Hollister council members Monday decided to set Jan. 1 as a goal date to begin stricter enforcement of code ordinances, including those relating to signs and substandard housing matters.
In 2004, the council voted to make any enforcement of the code reliant on complaints from Hollister residents. The council voted Monday to have Chambless proactively enforce the code. That means if he drives by a code violation, he will have the ability to stop and address it. In the past, he could stop only if a complaint came from a resident.
“We need to make sure we’re comfortable with the rules,” said Mike Chambless, the director of code enforcement and also airport manager.
Before the decision, he told officials that he needs better guidance from the council on how to enforce the code – whether he should be more proactive in cracking down on violations or reactive, which has been the model in recent times.
Chambless warned, however, that the council should make sure any changes treat all people the same – and that the code enforcement division can’t pick and choose what rules to enforce and how to enforce them. He said the city should educate citizens about the code before fines are put in place.
“You need to think about how this will affect the citizens,” he said.
The council discussed issues with signs being placed in unauthorized areas such as those in windows facing highways, and signs on traffic lights and other signs. Council members also stressed greater enforcement of the code when it comes to security alarms – and how in recent years, more police have been dispatched to houses for multiple false alarms that cost the city money.
“We need to get our money back,” said Councilman Victor Gomez, referring to instances after second false alarms.
“Sometimes it takes a hit in a wallet” for people to comply with the code, he said. But he added that it would be “unfair” to make any immediate changes without letting the public know of them.
“It would be good to have the public’s input,” he said.
The council decided that stricter enforcement was necessary and that instead of “reactive” responses from citizen complaints, Chambless should be more proactive in going after violations.
“I have been the one to push stricter code enforcement,” Mayor Ignacio Velazquez said.
But he said the public should have a “fair chance” to know of any changes to the code that could affect them.
“We need to give him (Chambless) the tools he needs to not be reactive, but be proactive,” Velazquez said. “I’m looking for things that make our city ugly.”
Chambless said he would release information to the public of the stricter enforcement decision through press releases and notices on water bills. He said direct mail flyers could also go out.
The council discussed the possibility of putting together a “workshop” of city staff and leaders to overhaul the city code in its entirety, but didn’t commit to a specific plan at Monday’s meeting.
“If the rules are inappropriate, let’s change them,” said Chambless.
