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l <br /> property at 2542 Kenzie. Extended do-it-yourself projects also contribute to this <br /> problem, although, when finished, these projects tend to improve the <br /> neighborhood. The annual City clean-up day is the definitive solution to this <br /> problem and, while I was able to get a fair amount of stuff out of the yards this <br /> year, next.year I'll be able to be more aggressive and expand my efforts..In any <br /> case, this problem tends to be chronic.and so we're keeping an eye on them and <br /> looking for solutions. <br /> Lawn Cover: During this past growing season, I have sent only one letter <br /> regarding long grass. The primary reasons people occasionally have long grass in <br /> their yards are vacations and illness. Consequently, it's essentially a self- <br /> correcting problem. Although dandelions are not prohibited, I have talked to a <br /> couple of homeowners with a gentle suggestion to reclaim control over their <br /> yards. I have also confronted a couple of homeowners about dumping their grass <br /> clippings (not blowing, dumping) into the street. An interesting trend in the <br /> metro area is the conversion of yards from grass to natural habitat and wild <br /> flowers. I have received one complaint regarding the height of some of this <br /> natural grass, but most folks seem to enjoy the diversity. <br /> Public Right-of-Way: For the sake of enlightenment, I want to explain <br /> the concept of.right-of-way. The public domain gets 60' along any:street in St. <br /> Anthony. Consequently, the right-of-way is measured 30' from the centerline of. <br /> that street. Our residential side streets are 30' wide which gives the City 15' of <br /> right-of-way from the curb to the property line. The main roads (Silver Lake <br /> Rd., Stinson, 37th, 33rd, etc.) are different widths, however, and so the distance <br /> from the curb to the property line is less than 15'. On Silver Lake Road, this <br /> distance varies from about 6' to about 12' and along 29th Ave. the distance <br /> changes along every parking area. Along alleys, the public domain gets 20' of <br /> right-of-way and so property lines are measured 10' from the centerline. <br /> We have been using the actual right-of-way measurments in enforcing sign <br /> placement rather than the arbitrary 15' rule. <br /> Conclusion: It's been an interesting year. I'm still sold on the idea of <br /> talking with people (both the complainers and the violaters) to work out <br /> solutions, although I often find myself playing referee in neighborhood fueds. On <br /> rare occasions I have to play tough, but for the most part, citizens are willing to <br /> comply.and seem grateful for the gentle approach. This is reflected in the number <br /> of complaints received by City Hall since we took over code enforcement. I <br /> would also like to remind the Council that our recent city survey indicated that <br /> 10% of respondents felt that code enforcement was too lax, and 90% felt <br /> otherwise. <br />