REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
March 19, 2020
FROM: DOUGLAS SLOAN, City Attorney
City Attorney’s Office, Code Enforcement
SUBJECT
Title
***RESOLUTION - 9th Amendment to the Position Authorization Resolution (PAR) No. 2019-134 adding a total of four (4) positions to the Code Enforcement Division of the City Attorney’s Office: two (2) Laborer positions and two (2) Light Equipment Operators, effective March 1, 2020 (Subject to Mayor’s veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends City Council adopt the 9th Amendment to the Position Authorization Resolution No. 2019-134, to add four positions to the Code Enforcement Division in the City Attorney’s Office to allow weed and public nuisance abatement services to be performed by City employees rather than third-party consultants as directed by City Council on February 13, 2020.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On February 13, 2020, the City Attorney’s Office, Code Enforcement Division, presented City Council with the option of maintaining weed and public nuisance abatement services in-house, which will require the purchase of equipment and hiring staff. Council directed staff to return on March 19, 2020, for any necessary approvals. This Resolution adds four positions for in-house staff to perform the services. No further action is necessary by Council at this time.
BACKGROUND
Code Enforcement enforces various ordinances of the Fresno Municipal Code, including but not limited to, ordinances which address vacant buildings, vacant lots, general blight and dilapidated structures. Specifically, abatement services will address weeds and vacant structures which present a public safety threat, as well as properties that constitute blight or attractive nuisance when the responsible property owner has demonstrated they are either unwilling or unable to bring the property into compliance. Staff works to ensure cost recovery of funds through various means, including liens on the property and coordination with the County of Fresno tax roll collection process.
On February 13, 2020, Council directed staff to return for approval of items that will allow in-house abatement services after the City Attorney’s Office, Code Enforcement Division, presented its evaluation and determination that an in-house abatement services program may be more cost beneficial for the City as opposed to contracting this work out to private companies, with the exception of the initial start-up costs associated with purchasing new equipment in the first year. All vehicles and heavy operating equipment will be procured, maintained, and repaired by the Department of Transportation, Fleet Management Division (Fleet). Code Enforcement is currently in the process of working with Fleet to obtain the accurate costs for all necessary equipment, but has determined such equipment and initial start-up costs can be absorbed in the City Attorney’s Office, Code Enforcement Division, FY 2020 budget. However, this Resolution is necessary because it allows four positions to be added to perform the abatement services as follows: Two (2), Light Equipment Operators will be hired to use motorized equipment such as forklifts, tractors, trailers, welders, generators, saws, and trucks, and to weed, disc, mow, haul, load, and dump, rubbish, refuse, weeds, directly from streets, sidewalks, alleys, park strips, parkways or private property in the City, as well as boarding up and securing open and vacant buildings; and two (2), Laborers will be hired to assist with street sweeping and cleaning, removal of rubbish, weeds, and debris, boarding up open and vacant buildings, and performing other laborer work.
No meet and confer is required on this matter as it only adds positions to existing classifications.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This item is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented due to the fact the only bidder is a local businesses.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding appropriations are included in the City Attorney’s Office, Code Enforcement Division FY2020 budget.
Attachment: Resolution