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Item No: 7E Meeting Date: 04-09-07 Type of Business: CB Administrator Review: _____ City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Jeremiah Anderson, Housing/Code Enforcement Inspector Item Title/Subject: Abatement of Nuisance Code violations at 5440 Jackson Dr Date of Report: April 5, 2007 Introduction: On March 7, 2007 staff responded to a report of junk vehicles in the yard and junk and debris outside 5440 Jackson Drive. Staff observed numerous items in violation of the City Nuisance code and issued a notice of violation dated March 7, 2007 which required corrective actions completed no later than April 4th 2007. Given the repeated history of non compliance, slow compliance, and repeated violations of a similar nature staff is requesting City Council consideration of Resolution 7061, which would authorize an abatement of Nuisance Code violations present at 5440 Jackson Dr. Background: The property located at 5440 Jackson drive is no stranger to code enforcement activities; the property owner, Michael Courtney, has received numerous compliance orders dating back to April of 1995 for vehicles parked outdoors in violation of the City Nuisance Code. While Mr. Courtney has remained cordial in his conversations with City staff over the years, his slow response to corrective orders and the repeated code violations of a similar nature has created a need for repeated inspections, follow up inspections, telephone calls, and other enforcement activities; all of which are a drain on City resources. In the beginning, the lack of a clearly defined driveway and the fact that the property did not have a garage combined with Mr. Courtney’s auto salvage and repair activities were the foundation for repeated code violations. In an attempt to reach resolution of this matter Mr. Courtney signed an agreement with the City in 1995 whereas vehicles would no longer be parked on the existing dirt driveway in front of the home, rather, a gravel driveway would be installed to service a detached accessory building, which would be constructed at a future date, in the rear yard. Mr. Courtney did install a gravel driveway in the summer of 1995, however, the parking of vehicles on the front and rear yard persisted. Furthermore, many of these vehicles displayed expired license, were in a state of disassembly, or were inoperable; in other words, vehicles continued to remain parked outdoors at 5440 Jackson Drive in violation of the City Nuisance Code. Mr. Courtney did eventually construct a garage in the rear yard of his property, yet the exterior siding on the garage was not completed for nearly three years. Following the past