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REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 28, 2016 Councilmember Scott responded that the County seeks to keep things simple. He explained that he had proposed at the time a third for an educational fund for Fire, a third for Police, and a third for Code, but that it was shot down early on. This ordinance is not targeting tenants so much as those who own the properties and are making a profit off these properties, and using the Police Department as their management system. Councilmember Scott explained that in 2013, Courtyard Place on 260' and Jefferson was on -pace for 1,000 calls a month. He stated, That's not EMS, that's not Fire, that's not Code that was Police alone. It was going to be cheaper for us, in terms of taxpayer dollars, to put three cops there full -time instead of responding to the calls. The property manager was making money off the eighty (80) or so apartments there but was using the Police to manage their property. Councilmember Scott stated that it was unsafe, but that as of the last few months the average number of calls has been roughly three (3). He stated, So, we went from three (3) a day to three (3) every three (3) months. Councilmember Williams- Preston stated, Those I understand in terms of those big complexes. She explained that she did not see how the ordinance could currently parse between a Police call regarding matters such as neighbors being noisy or selling drugs and a Code Enforcement issue where someone has a leaky roof and needs to be directed to resources to help them be within Code. Councilmember Williams- Preston stated, So, that's my fear. How do we parse that out, other than saying, "Well, come to me, and we'll work with you, we'll talk about it "? How can we build something in, or already have something that is in place that says if this is the situation — instead of slapping them with a penalty or sending them mean letters —these are specifically the things we are going to do to divert funds or support them in renovating their home, etc. Councilmember Scott stated that he considered it two (2) different issues, to which Councilmember Williams- Preston agreed. He further stated, I agree that we need to look at the separate issues within Code. It's just like Speed Limit signs out there for everybody —it isn't blanket. He stated that he had been pulled over and given a warning as opposed to writing a ticket, though the opposite has happened as well —that there was an amount of discretion involved in these processes. Councilmember Scott stated that he believes that good government has a face and is willing to communicate, and discuss and work with the citizens within the City. The beauty of this ordinance, he argued, is that there are lawyers that are willing to sit down and talk with individuals to work out a plan; that there is Code that is willing to work out a plan; that there is Officer Keenan Lane. If there is a Human Rights issue, Officer Keenan Lane can refer tenants to Human Rights. There is protection for tenants. Victims of domestic abuse have been helped by officers showing up for a nuisance call because those officers will ask questions before doling out fines. Councilmember Williams- Preston repeated that she understood, but that her concern rested solely in the blanket nature of the ordinance and the fact that there would be individuals caught in its net. She expressed a desire to see codification of a way to separate the two (2) issues. Councilmember Scott responded, If you found someone that got caught up —that might be a mistake within Chronic Nuisance —I would love to talk them, and so would Keenan, and so would Ashley. If it is Code, then Randy Wilkerson, as well. Councilmember Williams- Preston asked to how much a Public Nuisance service call fee amounts. Ms. Rodriguez responded, Say, Code Enforcement has gone to a house and they have a Code Enforcement issue —that they have gotten a citation from Code Enforcement—that is a separate fee. Now, if they are put on the Chronic Nuisance List or given a Nuisance violation, that is a separate fee. What they are saying is that the fees for Code Enforcement are going to be separate, because that is just Code Enforcement. There is a separate fee for Public Nuisance issues. Councilmember Williams- Preston responded that she wanted clarification in the ordinance between cases like calling the police because of problematic neighbors and a resident not having the funds to fix a house in violation of Code. She also stated that the included language, "valid complaint," was too subjective. Ms. Rodriguez responded that that was why there was an attempt to keep the language as clear as possible so that there would be no ambiguity as to what qualifies as a valid complaint, and so as 11