REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
October 12, 2017
FROM: WILMA QUAN-SCHECTER, City Manager
Office of the City Manager
DOUGLAS T. SLOAN, City Attorney
City Attorney's Office
SUBJECT
Title
Anti-Slum Enforcement Team (ASET) Quarterly Status Report and Update on Rental Housing Improvement Act
Body
RECOMMENDATION
City Manager's Office and City Attorney's Office to provide a quarterly status report briefing the City Council on the Anti-Slum Enforcement Team (ASET) and an update on the Rental Housing Improvement Act.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Administration, City Attorney's Office (CAO), and Development and Resource Management (DARM) Rental Housing Division staff are working in a coordinated effort to aggressively pursue compliance for egregious violations of rental properties. The CAO has two lawyers (plus one vacancy), two legal investigators, a paralegal position, and a legal secretary in ASET, plus law clerks to assist with related Code Enforcement Division matters. DARM has hired a Rental Housing Division manager, an ASET supervisor, and six ASET inspectors as of October 2, 2017. The City Manager and City Attorney's Office has committed to provide weekly status report (attached) as well as the quarterly update provided in this report concerning the status of ASET, results obtained, and any additional resources necessary to accomplish the mission.
BACKGROUND
The ASET is dedicated to reducing urban blight and improving the lives of City residents by encouraging voluntary code compliance and initiating legal proceedings focusing on the egregious property owners who chose to ignore applicable health and safety laws. ASET will seek to obtain compliance through intensive and focused code enforcement efforts, including expedited civil litigation and possible criminal prosecution of the worst offenders.
Through the ASET and other supportive ordinances, the City acknowledged there were not sufficient resources and/or strategies needed to effectiv...
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