning &

Community Development, Finance (Office of Revenue), Fulton Tax Commissioner, Fulton County/City of Atlanta Land Bank Authority, Invest Atlanta.

Strategic Approach to Addressing Vacant & Abandoned Properties

•C/D: 1793 Warren Ct, 1817 Williams Pl, 1928 Grandview Ave

•G: 982/984/985 Ada Ave, 1149 Gun Club Dr, 1036 Hollywood Rd, 1095/1162/1392 Northwest Dr, 1171 Wedgewood Dr, 2218 Ajax Dr, 2430 Clarissa Dr, 2753 Browntown Rd, 1535/1600 Ferno Dr, 2710/2782 Mango Cir, 1745 Givens Ave, 2418 Main St NW, 1738 Mary George Ave

• I: 2921 Allegro Dr, 1015 Callahan St, 859 Kings Grant Dr, 870 Venetta Pl,

733 Waterford Rd, 928 Woodmere Dr

D9 Properties To Possibly Be Addressed in FY16

• J (Grove Park): 1930 Baker Rd, 1589 Donald Lee Hollowell, 614/657 Elinor Pl, 510/517 Elmwood Rd, 510/709 Emily Pl, 950 Hollywood Rd, 28/45/63 Johnson Rd, 2020 Lois Pl, 1720/1847 Madrona, 28/38 Mildred Pl, 1985 North Ave, 873 North Eugenia Pl

• J (Center Hill): 2468 Bellview Ave, 863 Capitol View Ave, 833/898 Center Hill Ave, 565/569/631 Commercial Ave, 632 Gary Rd, 900 Hall St, 845 North Grand Ave, 850 Oak St, 821 Peyton Rd, 892 Ridge Ave, 661/676 South Grand Ave, 585 Woods Dr

D9 Properties To Possibly Be Addressed in FY16

•We will be setting up future meetings with each neighborhood/NPU that will focus on code enforcement and other quality of life issues.

•Neighborhood walk-throughs with city department officials.•Establish a “Top Ten” or “Dirty Dozen” list for each neighborhood so the

Council Office and Code Enforcement can focus on those, while still making sure all complaints are progressing appropriately.

What’s Next?!?

Questions & Concerns ???

drhillis@atlantaga.gov