Thanks for the post. I was not aware the article was out yet. Two days ago I was told the # was only 800 and now 1000. Guess there was another sweep. In four months you are the first person that bothered to comment on our web site on the topic.
The 1000 numbers is made up in part of 4 sweeps that codes has done. Sweeps that they told us at our April meeting were then above 80 the Thursday before that meeting. I was only made aware of that first sweep on a Thursday. The first sweep was to try and knock on doors and educate residents hoping to change the behavior that was leading to violations. It was also made up by “Made” cases that were not sweep related. Our inspector always has "made" cases that she sees. The rest were entered by people using the system. Not necessarily HOA participants. Andy Dulin failed to mention he offered to go help codes do the knock and educate, perhaps since it was not mentioned in the article. I can tell you the first 4 weeks there were about 100 to 125 people with violations of curb it, and POL- parking on lawns each Thursday. Many of those people about 75% were repeats week after week, even after getting blue card warnings from codes. So those people being re-entered for the same or similar violations drove the numbers up. If codes does not see a violation when they come out, and someone called it in they just close it unjustified. They only take action if they see a violation. We also found some cases codes had been marked unjustified by mistake, yet the inspector had sent warning letters so they were valid. So there is error in those numbers. Sometimes Parking on Lawns takes a dozens attempts to finally get it addresses. That makes is a 11 unjustified cases.
I have had a couple of people tell me they got in trouble twice for the same thing just a couple of weeks apart. To me those people are the people that wasted codes time and city money. I have other people that got in trouble that I know for a fact were frequent 311 users on others. Yet they didn't like it when the tables turned on them. I know they got in trouble only because they told me. Honestly when I would go out of town I would ask 2 neighbors to take my can up, if I placed it out on the eve of pickup. I would do one as a backup in case the other forgot. I 100% always try to make sure I follow the rules. The reason you can't expect other to do it if you don't set an example. I even e-mailed codes to tell her that I had someone to take the can in so she was aware in case they forgot.
These codes are not guidelines they are set rules on the books by the city. When city leaders desired exceptions they wrote them in the code.
The 1000 should not really be shocking at all considering the following from Charmeck.org
Did You Know?
In one year, there were 124,530 code violations. 49,527 of these violations were "nuisance violations".
Nuisance violations include: tall weeds and grass, bulky items, parking on the lawn, garbage and roll-out container infractions and other dilapidated conditions.
54% occurred on rental properties while 46% were on owner occupied properties.
The link below is pretty much the jest of what codes does. If people follow the tips in the 7 tips to avoid codes sheet from N&BS, and the common nuisances then our cases should drastically drop off.
This past week was the best this neighborhood has ever looked since I have lived in it. People were finally following city rules on curb it widespread in our community.
The way this had been addressed in recent years was in random small enforcements. This was unfair to the other neighbors that had gotten in trouble or even fined while others continue to violate the rules. The really only fair way to address the problem was to have it enforced boundary wide. I have personally always been about being fair and treating everyone the same. Be it street lights, sidewalks, whatever the topic.
I don't agree it is a waste of codes time. The reason it is simply their job, and is what they were hired to do which is handling codes cases. They are tasked with enforcing Chapter 10 of the muni code which is Health and Sanitation. (Pretty much all dealing with the way things look in our neighborhoods) I personally prefer them keeping our neighborhood in tip top shape as it is a good use of my tax dollars.
If you have never read the statement on top of the HOA web site page read it. I didn't write it, but as president it is my responsibility to see we follow it.
http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/nbs/CodeEnforcement/nuisance/Documents/7%20Tips%20to%20Avoid%20Code%20Enforcement%20Violations_3.pdf
http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/nbs/CodeEnforcement/nuisance/Pages/CommonNuisanceViolations.aspx
What I believe is we will now see a drop off in calls, if people continue the improvements that really have started to change our neighborhood for the better. Many more serious issues were addressed by doing these sweeps that we will not discuss for privacy reasons, but those of you in certain areas know exactly what I am talking about. We also have 3 active housing cases that were done by petitions at the request of neighbors in the immediate zones of those cases.
