The city council looked at and discussed a local law that is set to allow for the addition of specific language to the city charter in regards to code enforcement practices. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

The city Department of Development, upon recommendation from the state Department of State, is looking to add language to the city charter for specific code enforcement program requirements.

The update was discussed during a recent work session. Crystal Surdyk, city development director, said the department was notified by the state in the spring that there were some required updates to be made to the City Charter to include language and some specific items related to code enforcement.

“So, we’ve done that and looked at how that fits in with our code … it’s a local law change so we do have to do a 30 day public comment period which began on October 6,” Surdyk said.

Additionally, she said they are looking to have it voted on at the next voting session, but would wait to send anything into the state until the 30 day comment period was over.

It was noted that there will also be a public hearing for it in November and that the department is still waiting on some things from the Corporation Counsel’s office, so the law will actually not be able to be voted on until November’s voting session.

Specific language changes through this local law include; adding some definitions to the charter’s definitions section, a section on the power and duties of code enforcement officers, a section on building permits and inspections for building permits to be done by a code enforcement officer, remote inspections, required operation permits, the duration of operating permits, fire safety and property maintenance inspections, and automotive use areas and off street parking regulations and condition assessments of parking garages.