HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013 Code Enforcement Annual Report
Annual Report
Department of Code Enforcement
City of South Bend, IN
2013
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Department of Code Enforcement
2013 Annual Report
Contents
Background ................................................................................................................................................... 1
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 1
Department Funding ..................................................................................................................................... 2
Revenue ........................................................................................................................................................ 2
Inspections, Clean-Ups and Legal Process .................................................................................................... 3
Unsafe Buildings Data ................................................................................................................................... 4
Vacant and Abandoned Properties ............................................................................................................... 4
Abandoned Vehicles ..................................................................................................................................... 5
South Bend Animal Care and Control ........................................................................................................... 5
SBACC Statistics ......................................................................................................................................... 6
Background
The City of South Bend, Indiana’s Department of Code Enforcement is responsible for maintaining
and improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods. Activities include:
- Inspections and citations. Staff members evaluate and cite unsafe buildings and ordinance
violations such as abandoned vehicles, tall grass and excessive trash.
- Animal care and control. South Bend Animal Care and Control is the part of Code
Enforcement that responds to complaints regarding dogs, cats, wildlife, animal bites, and
pet licenses.
Introduction
In 2013, the Department of Code Enforcement addressed multiple areas, including:
Community outcomes. Through the 1,000 Houses in 1,000 Days effort, the Department of
Code Enforcement contributed to the inspections, documentation and legal evaluation of
more than 1,100 unsafe buildings in the city. The Department held three bid openings, and
awarded more than 200 properties to contractors for demolition.
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Operational effectiveness. Code Enforcement engaged in an extensive effort to improve its
information technology infrastructure, staff skill sets, transparency of information, and data
quality. This work involved consultants and staff from multiple departments.
Team building. Code Enforcement staff began working in depth with the departments of
Community Investment, Legal, Public Works, Mayor’s Office, and Administration and
Finance in order to improve processes related to demolitions, public hearings, inspections,
GIS mapping, and data analysis.
Data quality. Staff were trained on rigorous data collections and analysis techniques. We
consolidated information from multiple departmental sources, pushed online information
to improve constituent information access and prepared to undergo file scanning processes
scheduled for 2014.
Animal care and control. South Bend Animal Care and Control represents the biggest
accomplishment for Code Enforcement in 2013. From overhauling operations to
dramatically increasing community involvement, SBACC successfully met the challenge of
improving public safety, community relations and animal welfare. The SBACC team codified
site-specific standard operating procedures, improved training procedures, increased
donations and in-kind services, were key contributors to municipal ordinance revisions, and
tried more criminal cases than in previous years.
Department Funding
Revenue
The Department of Code Enforcement seeks to continuously improve its collections procedures. In
2013, Code Enforcement activities yielded $523,885 in revenue, an increase of $91,288 over 2012.
For 2014, Code Enforcement will increase its billing and collections activities to further recover
operational costs. Part of this effort involves a closer partnership with the Legal Department.
BUDGET ACTUAL BUDGET ACTUAL
AMOUNT EXPENSES AMOUNT EXPENSES
CIVIL CITY$1,578,360$1,391,519$1,793,013$1,747,390$2,060,819$1,867,082
CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT$32,000$31,160$0$0$158,000$71,482
HEARING OFFICER CIVIL CITY$46,000$44,848$48,000$46,231$40,399$38,977
JUNK CIVIL CITY$64,126$59,470$65,740$58,901$65,580$58,901
VEHICLE CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT$73,000$61,666$2,834$2,834$0$2,834
CIVIL CITY$102,587$64,621$107,684$68,704$53,684$26,052
CDBG/EDIT
(City)$238,606$238,606$761,658$422,820$1,633,588$356,484
CIVIL CITY$523,697$501,584$563,679$523,695$596,111$550,747
CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT$17,000$7,754$7,754$7,050$0$0
$2,675,376$2,401,228$3,350,362$2,877,625$4,608,181$2,972,560
$1,635,621
UNSAFE BUILDING
ANIMAL CONTROL
SUB-TOTAL
SURPLUS$274,148$472,737
DEPARTMENT FUND
2011
BUDGET
AMOUNT
ACTUAL
EXPENSES
CODE
ENFORCEMENT
2012 2013
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2013 REVENUE
2011 2012 2013
ABANDONED VEHICLES $20,605 $19,977 $6,886
ANIMAL CONTROL $61,417 $53,684 $49,625
CODE CLEAN-UPS $53,326 $83,416 $78,985
SUBSTANDARD HOUSING
Demolitions &
Boardings $20,162 $12,156 $48,747
Civil Penalty $161,247 $219,883 $285,704
CASH PERFORMANCE BONDS $16,613 $35,500 $48,500
MISCELLANEOUS INCOME $174 $7,981 $5,438
GRAND TOTAL $333,544 $432,597 $523,885
Inspections, Clean-Ups and Legal Process
In 2013, the Department conducted 26,550 inspections. We anticipate that in 2014 time spent per
inspection (both in the field and, significantly, related processes in the back office) will drop as the
result of a mobile application for inspectors as well as an improved case management system.
There were 1,136 cases brought to public hearing; an increase from 964 in 2012. The additional
hearings reflect the increased effort to take action on vacant and abandoned houses in South Bend.
