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Rules and Communications Committee <br />October 5, 2006 <br />Page 2 <br />Mr. Jermanis indicated that staff would like to receive general direction from the Committee <br />regarding what types of issues should be addressed by legislation. Staff will then prepare a <br />draft ordinance for the Committee's review. <br />Chair Badger commented that he has heard from residents regarding trash receptacles being <br />left at the curb long after the trash has been picked up. <br />Committee Member Stephens commented on the need for regulations to swiftly and <br />effectively enforce violations, with escalating penalties for non-compliance and repeat <br />offenders. He cited the situation on Lewis Avenue as an example. <br />Chair Badger noted that residents see continuing problems and assume that they are not being <br />addressed and that the City and the Council do not care. <br />City Attorney Jayne Williams commented on the City's limited ability to address certain <br />issues due to conflicts with the California Vehicle Code regarding vehicles on roadways. She <br />stated that the City's Community Preservation Ordinance is a good ordinance. Ms. Williams <br />noted that while some situations are egregious, most residents are in compliance or come into <br />compliance through the enforcement of the ordinance. She pointed out the enforcement of <br />community standards issues is very time- and labor-intensive. <br />Assistant City Attorney Stephanie Stuart indicated that in order to draft the ordinance, staff <br />would need to know how far the ordinance should extend. For example, would the Committee <br />want to restrict all non -motorized vehicles, such as trailers, on public streets? Mr. Jermanis <br />suggested starting with the issue of commercial vehicles on residential property. Ms. Ornelas <br />noted that in some areas of the City, particularly in West San Leandro, properties are large <br />enough to park several vehicles in the back yard. <br />Committee Member Stephens expressed the need for the City to get more proactive, step up <br />enforcement and add stiffer penalties for non-compliance. <br />Ms. Williams suggested the City may want to consider doing targeted enforcement of certain <br />problem areas, clean up the area, then move on to another. <br />Public Comments on Item 2: <br />Virginia Boepple, President of the Bonaire Civic League, commented that she would like to see <br />a crackdown on absentee landlords who let their rental properties become rundown, and she <br />noted repeated problems with tall weeds. Ms. Ornelas indicated that three noticed violations <br />within a 12-month period will result in an immediate fine to the property owner. Ms. Boepple <br />commented on the problem of large recreational vehicles which are parked in driveways, <br />sometimes for years and with expired registration, which create an eyesore and block visibility <br />for drivers. <br />