This is what Detroit looks like when he has to get up a 7:30 AM on a Saturday
I attended this today. There was a Q & A Listening and Learning session at the beginning. The mayor brought up code enforcement. When I had a chance to get the microphone I reminded the citizens of their constitutional property rights and told them the city needs to adhere to them when handling cases. I also told the people in attendance that the city has lost many cases because they are not adhering to those rights. I also got in this plug,
“You should see how much the city is spending on private legal advice, I advise you to look at those expenditures in the budget. We could fund snowgates for the next 20 years on those costs alone. (paraphrasing).” (I will post the video when it becomes available)
Code Enforcement Czar for the city, Kevin Smith said that the city is using something called the International Property Maintenance codes as a model.
WOW!
Of course the mayor threw it back at the city council to reform the codes.
What I don’t understand is why are we modeling our code on the IPM code, why not write code that is in conjunction and cooperation with the community? Because maybe that would take work.
I said, “It is a property owner’s decision on how they want their property to look, not my neighbors or the citys.”
IPMC and IBC (International Building Code) are used in almost every city in the US – and indeed – in almost every city in the world. The underlying reason is not a “conspiracy” to take away local rights of control. Instead, they ae a standard that makes it easier for architects, engineers, and building tades-persons and property owners to know what they need to do build safely, and maintain safe and healthy properties WHEREVER they may be from – or own property or work.
Imagine, you are a builder, architect etc. and there is no standard building code. What may be perfectly acceptable in one town, well, across the road in the next town – it’s verbotten. For every different jurisdiction you work in, you would need to know a whole different set of codes. Here’s an anology: Suppose there were NO STANDARDS for computer hardware ot software. Every tine you wanted to use a different computer – you’d have to learn all over again – or if there were no standards for HTML – total free-for-all as far as any Web programming. Some of it would wotrk on somne computers, and some not – totally unpredictable. STANDARDS make life more livable, more workable, more reliable.
These standards are NOT arrived at by some individual, or a mysterious dictatorial process. There are organizations of engiuneers, architects, buoilders, p;lumbers, electricians, fire-firgheters, police, etc. etc. that all have input into them. They represent cities, states, and nations around the world. There is MUCH discussion and testing and research behind these standards. They are arrived at via a collaborative democratic effort.
Finally, it is typical for entities that adapt these codes (and it is in fact a built-in section of the codes that defines the process) to also adapt exceptions to the standard codes that are specifically relevant to their own unique physical and cultural realities.
BTW – these codes do NOT have anythung to do with “appearances” of properties. They have to do with healt and safety considerations. Things like intersection visibility, rubbish that harbors vermin, dilapidated buildings that invite anti-social behaviors (tagging/gang graffitti, etc.).
Kevin Smith is the problem. He sat at a hearing for me claiming to be a city director when he’s not. Codes need revision. One code defeats another. If a tree in your yard dies, they can make you replace it. Its their tree not yours. Code states 80% of yards must be landscaped. None of the post 1980 subdivisions are 80%. The city can threaten action but courts do not recognize their government and they have no lien authority. Lol to them. I have and regularly show others how they can too.
They do not comply with state & federal constitutions. State supreme court directed them to make ordinances conform with due process and constitutional law. They’ve not. Instead, they make idle threats and avoid the courts.
They’re the little guy you stiff arm out of the way on your way to the goal.
Ruf – I understand that you must have uniform code for safety. I’m not that naive. There seems to be this hard-on in the code enforcement department for ‘appearances’. I wish the city worried that much about their own ‘appearances.’
DL – you got an example of something – that has been enforced – that is purely for appearance sake?
ruf, I know from experience how the city has differing standards for various people based on how much they like you. Or how they come back to you months after ok’ing your plans with “violations” that must be immediately fixed. The best is when they come to you on the first non-freezing day and tell you that your new location must have sod in 72 hours or you’ll be closed…despite the fact that you can’t even purchase sod, let alone have it installed, at that time of year.
Offer the code enforcer a hundred and your problem goes away.
Here’s another prime example – drive around and look at signage, particularly around interstate exits. Notice how certain places have high signs that can be seen for blocks and blocks while a similar business across the street can barely be seen a block away? That’s not because that store opted for smaller signage.