2011 2012 2013
TOTAL INSPECTIONS 20,611 22,495 26,550
TOTAL NUMBER OF
LETTERS SENT TO
PROPERTY OWNERS
12,536 13,024 18,146
PROPERTIES SENT
TO SOLID WASTE,
PARKS AND CREW
6,518 3,622 2,727
CASES BROUGHT
INTO HEARING 864 964 1,136
TOTAL AMOUNT
COLLECTED$271,953 $370,932 $468,822
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Unsafe Buildings Data
Vacant and Abandoned Properties
On February 27, 2013, Mayor Buttigieg called for 1,000 abandoned houses to be addressed in 1,000
days. Through this effort, 1,000 properties would be addressed through a combination of programs
focused on both rehabilitation and demolition. The goal completion date is November 24, 2015.
The Department of Code Enforcement is a key implementer of the Vacant and Abandoned (V&A)
initiative through inspections and public hearing contributions.
As part of the V&A initiative, the Department of Code Enforcement staff worked as part of a multi-
disciplinary team to:
Receive training in asbestos inspections to allow the demolitions process to meet state and
national environmental protection standards.
Work with the Department of Public Works, Department of Community Investment, Legal
Department, and Mayor’s Office to review demolition bidding and contracting processes
2011 2012 2013
874 910 863
461 525 304
New V&A
Properties
Identified
1045
V&A Cases Closed 115
Demolished by
City 32
Demolished by
Private 10
Repaired by
Private 29
Repaired &
Occupied by
Private
44
650 458 261
$10,619 $12,156 $48,747
TOTAL AMOUNT COLLECTED FOR CIVIL
PENALTIES
TOTAL AMOUNT COLLECTED FOR CASH
PERFORMANCE BONDS
V&A ACTIVITY
NEW HOUSING CASES
CLOSED HOUSING CASES
STRUCTURES SECURED
$15,100 $32,500
$285,704
$48,500
TOTAL AMOUNT COLLECTED FOR DEMOLITION
AND BOARDINGS
$161,247 $219,883
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and improve effectiveness where possible. Ultimately, this involved centralizing the bidding
process and creating a uniform process for demolitions in 2014.
Hold bid openings in March, August and November 2013.
Conduct a super hearing in August to address the backlog of Code Enforcement cases which
had expired demolition orders.
Evaluate and adopt the best technology tools available to increase data transfer from field to
office, and improve data analysis and transparency.
Incorporate clover grass seeding into bid specs to prevent Code Enforcement maintenance
of properties down the road.
Abandoned Vehicles
The Department of Code Enforcement also cites and tows abandoned vehicles. In 2013, the volume
of tows decreased as a result of shifts in staff organization and departmental prioritization of vacant
and abandoned properties as well as illegal dumping.
South Bend Animal Care and Control
In 2013, South Bend Animal Care and Control (SBACC) reached significant milestones, including:
10% reduction in euthanasia rate from 2012 to 2013. Staff reduced euthanasia numbers
through increased adoption numbers, outreach to rescues, sanctuaries, rehabilitators, as
well as raising public awareness of the importance of spaying and neutering pets. Stricter
standards in internal procedures and policies aided in the decreasing numbers in overall
euthanasia.
South Bend municipal code revisions. Revisions are ready to be presented to the South
Bend Common Council in the coming months. Animal Control management is providing
opportunities for city residents to give feedback through “town hall” meetings,
neighborhood organization outreach and general publicity of ordinance revisions.
Partnership with local veterinarian, Mariah Covey. Dr. Covey comes in once a week for
four hours to administer Rabies vaccinations, perform wellness exams on all animals
entering the adoption center and to provide guidance and care to all sick or injured animals
at SBACC.
Spay and neuter services. In 2013, SBACC secured 104 donated spays/neuters through
Roseland Animal Hospital for a savings of $26,000 in alteration (surgery) costs in 2014.
ABC Clinic donated 100 spays/neuters in March of 2013 saving an additional $6,500 in
alteration costs. ABC Clinic has also donated 104 spays/neuters for 2014 saving SBACC
another $6,760 in alteration costs.
2011 2012 2013
TAGGED 595 690 594
TOWED 53 53 26
AUCTIONED 34 39 11
RECLAIMED 16 10 9
SCRAPPED 3 4 6
REVENUE$20,605 $19,977 $6,886
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New adoption “perks.” Previously, animals were adopted out unaltered and without rabies
vaccinations (with an additional fee to have the rabies vaccinations given by a local
veterinarian). SBACC now offers the following “perks” with an adoptable animal:
Spay or neuter
In-house Rabies vaccination by licensed veterinarian
In-house wellness check by volunteer veterinarian
Microchip
Deworming
Flea Treatment
Free Sample of wellness dog food
Up-to-date kennel vaccinations
Basic obedience training through Project 360
“Pals for Pets” adoption program
SBACC Statistics
2013
ANIMALS SENT TO
RESCUE
ORGANIZATIONS
371
PET LICENSES SOLD 1,299
COMPLAINTS
INVESTIGATED 3,584
AFTER-HOURS CALLS 420
WILDLIFE INTAKE 219
CRIMINAL AND CIVIL
CASES 6
RECLAIMED PETS 342
ADOPTIONS 257
REVENUE$49,625
CHICKEN PERMITS 19
OWNER SURRENDERS 563
STRAY INTAKE 2,112
BITE CASES 144