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Vallejo Code Enforcement Goes Public By Hatfield McCoy 6/15//12
On June 11th
the Vallejo Code Enforcement Division held a community forum at the Joseph Room
of the downtown main Vallejo library. Approximately fifty people were in
attendance. The purpose of the meeting was a little bit of information, and a
lot of public relations. The meeting was opened by the Assistant City Manager
Craig Whittom who introduced the Code Enforcement staff manager and some staff
members. The Vallejo Code Enforcement department staff, along with its manager,
Ms. Nimat Shakoor-Grantham, report directly to the Assistant City Manager, Mr.
Whittom. “
Ms.
Grantham first gave an overview of the Vallejo Code Enforcement’ and its overall
responsibilities. She then explained the breakdown of ordinances with attached
fees and fines. The agenda included the current staff priorities which are as
follows: a.) Weed abatement (both city properties and those in unincorporated
areas b.) Abandoned buildings (such as those due to fire) c.)Accessible pools
d.) Temporary homeless encampments e.) Other miscellaneous hazardous
properties. Grantham also informed the public that Code Enforcement has
designated a few Vallejo properties for an injunction of receivership wherein
the owner will forfeit all rights. The properties include two located at 816
Branciforte St., as well as properties located on Ohio, Tennessee, Marin,
Falcon, Georgia and Idora Streets. The staff further covered their need for
volunteers, and explained some of the current volunteer programs. “We need to
hear from y’all,” Grantham said. As City Hall scrambles for more money, it
seems that Code Enforcement just does not have the time to do it all. So, they
beg for volunteers. Some propose that if
Code Enforcement staff would tag, fine, and collect the fees they have
outlined, the department could become more than self sustaining; it could even
make money. It was recently elected Councilmember Robert McConnell who
campaigned on this issue. On the campaign stump he continuously repeated: “Some
cities actually make big money on their Code Enforcement departments.” But,
arguably, the Vallejo city Code Enforcement department just doesn’t do enough
to achieve that goal. That fact was well
illuminated by an extensive 2009 Grand Jury report which outlined all of the things
they should be doing, and have not been doing subsequent to the report release.
(Click on Solano County Grand Jury/Vallejo Code Enforcement report). In fact, Ms.
Grantham somewhat admitted this fact when she stated: “There is a property on Capitol Street which
the City Manager had to bring to my attention, as I did not even know about
it,” Grantham said. “Of all of the listed problematic properties, that is
probably our ‘crown jewel’ case,” she continued.
The meeting’s audience was a very sophisticated,
informed segment of Vallejo’s population.
There were at times during the meeting when it seemed that the audience
had more suggestions, and more answers than Ms. Grantham. In fact, at one point Ms. Grantham read a well
articulated email sent to her earlier that day by one attendee, Mr. Mustafa
Abdul-Ghanee (Chair of the Human Relations Commission). After she read the
email to the audience, she remarked: “Ain’t that great?” she asked, “I don’t
know what it says, but it sure sounds good, but most of it went way over my
head,” she quipped. One of the attendees had a question about the term ‘Receivership’
which was partially answered by another guest. And another participant had a
question about the concept of a ‘Property Registration program’ in conjunction
with the banks. The same gentleman explained that as well. Grantham explained,
however, that the concept of ‘property registration’ had been brought before
the city three times before, but the attorneys have “torn it apart, because of
SB1137 and a lawsuit in Chicago brought on by Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac. Someone else asked her who is responsible for
broken sidewalks to which she replied: “This is an ongoing problem, Code
Enforcement demands that it is the Public Works Dept., and they demand that it
is the reporting responsibility of Public Works,” she stated in frustration.
On the
upbeat side, Ms. Grantham noted that they now have a new phone system which
should “make communication and other things much easier for the general public,”
she said. “I am also so happy that we
now have about 300 neighborhood watch programs I also enjoy working with GVRD,
Rebuild Vallejo and other such organizations. Of course we are always happy to work with Fighting
Back Partnership,” she continued. She
praised the new ‘Temporary Shelter Administrative’ rule which will greatly
enhance the quality of life and potential for the homeless. Grantham also
praised Vallejo citizen Doug Darling for his hard work with the homeless. She
offered kudos to the over 300 established neighborhood watch programs, and gave
a special nod to the staff of the Lamplighters Network Newsletter (a newsletter
which goes out to the neighborhoods with updates and happenings). Grantham
further praised the city manager for the good foresight in the future hiring of
attorneys who will dedicate legal advice to the Code Enforcement division which
could save the city thousands of dollars in potential lawsuits or problems. She also promoted the volunteer program which
helps to paint out graffiti quoting Councilwoman Stephanie Gomes who once said:
“Graffiti is vandalism unless you get permission to do it.” Nimat
Shakoor-Grantham ended the meeting by again asking for volunteers, and
touched upon the volunteer training piece of her department. “I would like to
see a new staff member in my department who would be paid maybe $17.00 an hour
who could be our ‘Volunteer Coordinator’ in helping to assign citizen
volunteers,” she said. Arguably, there should be enough money generated by Code
Enforcement, with all of the abandoned homes and commercial buildings in
Vallejo, to generate enough income for three new staff members, certainly at
$17.00 and not at the upwards of $200,000 (including benefits) that Ms.
Grantham is being paid. For some reason,
up until now, the Vallejo Code Enforcement has not received the attention and
accountability oversight that other departments may have been given. The Grand
Jury report all but went unnoticed. Perhaps, in future, the new Vallejo City
Manager will find more than just comments about derelict houses on Capitol
Street to give to Ms. Grantham.
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