Code Enforcement

By Jeffrey Lytle

A briefing on what is needed by both the general public and the elected officials

#1. Form Community neighborhood watch groups like the days of old. Neighborhood residents need to reunite and get to know each other so that the level of comfort and understanding can increase.

#2. Realise that as a society of decent peoples, we can't profile neighborhoods as to its occupants allowed to reside there. Neighbors must get along understanding that each lifestyle is not monolithic.

#3. Neighbors must understand that nuisance situations are not healthy for that neighborhood. It is best to communicate and understand that respect should be the goal in mind - no need to draw undue attention to activities inappropriate or threatening.

#4. Neighbors must realise the impacts to a neighborhood that their guests create.

#5. Users of land should always respect the idea of doing the best job possible at offsetting any impacts from such uses. Further, understanding that the regulatory branch or arm of government may roll its sleeves up.

#6. That above and beyond everything else, a human being's "due process", "constitutional rights" and "human rights" shall be protected and maintained in an unabridged manner. We are a nation of constitutional laws.

#7. That an impartial Police Review Liason Committee acts legally and ethically in its efforts to make findings upon public petitions or complaints.

What the public jurisdiction can do:

#1. continued improvements with public service and information networking.

#2. create a more defined link on the county IT website so that e-mails can be sent and received when concerns arise, when reports are taken, etc... Follow-up measures.

#3. continued support for various outposts in the rural areas of the 5th District provided funding is secure or balanceable.

#4. initiation of a remediation process that is simple and basic to get into conformance any structures that property owners have erected without applicable permits (safety codes). Fine structure should be waived IF property owner is amenable to the simple requests to "have inspected" & "correct if necessary".

#5. county must have a written ordinance not to enter upon private property unless property owner is present OR has given a pre-arranged permissive authorization to any public agency researching any proposed inspection or solicitation.

#6. County must send via certified mailing (through a yet to be created locally adopted ordinance) all public and private noticings having to do with any standard or enforcement type process. First class postage is not acceptable.

#7. Communication and follow-up. If neighborhood concerns arise through complaints or public employee witnessings, then any formal involvement through a process by any jurisdiction must start off with letters by putting the ball into the court of the "claimed" offender initially to understand the public agencies position and to respond accordingly. If any response is inappropriate in a "red flag, standout" way, then the short timeline of 30-60-90 days to either cease and desist or show evidence to the contrary in so far as the complaint applies. If no proof to the contrary, then formal nuisance abatement must commence. Part of property ownership is understanding your rights as well as others' rights, any irresponsible conduct that erodes that understanding is punishable as defined by law with an opportunity for appeal. Surely, as a community, any public jurisdiction and private property owner can have a healthier relationship. Once the trust is broken, the citizen is forever a skeptic and a critic to that which they understand through experiences.

#8 Code violations within structures already are manageable IF public officials use current laws. Often, laws are made because prolems were compounded by the previous law not being enforced - this can never be the basis for changes in laws since data is non-existant. There are clues and facts that the public jurisdiction can use to curb any violations of zoning classifications. The key is balancing individual constitutional rights with the rights of societies' assurances for public safety and general welfare.

Thank You,

Jeffrey Lytle McKinleyville - 5th District