January 14, 2009

To:    Mayor Adams

   Commissioner Fish

   Commissioner Fritz

   Commissioner Leonard

   Commissioner Saltzman

From:    Paul L. Scarlett

   Director Bureau of Development Services

Regarding:  Proposed amendments to Title 29 which will clarify and expand enforcement of the minimum exterior maintenance provisions to all structures in the City.

Attached is a proposed ordinance amending Title 29, the City’s Property Maintenance

Code, to clarify that the existing minimum exterior maintenance provisions apply to all structures, not just residential. These proposed changes will better align the exterior maintenance requirements with the existing Property Nuisances and the Dangerous and Derelict Structures regulations that apply to all structures and properties.

The intent of these changes is to provide additional enforcement tools and better enable the Bureau of Development Services (BDS) to respond to citizen, neighborhood and business concerns regarding non-residential properties in order to further promote the safety, livability and economic vitality of the City. The focus of all BDS compliance programs is on reaching compliance at the lowest level possible with a high level of customer service. These code changes emphasize maintenance and repair to meet code requirements that were in place at the time of construction rather than requiring corrections and upgrades to meet current codes.