The truth is most of you have no clue what the HOA does or how much time is spent by some to make this neighborhood the best.
In almost all the cases all you received anyway was either a blue card or a warning not to do again or you would be fined. There were absolutely not 1000 different people getting in trouble. It was the same ones doing different things every week. We had some people that went an entire month with cans, yard waste, or bulk on the street and then replaced those actions by parking on the lawn. They were apparently thumbing their noses at codes or perhaps the neighborhood. That resulted in same people going in the system over and over for different reasons.
I really think the city should have inspectors doing made cases on a regular basis. I think it is silly for them to come out and drive past an issue to only have to return the next day after “someone” enters it. I did say “someone” because there is no way to know who is putting something in the system. They might not even live in this area. If you don't believe me drive into another neighborhood and look for a possible violation. Enter it and you will see it goes in without any trouble, if there is not already a case open. The inspector will visit to determine if it is valid complaint.
N&BS has stated we are a model neighborhood for them. In 2008 we were the Neighborhood of the Year city wide. The City has told me our area looks good compared to some areas. I can guarantee you those areas are not always organized, and they are probably not insisting on their issues being addressed. There are some neighborhoods just down the road either direction from us that you can go take a drive and see how they look. Neighborhoods that don't meet at all or only once or twice a year sometimes pay the price in the way they look.
I do not apologize to anyone for having codes address this issue on curb it that I was getting complaints on from multiple people. Those people were correct in what they were seeing as I saw the same problem with my eyes. I insisted the city address the issue for the good of the neighborhood. We had about 5% or less of this neighborhood border wide that didn't seem to care what they did each week. If it did not bother you, fine but I didn't care to see it, and I know others did not either because they told me.
Madison Park HOA does numerous things that are not codes related to improve our neighborhood. Working with codes is just one of the many things we have done. We get countless requests from residents and that has been the case for decades. You people know who you are and know that what I said is true. Many are not our regular meeting attendees nor do you pay the dues. However when you contact me I have always tried to help you out with your problem or issue. I have personally cut limbs, cut grass, cut trees, and put up peoples waste cans for my neighbors since the day I moved into this neighborhood in 1996. I have done this also for people I have never met prior. I do the same thing for other neighborhoods that ask for my help with issues. I have also battled various city departments to get things done for people in this neighborhood because the system does not always work like it should work.
The one thing that I did suggest to codes months ago was that they possibly look at addressing code issues on the first call like the Swat A Litter Bug program. If you have watched TV there are commercials running on the program. We use to have post cards postage paid. One commercial shows a teen throwing a soda cup out the car window. The car behind them the driver yells quickly write down that tag number and call 311. I told the city that it was silly that it is easier to address a person throwing a single cigarette butt out a car window than it is to get curb it issues addressed.
I think if someone puts something in the first time for that location the city should simply send a letter that states there has been a complaint of a violation and state the code. That way it frees the inspectors for something else like repeats, and it would be less costly than hiring more inspectors. It would also give the person a chance to correct the violation for the future if they did not know they were in violation.
If you guys have never noticed our city encourages people to call and use 311. They have been out to HOA meetings many times, and even passed out key chains with 311. They even ran commercials when 311 got set up.
Anyway, I have really said about all I intend to say on this topic. You can agree or not agree that is your choice, but now you know a little more about the issue than I have shared prior. You also know how I feel about it. Those that are talking trash can talk trash, and call me names if you like, as it does not bother me. I have thick skin, and I don't live my life concerned about what other people think of me. It will make no difference when the end comes. So if it makes you feel better have it.
I actually told codes and city council two things needed to happen to correct these curb it issues. . They were going to have to come out and address the problem themselves, (which they did), and that people were going to have to start getting enforcement to create discussion to correct this issue. That is exactly what has happened or I should say is happening. Perhaps a little more chatter than I expected, but so be it. People now know the curb it rules, and will soon know them in the city when this story comes out in the newspaper, and maybe it will lead to improvements for other areas having similar issues in our city.
There is no such thing as bad publicity. It always serves a purpose. I am actually glad the reporter called me.
Martin Doss
President of Madison Park HOA
