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Home My WebLink AboutIR 9924 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9924 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 23, 2016 r� Page 1 of 5 �i �i7 Y *a SUBJECT: OFFICER-INITIATED VERSUS CITIZEN-INITIATED CODE rrn COMPLAINTS The City Council has requested information about the number of officer-initiated versus citizen- initiated code complaints in order to understand the extent to which Code Compliance Officers are being proactive in their neighborhoods. On average, 60 percent to 70 percent of complaints are initiated by Code Compliance Officers. These numbers will fluctuate based on the number of staff, time of year, complexity of cases and special projects. The Code Enforcement Area Command has the following staff resources to address routine complaints throughout the city six days a week. Beat maps appear on pages 4 and 5 of this report. • 17 General Code Compliance Officers • 12 Solid Waste Code Compliance Officers (funded by Solid Waste) • 9 Substandard Building Officers • 7 Multifamily Officers Code Compliance officers respond to citizen-initiated complaints within 24 hours in most situations. In recent years, Code Enforcement has made a concerted effort to focus on higher priority violations. A key performance indicator was established for the officers to address Priority 1 and 2 violations within 24 hours 80 percent of the time. These violations are typically more difficult and time-consuming to abate. Addressing higher priority violations results is fewer violations being addressed overall, but creates a greater impact on the community. A key performance indicator was also put in place for higher priority substandard structures. Eighty percent (80%) or more of the cases presented to the Building Standards Commission are Priority 1 hazardous structures, which tend to be the most dangerous. These cases receive a repair-or-demolish order from the Commission and the City is authorized to demolish the structures if the owners fail to comply. Priority 1 Examples Priority 2 Examples Hazardous Structures Substandard Structures Open and Vacant Structures Junk and Debris Stagnant Water Outside Storage Putrescible Waste High Grass > 12 Inches< 24 Inches Sewage/Water Leaks Bulk Waste High Grass Exceeding 24 Inches Junk Motor Vehicles Harborage for Rodents and Vectors Illegal Land Use Attractive Nuisances No Water Service Health and Safety Hazards Home Occupation ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9924 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 23, 2016 r� Page 2 of 5 �i �i7 Y *a SUBJECT: OFFICER-INITIATED VERSUS CITIZEN-INITIATED CODE r0K?CL COMPLAINTS Complaints FY2007 FY2008 FY2009 FY2010 FY2011 FY2012 FY2013 FY2014 FY2015 Citizen- 25,103 20,240 21,820 13,368 11,082 14,028 14,517 15,023 16,471 Initiated Officer- 39,803 37,724 49,124 30,909 25,636 35,088 32,703 25,200 24,959 Initiated Total 64,906 57,964 70,944 44,277* 36,718 49,116* 47,220* 40,223* 41,430 Officer- 61% 65% 69% 70% 70% 71% 69% 63% 60% Initiated The charted numbers were extracted from CodeOps by the Information Technology Department. Complaints submitted are address-specific and often contain multiple violations. Historically, code officers are proactive in addressing violations 60 percent or more of the time. Proactive examples include: 1. Citizen reports tall grass only and the responding officer also addresses the substandard building. 2. Officer responds to a junk vehicle complaint and addresses other junk vehicles in the area. Current productivity suggests that the total number of cases will be up for FY2016: Complaints FY2016(8/4/16 Year to Date) Citizen-Initiated 14,216 Officer-Initiated 24,033 Tota 1 38,249 Officer-Initiated 63% The number of known/suspected code violations in an officer's area has always exceeded the amount of time they have available. Responding to complaint-driven violations and then addressing other code violations (officer-initiated) in the general area of the complaint consumes the largest portion of an officer's day. Despite route management, staff reductions have increased travel time, e.g., larger areas require more time to travel from one case to another and less time available for proactive work. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9924 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 23, 2016 r� Page 3 of 5 �i �i7 Y *a SUBJECT: OFFICER-INITIATED VERSUS CITIZEN-INITIATED CODE r0rn COMPLAINTS In summary, code officers are proactive the majority of the time. They also have goals and standards to address the highest priority violations and for measuring individual and collective performance. If you have any questions about this information, please contact Code Compliance Director Brandon Bennett at 817-392-6322 or brandon.bennett@fortworthtexas.gov. David Cooke City Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9924 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 23, 2016 r� Page 4 of 5 �i �i7 Y •a SUBJECT: OFFICER-INITIATED VERSUS CITIZEN-INITIATED CODE rk10 rn COMPLAINTS 1 Officer is responsible for each shaded area. If there is a vacancy, medical leave, vacation, etc. then 1 Officer covers two shaded areas. Where there is a higher density of code violations, the officer's area, while quite large, is still smaller than areas with a lower density of violations. I � l a s a a 10 FOR RTH. Neighborhood Investigations Division Officer Assigned Areas cavecy MPLIANCE ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9924 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 23, 2016 r� Page 5 of 5 �i �i7 Y *a SUBJECT: OFFICER-INITIATED VERSUS CITIZEN-INITIATED CODE r0rn COMPLAINTS 1 Officer is responsible for each shaded area. If there is a vacancy, medical leave, vacation, etc. then 1 Officer covers two shaded areas. Where there is a higher density of code violations, the officer's area, while quite large, is still smaller than areas with a lower density of violations. f i h 1p 168 1[1 -ee — i s 89 1 U 2 4 G S 10 rvt�l�s FORT WORT Substandard Building Section CODE Coh1PL1AMCE Officer Assigned Areas ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS