City Council Workshop - Code Enforcement Listening Session

>>> ALL RIGHT, GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO THE MARTINEZ CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL SESSION, CODE ENFORCEMENT PUBLIC WORKSHOP AND COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSION. IT IS MONDAY, JULY 7, 2025. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO START AT 7:00. APOLOGIES FOR STARTING LATE. IT IS 7:15 P.M. CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. MAYOR ZORN. >> PRESENT. >> VICE MAYOR JAY HOWARD IS CURRENTLY ABSENT, BUT I BELIEVE HE WILL BE ATTENDING VIRTUALLY TONIGHT. >> HE WAS SUPPOSED TO ATTEND VIRTUALLY, YEAH, SO WE SHOULD TRACK HIM DOWN. >> YES. COUNCILMEMBER MALHI IS ALSO GOING TO BE JOINING US MOMENTARILY VIRTUALLY. NEXT, WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER GREG YOUNG. AND COUNCILMEMBER DEBBIE McKILLOP. WONDERFUL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO TONIGHT, WE HAVE ONE SPECIAL MEETING ITEM TO CONDUCT THE PUBLIC WORKSHOP AND LISTENING SESSION. NORMALLY, WHEN WE HAVE A MEETING LIKE THIS, WE HAVE THE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE END OF THE SESSION, SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN HEAR AND LISTEN TO EVERY SINGLE THING THAT THE COUNCIL HAD BEFORE THEY PROVIDE THEIR COMMENT. HOWEVER, TONIGHT FOR OUR VACANT, VIBRANT WORKSHOP, WE WILL HAVE A CONVERSATION FACILITATOR FOR THE MEETING. I'M HOPING THIS WILL ENGAGE IN A DYNAMIC DISCUSSION THAT IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT. SO HAVE CECI, GOOD MORNING. I HOPE THAT CECI WILL INTRODUCE HER SELF. I JUST WANT THE TO GIVE THE GUIDANCE FOR TONIGHT. WE WILL PAUSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND A QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD, WHICH WILL BE LED BY CECI. EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO ASK QUESTIONS, INCLUDING THE CITY COUNCIL AND I ENCOURAGE STAFF TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AS WE GO, RATHER THAN TAKING NOTES AND WAITING TO THE END, WHICH IS WHAT WE NORMALLY DO FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. PUBLICS OF THE PUBLIC WILL NOT BE RESTRICTED TO ONLY ONE COMMENT LIKE WE NORMALLY DO, SO EVERYONE WILL BE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS DURING EACH FACILITATED Q AND A SESSION, IF THEY SO CHOOSE. PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES, SO MORE TIME THAN NORMAL. I ASK EVERYONE TO BE MINDFUL OF PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE BEHIND YOU IN LINE, OR IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, I THINK WE MIGHT JUST BE RAISING HANDS AND PASSING THE MICROPHONE AROUND. BUT JUST BE MINDFUL OF HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THEIR HANDS RAISED SO EVERYONE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. SO LONG AS THE MEETING IS MOVING ALONG TONIGHT, I'LL NOT ENCOURAGE STAFF TO STRICTLY ENFORCE THE FIVE MINUTE TIME LIMIT, AND HOPEFULLY, AS I SAID AT THE BEGINNING, WE CAN HAVE AN ENGAGING CONVERSATION. LASTLY, I'M REQUESTING THAT GENERAL COMMENTS BE HELD UNTIL THE END OF THE MEETING. SO CITY COUNCIL, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AT EACH POINT DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, FEEL FREE TO RAISE YOUR HAND AND WE'LL CALL ON YOU IN ORDER, AND AT THE END OF THE MEETING, STAFF WILL LOOK TO COUNSEL FOR A FINAL WRAP UP AND GUIDANCE. WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE CECI, AND SHE CAN GIVE AN INTRODUCTION FOR HER TEAM. >> MADAM MAYOR, I'M GOING IT TO TURN IT OVER TO MIKE LEONTIADES TO OPEN IT UP. >> HELLO, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MIKE LEONTIADES. I'M THE CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. THIS WORKSHOP IS PART OF THE CITY'S EFFORTS TO IMPROVE CODE ENFORCEMENT AND ADDRESS ISSUES LIKE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE, FIRE DAMAGE STRUCTURES, AND VACANT COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS. WE'RE HERE TO LISTEN AND COLLABORATE WITH RESIDENTS, BUSINESS AND PROPERTY OWNERS. THE CITY COUNCIL HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMMUNITY CONCERNS REGARDING UNRESOLVED CODE VIOLATIONS AND VACANT PROPERTIES WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA ON THESE VACANT PROPERTIES. IN RESPONSE, THE COUNCIL DIRECTED STAFF TO PROPOSE UPDATES TO THE MUNICIPAL CODE AND LAUNCH A VACANT TO VIBRANT INITIATIVE. TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION WILL FOCUS ON THE ADDRESSING OF LONG TERM VACANT COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS, THE CLARIFICATION OF PROPERTY MAINTENANCE, NUISANCE STANDARDS AND THE STREAMLINING OF PROCEDURES. THIS EVENING, WE ARE PROVIDING THE COMMUNITY WITH A CHANCE TO SHARE INPUT BEFORE ANY ORDINANCES ARE ADOPTED. YOUR FEEDBACK IS ESSENTIAL TO CREATING A MORE AFFECTIVE AND RESPONSIVE CODE ENFORCEMENT PROCESS, AND WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. THIS EVENING'S WORKSHOP WILL BE FACILITATED BY MONARCH CONSULTING SERVICES WHO ARE HERE TO GATHER INPUT AND HELP SHAPE THESE CHANGES TO THE MUNICIPAL CODE. I'LL NOW TURN IT OVER TO CECI MUELA, PRESIDENT OF MONARCH CONSULTING, TO LEAD US THROUGH THIS EVENING'S WORKSHOP. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MIKE. EVERYONE CAN HEAR ME OKAY? OKAY, GREAT. SO AS MAYOR ZORN INTRODUCED ME AND MIKE, MY NAME IS CECI MUELA, AND I AM A DEPUTY DIRECTER, BUILDING OFFICIAL SERVING MUNICIPALITIES IN THAT CAPACITY AS WELL AS CODE ENFORCEMENT MANAGER. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF MONARCH CONSULTING SERVICES, AND I'VE BEEN IN THE BUILDING AND SAFETY INDUSTRY OVER 26 YEARS AS WELL AS I'M A NATIONAL INSTRUCTOR WITH THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL AND HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF DOING A LOT OF TRAININGS REGARDING CODE ENFORCEMENT, CODE COMPLAINS, COMPLIANCE MEASURES ALL THE WAY TO ALASKA, THE EAST COASTERS WEST COAT E.COAST. COAST. TODAY I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY TEAM BRIEFLY. I HAVE JORDAN CRAWFORD, WHO IS ONE OF OUR PROJECT SPECIALISTS, ANDREA NANCE, WHO IS A PROJECT COORDINATOR, AND OUR PROJECT MANAGER ALISHIA POLLACK. ALREADY, WE'RE GOING TO DIVE A LITTLE BIT INTO OUR WORKSHOP TONIGHT. SO TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING REGARDING WHAT EVERYONE'S BEEN WORKING HARD AT, WHICH IS BEING ABLE TO ESTABLISH DIRECTION ON THE VACANT TO VIBRANT PROGRAM. BUT FIRST, BEFORE WE DIVE INTO THAT, WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CODE ENFORCEMENT, AND WHY IT MATTERS. TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS THE CITY OF MARTINEZ CURRENTLY HAS IN PLACE FOR CODE COMPLIANCE. WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THE CITY COUNCIL'S DIRECTION ON MOVING FORWARD WITHIN PREVIOUS STUDY SESSIONS AND WHAT CAME OUT OF THAT THROUGH PUBLIC INPUT, AS WELL AS JUMP IN TO SOME OF THE PROPOSED MUNICIPAL CODE CHANGES. AND IF I TEND TO TALK A LITTLE FAST, PLEASE JUST RAISE YOUR HAND AND I'LL KNOW, HEY I'M GOING TOO FAST. SOMETIMESI DO THAT. CODE ENFORCEMENT, WHY DOES IT MATTER? ONCE UPON A TIME IT WAS LOOKED AT AS AN OPTIONAL SERVICE. SO FOR MANY YEARS IT LIVED IN THAT WAY, UNTIL MANY JURISDICTIONS DECIDED, WAIT A MINUTE, WE CAN'T FUNCTION WITHOUT SOMEONE REGULATING OUR MUNICIPAL CODE, MAKING SURE WE'RE SAFE GUARDING THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF OUR CONSTITUENTS. AS YOU SEE HERE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO JUST THAT. SAFETY, HEALTH, WELFARE, AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL OF THE RESIDENTS IN MARTINEZ. HELPING MARTINEZ REMAIN A VIBRANT COMMUNITY AS WELL AS A DESIRABLE PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, VISIT, PLAY, CREATING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY THROUGH CARING. AND HOW DO WE DO THAT EXACTLY? WELL WE DO THAT THROUGH OUR COMPLIANCE MEASURES. ENSURING THAT WE'RE PREVENTING BLIGHT. ENSURING THAT WE'RE ATTACKING OR TACKLING NUISANCES AS THEY COME UP SO WE CAN GET AHEAD OF IT BEFORE THEY BECOME A LARGER NUISANCE. JUST TO TALK A LITTLE ABOUT WHAT A NUISANCE IS, IT'S ANYTHING AS FAR AS A DETERIORATED STRUCTURE, ACCUMULATION OF TRASH AND DEBRIS. PERHAPS WASTE THAT'S ACCUMULATING. ANYTHING THAT POSES A DANGER TO THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE CONSTITUENTS IN THE CITY, CHILDREN. FURNITURE THAT'S BEING LEFT OR LED TO SIT OR STAY ON PROPERTY FOR LONGER THAN USUAL. ANY UNSIGHTLY CONDITION. IN ADDITION, WE PROMOTE CLEAN, SAFE ENVIRONMENTS THAT MAKE MARTINEZ MORE OF A WELCOME COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION TO THAT IN THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH BY SUPPORTING RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT. FOSTERING PRIDE WITHIN ITS RESIDENTS. I ALWAYS SAY THAT WHEN WE SAY AT THE END OF THE DAY, GOSH, I'M GOING HOME, WE SAY WE'RE GOING HOME. WE DON'T SAY WE'RE GOING TO GO TO OUR RENTAL, OR YOU KNOW, WHAT HAVE YOU, WE SAY WE'RE GOING HOME. SO THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD THROUGH THE CODE ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS. SO HOW DOES CODE ENFORCEMENT WORK FOR THE CITY OF MARTINEZ RESIDENTS? WE START AT THE VERY TOP WITH ANY COMPLAINT THAT'S RECEIVED THROUGH THE CITY OFFICES. COM COMPLAINT IS REPORTED, THEN WE TAKE IT IN, CREATE A CASE. FOLLOW IT UP BY INSPECTION PROTOCOLS. GO OUT, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S VALIDITY OF A COMPLAINT. OBTAIN ANY DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT THAT PARTICULAR VIOLATION, AND THEN MOVE FORWARD WITH DUE PROCESS. THAT DUE PROCESS INCLUDES PROPER NOTIFICATION OF PROPERTY TENANT, PROPERTY OWNERS, AND PROPERTY TENANTS IN SOME REGARDS. AND ORDERING DIRECTION OR GIVING CORRECTIVE MEASURES SO THAT THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS CAN CURE WHATEVER VIOLATIONS ARE ON PROPERTY. USUALLY THIS IS GIVEN 15 OR 16 DAYTIME PERIOD FOR COMPLIANCE IS GIVEN TO PROPERTY OWNERS. THROUGH A REINSPECTION PROCESS WE VERIFY THAT THESE CORRECTIVE MEASURES HAVE BEEN MADE. AND IF THEY HAVE NOT, THEN WE PROCEED WITH ESCALATION ENFORCEMENT OPTIONS. SO GOING THROUGH THE COUNCIL DIRECTIVE THAT CAME OUT OF A VARIOUS GROUP OF MEETINGS THAT Y'ALL HAD, SO NOVEMBER 1st WE SEE THAT WE HAD OUR INITIAL REVIEW AND OVERVIEW OF WHAT CODE ENFORCEMENT IS, AND HOW WE CAN BETTER THE PROGRAM. IN JULY OPTIONS WERE PRESENTED IN A SECOND SESSION THROUGH THE CITY COUNCIL AS WELL AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT PROVIDED INPUT ON HOW WE WOULD IMPROVE ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS. HOW WE WOULD IMPROVE THE DEFINITIONS THAT ARE CODIFIED WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL CODE, AS WELL AS HOW WE WOULD STREAMLINE ANY PUBLIC NUISANCE. AND THEN FOLLOWING THAT UP ON APRIL 2, THE COUNCIL CAME BACK AND SAID, ALL RIGHT, WE'VE GOT KIND OF A FOUNDATION OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO. SO LET'S START GIVING PRIORITY TO THOSE BUILDINGS THAT ARE FIRE DAMAGED, THAT HAVE BEEN IN THAT CONDITION FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, OR PROPERTIES THAT PERHAPS HAVE BEEN VACANT FOR A WHILE THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS. AND SO THAT LEADS US TO HERE TODAY, BEING ABLE TO DIVE INTO HOW WE TACKLE SOME OF THESE CONCERNS THROUGH BEING ABLE TO GET YOUR INPUT TO DEVELOP THE VACANT AND VIBRANT PROGRAM. THIS IS GOING TO HELP US EVALUATE AND STRENGTHEN OUR ENFORCEMENT MEASURES AS WELL AND OUR PROCEDURES. AND THROUGH THE PROPOSED CHANGES FOR THE ORDINANCE, IT'S ALSO GOING TO ALLOW US TO SIMPLIFY PROPERTY NUISANCE AND PROPERTY STANDARDS. SO WHAT IS VACANT TO VIBRANT? WELL MANY MUNICIPALITIES HAVE ADOPTED SOME SORT OF PROGRAM THAT TACKLES VACANT PROPERTIES. IN THIS CASE WE'LL JUST GIVE A QUICK OVERVIEW OF WHAT THAT IS. I'M GOING TO MOVE OVER HERE SO THAT I'M NOT BLOCKING YOUR VIEW. I'M SORRY. OKAY, SO YES, NO PROBLEM. THE VACANT TO VIBRANT PROGRAM AIMS TO TRANSFORM THE WAY THAT WE LOOK AT UNDERUTILIZED PROPERTIES. SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THAT MEANS THAT WHEN WE'RE DRIVING THROUGH, LET'S SAY A COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD MARKETAREA OR SHOPPING CENTER, THAT WE ARE REVITALIZING THOSE AREAS IN SUCH WAYS THAT THOSE SPACES ARE THRIVING. THEY'RE NOT JUST EMPTY, DEAD SPACES, BUT WE ARE REALLY ADDING SOME FLAIR, SOME LIVELIHOOD, BRINGING THEM TO LIFE BY BEING ABLE TO ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO FOSTER COMMUNITY PRIDE, BUT ALSO TO BUILD UP MEANINGFUL CHARACTER AND VIBRANCY OF THOSE PARTICULAR SPACES. WE ALSO LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE LEAVE THESE PROPERTIES OR WE LET THESE PROPERTIES TO SIT FOR VARIOUS YEARS OR MONTHS, RIGHT, WITHOUT ANY MOVEMENT OF ANY KIND. AND WE LOOKED AT THAT VISUAL APPEAL OF THE STRUCTURES INSIDE AND OUT. RIGHT? SOMETIMES THEY'RE NOT SO ATTRACTIVE. SOMETIMES WE LOOK AT THEM LIKE THAT DOESN'T LOOK SO GREAT. BEING ABLE TO DIVE INTO A VACANT TO VIBRANT PROGRAM ALLOWS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY ENHANCE THOSE PARTICULAR STOREFRONTS, ATTRACT MORE TENANTS, MORE BUYERS INTO THOSE SPACES. REALLY PROMOTE THE ECONOMIC VITALITY OF THE SPACE AND OF THE CITY AS A WHOLE. IT ALSO HELPS US REDUCE ANY HAZARDS THAT MIGHT COME INTO PLAY, FOR EXAMPLE, FIRE HAZARDS. ANYBODY ENTERING PROPERTIES THAT ARE NOT MAINTAINED OR THAT THEY LOOK LIKE THEY'RE VACANT, RIGHT, WE DETURE ANY ATTRACTIVE NUISANCE. WE LOOK TO ASSIST PROPERTY OWNERS IN CREATING THOSE SPACES IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY'RE READY FOR OCCUPANCY. MEANING PROVIDING THE MEASURES THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS THAT THEY CAN COME IN TO BE ABLE TO DO SO. SO THROUGH THE MARTINEZ MUNICIPAL CODE UNDER MMC 8.38, SOME MODIFICATIONS OR AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE. THROUGH THESE AMENDMENTS WE START TACKLING TWO VERY IMPORTANT POINTS. THE FIRST ONE IS ESTABLISHING VACANT CONSTRUCTION REGISTRY FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES THAT ARE NOT READY FOR OCCUPANCY AND ARE NOT ACTIVELY BEING MARKETED FOR SELL, FOR LEASE, OR ARE ADHERING TO DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, IT ALLOWS US TO CREATE A NEW SET OF STANDARDS FOR VACANT COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES THAT INCLUDING ENHANCING MEASURES TO BE ABLE TO ACTIVATE STOREFRONT, SIMILARLY TO WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER. MOVING FORWARD THROUGH MARTINEZ MUNICIPAL CODE 8.38, IT ALSO ALLOWS YOUS TO ESTABLISH DEFINITIONS CLARIFYING WHAT A VACANT PROPERTY IS, WHAT READY TO OCCUPY OR READY FOR OCCUPANCY IS. IT PROVIDES PARAMETERS REGARDING REGISTRATION OF VACANT STRUCTURES. IT CLARIFIES THE STANDARDS TO SECURE VACANT STRUCTURES AND IT ALSO PROVIDES CRITERIAS TO WHAT TRIGGERS A PROPERTY NEEDING TO REGISTER INTO THE PROGRAM, OR WHAT ALLOWS A PROPERTY TO NOT HAVE TO BE ON THE REGISTRY LIST OR NOT HAVE TO REGISTER INTO THE PROGRAM. SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN IT COMES TO VACANT TO VIBRANT PROGRAMS ARE HOW WE BUILD THEM OUT. SO IN THIS PARTICULAR SITE, YOU SEE WE HAVE A SAMPLE APPLICATION OF THE CITY OF CLEAR LAKE, AND WHAT THEY USE TO BE ABLE TO REGISTER PROPERTIES. SO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE OF CONSIDERATION WHEN BUILDING OUT A VACANT TO VIBRANT PROGRAM IS HOW WE REGISTER THEM. THE TIME FORM FOR REGISTRY. HERE WE'RE RECOMMENDING 90 DAYS. BUT THAT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, 60 DAYS, 30 DAYS, RIGHT? JUST SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT. THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS, WE ALWAYS WANT TO INCLUDE ALL MODES OF CONTACT. ONE OF THE BIGGEST STRUGGLES THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENTS HAVE AND CITIES AS A WHOLE HAVE IS BEING UNABLE TO REACH THOSE HOMEOWNERS OR PROPERTY OWNERS. IF WE DON'T COLLECT ALL OF THAT IMPORTANT INFORMATION IT MAKES IT HARDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ENFORCE. SO THROUGH THIS APPLICATION PROCESS, WE SAY NOT ONLY JUST PROPERTY OWNERS, ANY PROPERTY MANAGERS, ANY REALTORS, ANYBODY HAVING A VESTED INTEREST, A STAKEHOLDER, OF THAT PROPERTY. SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE CONTACT. TO INCLUDE ANY REGISTRATION AND MONITORING FEES, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE TO COVER COSTS OF THE INSPECTORS, THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMPONENTS OF BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE PROGRAM. SOME OTHER MEASURES TO CONSIDER ARE COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT. SO ROUTINE INSPECTIONS BEING ABLE TO ENSURE THAT THE PROPERTIES ARE BEING MAINTAINED. THAT THEY'RE BEING COMPLIANT WITH THE PROGRAM REGULATIONS. ISSUING NOTICES OF VIOLATION WERE WARRANTED. LET'S SAY A PROPERTY OWNER DOESN'T COMPLY ANYMORE, WE REALIZE THAT OH, MY GOSH, IT'S BEEN 60 DAYS, THEY WERE DOING SO GOOD, BUT NOW MAYBE THEY HAD A LITTLE MOMENT. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE NOTIFY THEM AND LET THEM KNOW, HEY, YOU HAVE TO BECOME COMPLIANT. REQUIRE THAT THEY REGISTER INTO THE PROGRAM WHEN THEY ARE NONCOMPLIANT. SO A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT MEASURES THAT WE'LL DISCUSS FURTHER INTO THE POWERPOINT, INTO THE PRESENTATION IS -- CITIES THAT HAVE DIFFERENT MODES OF REGISTRATION. SOME REQUIRE AN AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION INTO THE PROGRAM. SOME SAY, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A FEW MONTHS. IF YOU MAINTAIN YOUR PROPERTY, IF YOU'RE GOOD TO GO, YOU DON'T NEED TO AUTOMATICALLY REGISTER. HOWEVER THE MOMENT THAT WE SEE THAT YOU'RE NONCOMPLIANT, WE TRIGGER THAT REGISTRATION. SO JUST SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT. THE ASSESSMENT OF FEE CITATIONS AND PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE IS ALSO ANOTHER THING WE NEED TO CONSIDER IS WHAT DO THOSE LOOK LIKE? WHAT'S REASONABLE? WHAT ISN'T REASONABLE? WHAT DO WE WANT TO SEE? HOW DO WE AFFECTIVELY CONNECT WITH ABSENT PROPERTY OWNERS THAT MAY NOT BE MAINTAINING THEIR PROPERTIES? SO THROUGH THE VACANT AND VIBRANT PROGRAM, WE LOOK AT DIFFERENT MODES OF HOW WE ACTIVATE THOSE STORE FRONTS. SO AS YOU SEE HERE, THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ACTIVATORS. SO THESE ACTIVATORS SERVE TO TEMPORARILY ACTIVATE VACANT STORE FRONTS TO STIMULATE THAT BEFORE ANY ACTIVITY, ANY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. PERHAPS THERE'S A POP UP COMING UP. PERHAPS THERE'S A BUSINESS THREE DOORS DOWN AND WE'RE DOING EXTRA MARKETING FOR THEM, BECAUSE THEE NEED BETTER MARKETING, BUT THEY NEED BETTER USE OF THAT SPACE. PERHAPS SPECIAL LIBRARIES THAT WANT TO HOLD SPECIAL EVENTS LIKE POET LAURETE EVENTS. AND STORE FRONTS. OTHER IDEAS OF ACTIVE OR AGGRAVATORS OF STOREFRONTS INCLUDE CROSS PROMOTION, LIKE I TALKED ABOUT. ANY DISPLAYS THAT ARE FEATURING PROPERTIES FROM OTHER STORES DOWNTOWN. POP UP RETAIL SHOPS. ART EXHIBITS AND INSTALLATIONS. ESPECIALLY FOR LOCAL ARTISTS, RIGHT? WE WANT TO ALWAYS SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ARTISTS, SUPPORT THEM. CREATIVE WORKSPACES. CO-WORKING SPACES. I THINK EVERYONE AFTER COVID WE WERE ALL LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO GO THAT WASN'T NECESSARILY HOME, SO WE'RE LIKE, HOW DO WE GET OUT OF THE HOUSE? CREATIVE SPACES PROVIDE A MEANS BY WHICH WE CAN GO USE SPACES AS AN OFFICE, YOU KNOW, CO-WORKING SPACES THAT REALLY PROVIDE AND PROMOTE NOT ONLY COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO A PLACE WHERE WE CAN LAND, SHOULD WE NEED TO, AND IT'S A GOOD USE OF THESE EMPTY SPACES. SIGNAGE, AND VISUAL CAMPAIGNS. SO IF SOMEONE'S SELLING THEIR PROPERTY, NICE, TASTEFUL DISPLAYS SAY HEY, WE HAVE A GOOD SPACE FOR YOU TO LEASE, THESE ARE ALL THE POSSIBILITIES. IT COULD BE A COFFEE SHOP. IT COULD BE A RETAIL STORE. MAYBE A SANDWICH HUB. SOMETHING THAT REALLY DRAW THE ATTENTION AND CATCHES THE EYE OF THE PERSON THAT MIGHT BE LOOKING TO LEASE THAT PARTICULAR SPACE. AND OTHER EVENTS AND ATTRACTIONS THAT COULD PARALLEL OTHER AREAS OF ECONOMIC VITALITY FOR THE CITY OF MARTINEZ. SO THROUGH THESE TEMPORARY WINDOW ACTIVATIONS, WE SEE HOW THEY'RE TRANSFORMED. SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE PHOTOGRAPH TO THE TOP RIGHT, WE SEE THAT VERY SMALL POP UP. YOU KNOW, IT'S FUN, PLAYFUL, IT REALLY ACTIVATES THAT STOREFRONT. IT DRAWS THE ATTENTION OF THE PASSERBY. THEY STOP TO LOOK AND SAY WHAT'S THAT ABOUT? AND IN ADDITION AS WE SEE HERE FOR THE CAMPAIGNS FOR SALE OR LEASING PROPERTY, SAME THING, IT'S TASTEFUL. IT DOESN'T LOOK EMPTY. IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY'S BEEN IN THERE. I SEE THE POSSIBILITY OF PERHAPS A COFFEE SHOP HERE. A MEETING SPACE, A SHARED SPACE. IT REALLY JUST DRAWS THE ATTENTION OF THE PERSON THAT MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR THE PLACE TO BUILD SOME SORT OF A BUSINESS OR CREATE AN AREA THAT MIGHT BE USEFUL. SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO DIVE INTO A LITTLE BIT OF OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE SIMILAR PROGRAMS. AND TWO IN PARTICULAR REALLY STOOD OUT. CITY OF SANTA ROSA, AND THE CITY OF CLEARLAKE. THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA RECENTLY IMPLEMENTED THE VACANT BUILDING AND LOT PROGRAM, OR VBL. ACTUALLY, I HAD THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE THERE TOWARDS THE TAIL END AS THEY WERE GETTING READY TO DO AND IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM, AND I KNOW CHIEF WHITE WAS PRETTY INSTRUMENTAL AT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY OF CLEARLAKE PROGRAM, TO WHICH SANTA ROSA FOCUSED THEIR EFFORTS, SAYING THIS IS A GOOD PROGRAM, LET'S IMPLEMENT THAT. SO THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS, GOING ONE BY ONE, SANTA ROSA FOCUSED ON WHAT THEY WANTED TO SEE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. THEY SAW A LOT OF TURNOVER AGAIN, AFTER POST-COVID. IT WAS A STRUGGLE FOR BUSINESS OWNERS TO GET IN THERE AND ACTIVATE THOSE SPACES, ACTIVATE THOSE STORE FRONTS. SO THEY DECIDED, OKAY, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, TO MAKE IT MORE APPEALING. BETTER, NICE, LIVELY. SO THEY IMPLEMENTED THEIR PROGRAM AND ALLOWED BUSINESS OWNERS TO SAY --ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START PARTICIPATING INTO THE PROGRAM, AND NOT NECESSARILY HAVE TO REGISTER RIGHT AWAY. SO THE WAY THAT THE PROGRAM WORKS IS THEY HAVE 30 DAYS TO BE COMPLIANT WITH ALL MEASURES, MEANING YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN YOUR BUILDING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING UPKEPT. YOU'RE NOT IN VIOLATION OF ANY MUNICIPAL CODE. IF THERE'S A VIOLATION OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE, THEN WITHIN 30 DAYS, YOU GET A NOTIFICATION THAT TELLS YOU, HEY, NOW YOU HAVE TO REGISTER. AFTER YOU'RE NOTIFIED THAT YOU HAVE TO REGISTER, YOU HAVE TEN DAYS TO ACTIVELY REGISTER INTO THE PROGRAM. IF THE PROPERTY RECEIVES A NOTICE OF DEFAULT, THAT IS ANOTHER TRIGGER FOR A BUSINESS OWNER TO GET A NOTICE FOR REGISTRATION OR FOR COMPLIANCE. SO AGAIN, HEY, WE NOTICE THAT YOU GOT A NOTICE OF DEFAULT. HERE'S 30 DAYS TO COME COMPLIANT. IF NOT, YOU MUST REGISTER INTO THE PROGRAM. THIS INITIAL REGISTRATION FEE INVOLVES $1,040, AND THAT COVERS ROUTINE INSPECTIONS FOR THE CITY TO ENSURE MAINTENANCE AND CONTINUED MAINTENANCE IN THAT FIRST YEAR OF THE PROGRAM. IF AFTER 12 MONTHS THAT PARTICULAR PROPERTY HAS BEEN MAINTAINED, THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY COMPLAINTS OR VIOLATIONS THAT WERE VERIFIED AGAINST THE PROPERTY FOR IMPROPER MAINTENANCE, OR NOT COMPLIANT WITH STOREFRONT ACTIVATION, THAT THEY COULD THEN PETITION TO NOT BE REGISTERED INTO THE PROGRAM MOVING FORWARD, BUT THEY HAVE TO HAVE A SOLID 12 MONTHS OF --LET'S SAY GOOD BEHAVIOR. MAINTAINING, DOING EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO MAINTAIN THESE PROPERTIES UP-TO-DATE AND APPEALING. SAME THING WITH THE CITY OF CLEARLAKE. SO AGAIN I MENTIONED THAT SANTA ROSA REALLY MODELED THEIR PROGRAM WITH CLEARLAKES' PROGRAM. AS YOU SEE HERE, CLEARLAKE'S ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE IS $250. IT'S PAID ON OR BEFORE THE RENEWAL RATE. FAILURE TO REGISTER IS BETWEEN 500, AND 1,000 EVERY 30 DAYS THEREAFTER. A LITTLE MORE OF A ROBUST PROGRAM. CITATIONS FOR NONCOMPLIANCE, IF YOU RECEIVE THREE OR MORE, THAT'S $200, TO INCLUDE A $50 ADMINISTRATIVE FEE. WENT TOO FAST THERE. OKAY, SO OTHER PROGRAMS WITH A SIMILAR VACANT TO VIBRANT MODEL. WE LOOKED THROUGH AND THROUGH TO SEE WHAT WE COULD FIND OUT THERE, AND THERE'S DIFFERENT VARIATIONS OF A VACANT TO VIBRANT. SO CLEARLAKE AND SANTA ROSA ARE THE ONES WE JUST TALKED ABOUT. RIO VISTA HAS SOMETHING SOMETHING. WE HAVE SAN FRANCISCO, THEY PARTNER WITH VACANT TO VIBRANT, AN INITIATIVE THAT ALLOWS SOME SORT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR STOREFRONTS AND ACTIVATE THEM. NEW ORLEANS, HAS A GREAT PROGRAM AS WELL. THEY ALSO PARTNER WITH THE EPA TO ALSO ACTIVATE DEVELOPMENT IN THOSE PARCELS THAT ARE VACANT. TUCSON, AND SAN DIEGO EQUALLY FOCUS ON VACANT TO VIBRANT HOMES AS WELL AS NEGLECTED STRUCTURES. AND WE DO HAVE A HANDOUT, RIGHT, JILL? PERFECT. SO THAT IS RIGHT BEFORE YOU IF YOU WANT A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION ON THESE. >> BEFORE YOU CONTINUE OFF THAT SLIDE, THE TOP PART IS GOOD TO MENTION AS TO WHAT IS BEING RECOMMENDED AND PROPOSED FOR DISCUSSION TONIGHT, AND JUST ALSO TO PREFACE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE CODE AMENDMENTS YOU'VE SEEN IN THE RED LINES, AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT WE'RE ASKING TONIGHT OF PART OF THE CONVERSATION TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, AS WE GO THROUGH THIS, WHEN YOU GO WHEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION COMES UP, BECAUSE THAT WILL HELP US WITH HOW WE FINALIZE IT, AND BRING THE RECOMMENDATIONS FORWARD TO COUNCIL. >> GREAT. OKAY. YES. >> YEP. >> BEFORE WE START ASKING FOR FEEDBACK FROM FOLKS, CAN YOU JUST PLEASE REITERATE THAT NONE OF THIS HAS BEEN CODIFIED YET? ALL OF THIS IS PROPOSED, THAT IS VERY MUCH NOT CLEAR FROM EVERYTHING YOU'VE SAID SO FAR. THE VERY FIRST SLIDE MADE IT LOOK LIKE WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED ALL OF THIS. YES, WAS THAT CLEAR TO EVERYONE THAT THIS WAS NOT --NONE OF THIS HAS HAPPENED YET? OKAY. THAT MADE ME VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. THANK YOU. >> OKAY. IT'S GOOD TO CLARIFY. YES, THIS IS NOT APPROVED. THIS IS WHY WE'RE ALL HERE TONIGHT, TO BE ABLE TO GET YOUR FEEDBACK, YOUR INPUT, SO THAT WE CAN HELP DEVELOP THIS PROGRAM. ALL RIGHT. SO GOING INTO PUBLIC COMMENT. SOME QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER. AND I WILL GO THROUGH THE FIRST QUESTION BY QUESTION, SO THAT WE CAN ALLOW FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE. SO STARTING OFF, BASED ON WHAT YOU'VE HEARD, BASED ON THE HANDOUT WE'VE PROVIDED, FOCUSING ON THE RED, BOLDED WORDING THAT'S AT THE TOP. SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED FOR THE CITY OF MARTINEZ. TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE PROGRAMS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT. THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA, THE CITY OF CLEARLAKE. WHAT CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE ABOUT THE REGISTRATION PROCESS FOR PROPERTY --FOR VACANT PROPERTY PROGRAMS? AND WE HAVE MICS. ANYONE? OVER HERE. >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MY NAME A ALBERT TURNBAUGH. I WANT TO COMPLIMENT THE PRESENTER THIS EVENING, SHE'S DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB IN TERMS OF WHY WE HAVE CODES AND THE REASONS THEY SHOULD BE ENFORCED. NOTWITHSTANDING THAT, THIS PRESENTATION IS ALL ABOUT THE STICK. THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT THE CARROT. AND I'VE FOUND IN THE 79 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN ALIVE THAT IF YOU'D SIMPLY USE A CARROT AND YOU DON'T -- EXCUSE ME, IF YOU SIMPLY USE A STICK AND YOU DON'T HAVE A WAY TO INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO DO THINGS, YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. AND THE OTHER THING IS, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU'RE IN. THE QUESTION IS, WHY DO WE HAVE VACANT BUILDINGS IN MARTINEZ? NOW I CAN TELL YOU IN A FEW INSTANCES, BECAUSE YOU HAVE LOUSY PROPERTY OWNERS. GOD HIMSELF COULD COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, AND TALK TO THAT PERSON AND THAT BUILDING WOULD STILL BE VACANT. OTHER BUILDINGS ARE VACANT FOR GOOD CAUSE. OKAY, WE HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT FLOODS. IT HASN'T FLOODED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS BECAUSE THE CITY COUNCIL DECIDED THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT, AND IT'S WORKED VERY WELL. BUT AT SOME PARTICULAR POINT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FLOOD AGAIN. AND WE ARE IN A FLOOD ZONE. SO FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE PROPERTIES, AND THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT, AND THEY COME TO THE CITY, GUESS WHAT YOU HEAR? WELL, YOU'RE IN A FLOOD ZONE. SO YOU NEED TO DO THESE KINDS OF THINGS WHICH ARE IN SOME INSTANCES IMPOSSIBLE TO DO. NOW HISTORICALLY, WE'VE HAD A CITY BUILDING DEPARTMENT WHO LOOKS FOR WAYS THAT WE CAN BE CODE COMPLIANT, BUT YET, BE FEASIBLE. YOU HAVE TO APPLY COMMON SENSE. WE ALSO HAVE PARKING ISSUES HERE IN MARTINEZ. I'VE ALWAYS SAID THERE'S TWO KINDS OF PARKING PROBLEMS. ONE'S GOOD, AND ONE'S BAD. THE GOOD ONE IS, WHEN YOU CAN'T FIND A PLACE TO PARK, THAT MEANS THAT YOU'VE GOT AN ABUNDANCE OF PEOPLE PARTICIPATING AND PATRONIZING BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN. NOTWITHSTANDING THAT FACT, WHEN YOU'RE RENTING PROPERTIES, PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO PARK, AND WHEN THE DAYS GET SHORTER, AND IT GETS DARK OUTSIDE, AND PEOPLE HAVE TO TRAVEL FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER PLACE, THEY'RE UNCOMFORTABLE WALKING ON THE STREETS. SO PARKING IS AN ISSUE. FLOODING IS STILL AN ISSUE. AND THEN THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE DEVELOP THESE PROPERTIES? BECAUSE AS A PROPERTY OWNER, AND I DON'T KNOW -- I SHOULDN'T SAY I DON'T KNOW. THERE ARE SOME PROPERTY OWNERS THAT THEY'RE NEVER, EVER GOING TO DO ANYTHING. JUST LIKE WHEN WE HAD A RETROFIT ORDINANCE. THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE THAT WERE NEVER GOING TO RETROFIT THEIR BUILDINGS UNTIL IT WAS MANDATED. AND SO THEY EITHER DID IT, OR THEY SOLD IT. NOW I THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE CODES, AND I THINK THERE CODE ENFORCEMENT, BUT WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES WHY DO WE HAVE THESE PROPERTIES VACANT? AND I THINK WHEN YOU TALK WITH THE DIFFERENT PROPERTY OWNERS, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE REASONS WHY THINGS NEED TO BE DONE DIFFERENTLY, OR HOW WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THESE PEOPLE IN TERMS OF FIXING UP THE BUILDINGS AND BRINGING VIABLE BUSINESSES IN. BUT RESPECTFULLY, I THINK THAT WHAT WORKS IN SOME COMMUNITIES ISN'T NECESSARILY A FIX FOR HERE IN MARTINEZ, AND YOU SURE CAN'T COMPARE MARTINEZ VACANCIES WITH SAN FRANCISCO VACANCIES OR NEW ORLEANS, OR TUCSON OR ANY OF THOSE KINDS OF PLACES. I THINK IF THIS PROCESS IS REALLY GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL, WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY WHY THE PROPERTIES ARE VACANT. AND IF THERE'S GOOD CAUSE FOR WHY THEY'RE VACANT, THEN LET'S ADDRESS THAT CAUSE AND FIX IT. NOW AS I'M SEEING THIS THING, IT'S NOT JUST VACANT PROPERTIES, IT'S VACANT LOTS AS WELL. AND OKAY. WE CAN IMPOSE ALL KINDS OF PENALTIES SO IT GETS TO THE POINT WHERE, OKAY, YOU IMPOSE SO MANY PENALTIES THAT -- DID YOU REALLY ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING? AND THEREFORE, I THINK THE THRESHOLD QUESTION IS, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO GET PEOPLE BY WAY OF INCENTIVIZING THEM, NOT PENALIZING THEM. HOW DO WE INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO DO THINGS WITH THEIR PROPERTIES. WE HAVE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR. I'VE MET WITH HER. WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS, AND I THINK THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN BE DOING. BUT TALKING ABOUT IT, AND DOING IT ARE TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT THINGS. AND UNFORTUNATELY, ONE THING WE'RE GOOD ABOUT HERE IN MARTINEZ IS TALKING ABOUT THINGS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE DON'T GET A VERY HIGH MARK ON IS DOING THINGS ABOUT IT. WE CAN LOOK AT THE MARINA HERE IN MARTINEZ. IT'S TAKEN YEARS AND YEARS. FINALLY SOMETHING IS HAPPENING. HOPEFULLY IT HAPPENS IN MY LIFETIME, BUT WE HAVE TO GET OFF OF THIS FOCUS THAT WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE CODES, AND WE'RE GOING CAN TO GO OUT THERE AND ENFORCE THEM. THAT ISN'T GOING TO BE THE SOLUTION. >> THANK YOU. >> >> JUST A QUICK NOTE, FOR THOSE VIRTUAL ATTENDEES, IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE COMMENT, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE AND THEN WE CAN START REACHING OUT TO EACH OF YOU TO MAKE THAT COMMENT. >> GREAT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS FIRST QUESTION? YES. >> HI, I'M CAROLYN HILL. I OWN A RETRO NOW IN THE 500 BLOCK OF MARTINEZ. I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM CHIEF WHITE IF --WHAT THE RESULTS WERE OF THE PROGRAM THAT YOU'VE HELPED IMPLEMENT. AND THEN THE BIGGEST -- ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES I'VE SEEN MORE IN RESIDENTIAL IS THE CITY SPENDS SO MUCH TIME DEVELOPING THE CODE, AND IT'S A WONDERFUL CODE, BUT THEN THEY DON'T ENFORCE IT. AND I CAN JUST NAME MANY, MANY OCCASIONS. AND IN FACT, I KNOW STREETS IN MARTINEZ THAT 30 YEARS AGO WERE PERFECT. AND NOW IT'S JUST CONSTANT CODE VIOLATIONS FOR A LACK --AND I DO REALIZE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, THE CODE DEPARTMENT WAS ONE PERSON, MAYBE, AND WE HAD COVID. BUT THIS GOES WAY BACK TO MANY VIOLATIONS, AND EVEN NOW, EVEN NOW I CAN SHOW YOU ONE OR TWO VIOLATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON IN THE CITY FOR TEN YEARS. THE CODE DEPARTMENT PERSONALLY TOLD ME THEY HAVE NOW GIVEN THEM TWO FINES, AND A FINE OF 50, AND $100 MEANS NOTHING TO PEOPLE. AND SO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? I WAS TOLD THE NEXT THING THAT THE CODE DEPARTMENT WOULD GO TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, I THINK, AND GET PERMISSION TO GO IN AND TAKE THE PROPER ACTION. IT STILL HASN'T HAPPENED. BUT THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE. I REALLY THINK --AND FOR THE PROGRAM THAT YOU HAVE MENTIONED, KNOW MR. TURNBAUGH HAS A POINT. THERE NEEDS TO BE A BALANCE TO THE PROGRAM. AND, BUT IN LOOKING AT IT, I THINK IT MERITS SOME MORE CONSIDERATION. AND MY THING WOULD BE WHO IN THE CITY IS GOING TO MONITOR IT AND DO ALL THE WORK I SEE THAT'S NECESSARY? AND WE'RE ALREADY STRAPPED FOR MONEY. SO I WOULD HOPE THAT THE FEES THAT YOU'RE CHARGING WOULD OFFSET THAT. BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? CHIEF. YES. TO RESPOND TO THE QUESTION ABOUT HOW DID IT GO? IT WAS ACTUALLY VERY SUCCESSFUL. BUT I THINK THE POINTS THAT MR. TURNBAUGH ARE CRITICAL. WHEN YOU IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM. WHEN THAT PROGRAM CAME ABOUT I ACTUALLY FOUND OUT ABOUT SOME SIMILAR EFFORTS BACK EAST WHERE THEY HAD ISSUES WITH SOME PERSISTENT VACANCIES. THE ISSUE WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT, JUST IN GENERAL BY THE WAY IS THAT LIKE 98% OF PEOPLE ACTUALLY DO THE RIGHT THING. IT'S A SMALL PERCENTAGE THAT DON'T. SO I SAW THERE IS SUCCESS IN OTHER STATES, SO WE ACTUALLY TOOK KIND OF A COMPENDIUM OF WHAT WORKED FOR THAT COMMUNITY, WHICH ISN'T GOING TO BE THE EXACT SAME AS HERE. BUT FOUND KIND OF THE BEST OF BREED SO TO SPEAK AND PUT IT IN PLACE WITH AN EYE TOWARDS ADDRESSING SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE INTO KNEW EXISTED. SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD ONE PROPERTY OWNER WHO OWNED MULTIPLE PROPERTIES, AND BASICALLY SAID I'M NEVER GOING TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL THE CITY COMES AND BUYS ME OUT, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND THEIR PROPERTIES WERE REALLY BAD. AND SO THE WAY THAT I LOOKED AT IT, WAS IT WAS A LEVEL-SETTING PROGRAM FOR THE 98% OF PEOPLE THAT WERE DOING THINGS CORRECTLY AND MAKING SURE THAT THOSE THAT WEREN'T WERE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE RUNNING INTO IS WE HAD PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO MAKE INVESTMENTS. WE HAD A FEW SITUATIONS LIKE TO YOUR POINT, WHERE THERE'S ONE PLACE THAT LITERALLY CAN'T BE DEVELOPED BECAUSE OF SOME OTHER ISSUES. BUT THAT WAS ONE AMONGST MANY OTHERS THAT COULD. AND SO THOSE DEVELOPERS THAT WERE COMING IN OR PEOPLE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING IS THEY WOULD TRY TO DO SOMETHING IN THEIR BUILDING AND THE PLACE NEXT TO IT WAS A DILAPIDATED TRAIN WRECK. IN TERMS OF RESULTS WE SAW SOME PLACES THAT HAD NEVER BEEN LEASED BEFORE, SUDDENLY CLEANED UP, AND LEASED TO NEW BUSINESSES COMING IN. ONE PLACE WE ACTUALLY DID A DEMOLITION AND THE PROPERTY OWNER ACTUALLY ENDED UP REIMBURSING THE CITY FOR THE ENTIRE COST. YOU'LL HEAR LATER ON ABOUT ABATEMENT. THAT'S LIKE AN EXTREME EXAMPLE, BUT IT WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE PROGRAM. THAT SAID, THIS IS LIKE, IF YOU THINK ABOUT CODE ENFORCEMENT IN GENERAL IN THIS PARTICULARLY, IT'S ONE TOOL IN A TOOL BOX TO SOLVE PROBLEMS. IT CAN'T BE THE ONLY THING. BUT OUR EXPERIENCE HERE, WE FOUND IT TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL FOR WHAT IT WAS TRYING TO DO, AND I THINK WELL YOU SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SANTA ROSA AND OTHER CITIES DOING SIMILARLY IS THEY'RE TAKING THE GENERAL CONCEPT, AND THEN DRILLING IT DOWN FOR WHAT WORKS FOR THERE. THAT'S A POINT EVAN, AND YOU ALL ARE HERE, WHAT ACTUALLY, WORKS IN MARTINEZ, AND THESE ARE DRAFT CODES TO SEE WHAT WORKS HERE. REALLY THE IDEA IS TO TAKE THAT FEEDBACK AND SEE WHAT WORKS HERE OR DO WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. ONE THING WE DIDN'T DO WAS TAKE ALL THE ACTIVATIONS. IT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE PROBABLY FAMILIAR, IF YOU DON'T NOTICE THOUGH, WHEN YOU GO TO A MALL AND A PLACE GOES OUT OF BUSINESS, THEY PUT THE STUFF ON A WINDOW AND SO IT LOOKS GOOD. CERTAINLY, THAT'S NOT PRACTICAL FOR EVERY PROPERTY, BUT KNOWING WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR DOWNTOWN, I THINK IS A GREAT ADDITION TO AT LEAST BE CONSIDERED. >> THANK YOU, CHIEF. ANY MORE COMMENTS ON THIS FIRST QUESTION FROM THE PUBLIC? OKAY. LET'S MOVE ONTO QUESTION NUMBER TWO. WHAT COMPONENTS OF A STRUCTURED REGISTRATION PROGRAM WOULD YOU SEE AS MORE EFFECTIVE? WHAT COMPONENTS OF A STRUCTURED REGISTRATION PROGRAM WOULD YOU SEE AS MORE EFFECTIVE? SURE. SO THE REGISTRATION PROGRAM AS I STATED EARLIER, SANTA ROSA TOOK THE APPROACH OF, IF WE HAVE TO REGISTER YOU, THE INCENTIVE TO REMOVE YOURSELF FROM THAT REGISTRATION LIST WOULD BE 12 MONTHS OF MAINTAINING YOUR PROPERTY, RIGHT? SO IT GAVE PROPERTY OWNERS FIRST 30 DAYS, A 30 DAYS NOTICE TO SAY, HEY, WE DETERMINED THAT THERE'S AN ISSUE ON YOUR PROPERTY. WE'RE GIVING YOU 30 DAYS TO TAKE CARE OF WHATEVER ISSUES ARE ON SITE. CLEANUP, MAINTAIN YOUR PROPERTY BEFORE WE REQUIRE REGISTRATION. IF WITHIN THOSE 30 DAYS THEY'RE COMPLIANT, THEY DON'T HAVE TO REGISTER. IF AFTER 30 DAYS, THEY'RE STILL NOT COMPLIANT, THEN THEY REGISTER. BUT THEN IT PROVIDED A SECONDARY MODE OF REMOVING THEMSELVES FROM THE REGISTRATION, WHICH IS 12 MONTHS OF MAINTAINING THAT PROPERTY. SO THAT WOULD BE A COMPONENT OF THE STRUCTURE REGISTRATION PROGRAM, THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO AFFECTIVELY PROVIDE SOME REPRIEVE FROM CONTINUING ON THE PROGRAM, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, PROVIDE MEASURES BY WHICH WE HOLD SOME FORM OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THOSE PROPERTIES ARE NOT BEING MAINTAINED. SO WITH THAT IN MIND, ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMPONENTS OR COMPONENTS THAT PERHAPS YOU WOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, OR YOU WOULD WANT TO SEE AS FAR AS CONSIDERATION OR TO BE CONSIDERED IN STRUCTURING THAT REGISTRATION PROGRAM COMPONENT? >> THE COMMENTS THAT I MADE EARLIER REALLY APPLY TO, NOT ONLY TWO, THREE, AS WELL AS FOUR. IS THAT FIRST QUESTION IS WHY ARE THE PROPERTIES VACANT? CODE ENFORCEMENT, AND I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE CODES, AND I THINK CODES SHOULD BE ENFORCED. THE QUESTION IS, IS THAT --IS CODE ENFORCEMENT ADOPTION OF THIS CODE REQUIRES PEOPLE TO DO THINGS. AND IF THEY DON'T DO THINGS THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES. THAT'S THE STICK APPROACH TO THIS ENTIRE ORDINANCE. AND WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES WHY ARE THESE PROPERTIES VACANT? I AM NOT GOING TO STAND UP AND DEFEND ANY PROPERTY OWNER WHO'S HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING WITH THEIR PROPERTY. AS A PROPERTY OWNER, AND YOU HAVE OTHER PROPERTY OWNERS HERE THIS EVENING, WE HAVE A VESTED INTEREST, IN FIXING UP OUR PROPERTIES, MAKING THEM ATTRACTIVE FOR POTENTIAL RENTERS. THAT'S THE BUSINESS THAT WE'RE IN. WE ALSO HAVE BEEN IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR DECADES, SO WE TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN THE OWNERSHIP OF OUR PROPERTIES. OUR NAMES ARE ATTACHED TO THOSE PROPERTIES. SO AGAIN, THIS WHOLE APPROACH, THE STRUCTURE OF REGISTRATION IS -- OKAY, YOU HAVE A CODE. IT'S GOING TO BE ENFORCED, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE THE REGISTRATION PROCESS. I THINK -- SIMPLY ADOPTING IT IS NOT THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHY SOME OF THESE ARE VACANT, AND I WILL SAY THIS AGAIN. SOME OF THESE PROPERTY OWNERS WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. AND THAT'S WHERE YOU REALLY HAVE TO HAVE THE STICK, AND THERE HAS TO BE SOME CONSEQUENCES. >> THANK YOU. >> I JUST HAVE A QUESTION BACK FOR YOU. DO YOU HAVE ANY VACANT PROPERTIES, AND IF SO, WHY ARE THEY VACANT? OR IF NOT, IF YOU KNOW OF A VACANT PROPERTY, WHY IS IT VACANT? YOU'RE PROPOSING THE QUESTION, BUT I WANT TO KNOW THE ANSWER, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER. >> [ INAUDIBLE ] OKAY. CITY OF MARTINEZ RECEIVED FROM THE COUNTY TWO BUILDINGS, AND BOTH OF THOSE BUILDINGS ENDED UP GOING TO SOUTH PORT, WHICH IS MANAGED OR CONTROLLED BY DAVID FISHER. DAVID FISHER IS A NICE YOUNG MAN. DOES EXCELLENT THINGS. BUT YOU'VE GOT A BUILDING THAT HAS BEEN VACANT EVER SINCE SOUTH PORT HAS TAKEN IT OVER. NOW IN MY OPINION, THAT'S INEXCUSABLE AND THERE HAS TO BE --SIMPLY ADOPTING A CODE AND SAYING NOW THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME CONSEQUENCES, WHAT I WOULD DO, I WOULD ASK THE CITY --PICK UP THE PHONE. CALL DAVID FISHER AND SAY LOOK, WE'RE GETTING COMPLAINTS. YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING. IT HASN'T BEEN ONE YEAR, IT HADN'T BEEN FIVE YEARS, IT'S BEEN OVER TEN YEARS. THAT'S INEXCUSABLE. YOU CAN GO DOWN THE LIST OF OUR VACANT PROPERTIES HERE IN MARTINEZ. I THINK THERE ARE A VARIETY OF REASONS WHY THEY ARE VACANT. SOME OF THEM ARE VALID, AND SOME OF THEM AREN'T VALID. JUST TO EVEN, FOR SOME OF THE PEOPLE TO GIVE THE EXCUSES THAT THEY GIVE, TO ME IS JUST ABSOLUTELY SILLY. SO I'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER EXAMPLE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF FACTUALLY I'M CORRECT ON THIS, BUT THERE'S THE McMAHON PROPERTY. McMAHON TELLFOR ON THE CORNER OF SERIAN AND ESCOBAR. THAT FAMILY SOLD THAT PROPERTY. THE PERSON WHO PURCHASED IT, CAME IN, GUTTED IT, MADE IT TO THE CITY, MADE APPLICATIONS FOR HOUSING THERE, MY UNDERSTANDING. AND WE HAVE A CITY OFFICIAL WHO CAN CORRECT THE RECORD IF I'M STATING IT INCORRECTLY, HE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS, DID EVERYTHING. SUPPOSEDLY GOT HIS PERMITS, THEN WAS TOLD, BY THE WAY, YOU'RE IN A FLOODPLAIN. YOU NEED TO TAKE YOURSELF OUT OF THE FLOOD MAIN PLAIN. HE SAYS, I CAN'T DO IT. I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT. I'LL LEAVE THIS PROPERTY VACANT. AND NOW WHAT DO WE HAVE? A CODE THAT'S COMING UP. A CODE THAT'S COMING UP, IN MY OPINION, BECAUSE PEOPLE DIDN'T SIT DOWN AND SAY, OKAY, WHAT'S THE SOLUTION TO IT? WE'RE IN A FLOODPLAIN. SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES YOU CAN DO THINGS TO MITIGATE IT, BUT TO GET YOURSELF OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN IS A VIRTUAL IMPOSSIBILITY. AND THAT'S WHERE, QUITE FRANKLY, WE HAVE TO HAVE A STAFF AND A COUNCIL TO SAY, THERE'S MORE THAN ONE WAY OF SOLVING THESE PROBLEMS. DAVE SKOAL WAS HERE FOR DECADES. WHENEVER I DID ANYTHING ON MY PROPERTY, I PICKED UP THE PHONE. I CALLED DAVE. I SAID THIS IS THE SITUATION WE'VE GOT. GIVE ME SOME SUGGESTIONS. GIVE ME SOME ALTERNATIVES. HOW DO WE DO THIS? HE WOULD COME UP WITH CREATIVE SOLUTIONS. THAT'S WHERE, I THINK WE HAVE TO PUT OUR THINKING CAPS ON AND SAY WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM HERE. HOW DO WE SOLVE IT? >> SO THEN, CAN I ASK STAFF TO RESPOND? DAVE SKOAL IS NOT HERE ANYMORE, ALL DUE RESPECT, SO WE CAN'T WISH WE'RE WORKING WITH SOMEONE WHO IS RETIRED. SO LET'S MOVE ON FROM DAVE. STAFF THAT SHOULD BE WORKING WITH HIM ON THIS, CAN YOU RESPOND TO THE FISHER PROPERTY THAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT? AND THEN CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE ONE ON FERRY AND ESCOBAR? I THINK THOSE ARE BOTH SUPER VALID QUESTIONS. >> YEAH. FOR SURE. WE DEFINITELY HAVE DONE A LOT OF OUTREACH WITH A LOT OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS. I HAVE MET WITH DAVE MULTIPLE TIMES, ALSO WITH OUR BUILDING OFFICIAL AND FOUND A LOT OF SOLUTIONS ACTUALLY TO HELP THEM, WHICH THEY ARE GOING IT TO BE MOVING FORWARD WITH MAKING SOME CHANGES TO GET THAT BUILDING ACTIVATED. WE ALSO WORKED WITH 610 COURT, THE OTHER BUILDING TO GET IT SOLD. WE'RE WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL TO HELP WITH A DEED RESTRICTION THAT'S ON THAT PROPERTY. SO WE ARE LOOKING AT WAYS AT HOW CAN BE CREATIVE. HOW CAN WE MOVE FORWARD ON THAT? AND I KNOW FOR THE OTHER BUILDING YOU MENTIONED, THERE WAS, PART OF THAT WAS THE --THE FLOOD CONTROL COMMENT, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE OWNER WAS AWARE OF. AND THERE WERE PROVISIONS AS IT WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS WHERE THINGS WERE IDENTIFIED MORE. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO WORK WITH THEM TO BE ABLE TO SEE IF THEY WOULD LOOK AT DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE, BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE GETTING IS DIRECTIVE BACK FROM FLOOD CONTROL ABOUT THAT MANDATE. IT'S NOTHING SOMETHING WE CAN NECESSARILY CHANGE. HOW DO WE MODIFY YOUR PLAN TO STILL GIVE YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. THAT'S KIND OF WHERE IT WAS, AND TO YOUR POINT, THE OWNER IS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THEM TO CONNECT BACK WITH US ON THAT. BUT IN OTHER CASES TOO, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DID, I KNOW WHEN I CAME ON WAS TO MEET WITH OTHER PROPERTY OWNERS AND JUST FIND OUT THE WHY. WE HAVE LEARNED A LARGE REASON OF THE WHY. EARL AND WENDY HAVE TOLD ME A LOT OF CHALLENGES THAT THEY'VE HAD. I'VE HEARD FROM OTHER PROPERTY OWNERS, A LOT OF IT MIGHT BE GOING THROUGH TRUST SALES. OTHERS ARE GOING THROUGH ONES WHERE A COUPLE OF OWNERS ENDED UP, IT WAS INHERITANCE. SO EACH OF THE KID'S NEPHEWS GOT THE PROPERTY, AND THEY'RE LIKE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. WE REACHED OUT TO ASK THE QUESTION, WHAT ARE YOUR OBSTACLES, WHAT CAN WE HELP YOU WITH? KIND OF BACK TO THE PURPOSE OF THIS, AND THAT WHOLE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE 98% AND THE 2%. WE KNOW YOU'RE THE 98%. YOU'RE THE ONES THAT ARE DOING THE THINGS RIGHT. WE KNOW THE ONES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, THAT CAN KIND OF CREATE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES TO YOUR POINT THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU DO, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AND AGAIN, WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING IN THESE CHANGES ARE ONES THAT CAN HELP US, AND STRENGTHEN THE ENFORCE. ENFORCEMENT PROCESS. WE KNOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME RESOLUTION, TO TRY AND MOVE THE NEEDLE. THAT ALSO COMES WITH CONVERSATIONS TOO. WE'RE HAPPY TO MEET WITH THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS, IF THEY'RE WILLING AND SAY GIVE US MORE. SOME I CAN'T GET AHOLD OF. SOME OF YOU ARE AWARE OF THAT. IT JUST DEPENDS. BUT I WILL DEFINITELY SAY THE CITY IS VERY OPEN. WE HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM RIGHT NOW. OUR BUILDING OFFICIAL IS ONE THAT WE KNOW WHY HE WAS HIRED WAS HE DEFINITELY THINKS OUT OF THE BOX, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. BECAUSE I'M ONE THAT WANTS TO TRY TO FIND SOLUTIONS. SO I HAVE A TEAM THAT IS LIKE HOW CAN WE LOOK AT THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY. YOU CAN ALWAYS PICK UP THE PHONE, AND HE WILL COME ANSWER AND MEET YOU AT YOUR SPOT, SIMILAR TO DAVE FISHER, HE COMES UP WITH A SOLUTION AND WE'LL MOVE FORWARD ON THAT. I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS, BECAUSE IT'S GOOD CAN TO HEAR FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE HEARD SOME OF THE EFFORTS WE'RE DOING TO TRY AND HELP TO ACTIVATE THESE SPACES. SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE PROPOSED TONIGHT ARE TRULY JUST THAT. IT'S GIVING US MORE TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD, AND TRY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE VACANT BUILDINGS, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN VACANT FOR 20 PLUS YEARS THAT ARE IN KEY, CENTRAL LOCATIONS IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN. HOW DO WE HELP TO ACTIVATE THEM ON THAT, AND IT'S NOT --A LOT OF THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO FULLY BE A STICK APPROACH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE OPEN TO LIKE HEARING ABOUT WHAT CARROTS WE CAN DO. AND I THINK SOME OF THE ONES YOU WERE MENTIONING IS HOW CAN WE BE FLEXIBLE WITH THE CODE? THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN. BUT THERE ARE SOME WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN'T, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE CONTROL OVER IT. YOU NEED THE MICROPHONE, FOR THE RECORD. THANK YOU. >> I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE FLOOD CONTROL. WE'VE LIVED WITH FLOODING, I THINK THAT WE'VE DONE REMARKABLE THINGS IN THIS COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF REDUCING THE FREQUENCY AND THE SEVERITY OF FLOODING. HOWEVER, WE'RE IN A FLOOD ZONE, AND WE QUITE FRANKLY WILL NEVER GET OUT OF A FLOOD ZONE. SO THE QUESTION IS IS THAT WE HAVE OLDER BUILDINGS. THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY THERE. THERE'S A LOT OF BEAUTIFUL ARCHITECTURE, AND I WANT TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS DONE TO THOSE PROPERTIES. AND WHEN WE GO ABOUT AND WHEN WE PRESENT SOMETHING, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A FLEXIBLE CITY STAFF THAT SAYS, OKAY, YOU'RE IN A FLOOD ZONE. HOW DO WE COMPLY WITH THE ORDINANCE AND ALLOW YOU TO FIX UP THIS PROPERTY AND MAKE IT FEASIBLE? AND THAT'S WHAT HISTORICALLY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO. AND I'M HOPING THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PICKING UP THE PHONE AND SPEAKING WITH MICHAEL ABOUT THAT. BECAUSE THERE'S GOT TO BE A WAY. IT'S IN EVERYBODY'S BEST INTEREST THAT WE GO DOWN THAT PATH TOGETHER. SO -- AGAIN, I'M KIND OF A BROKEN RECORD HERE. MY EMPHASIS IS, SHOULD THERE BE CODES? SHOULD THERE BE ENFORCEMENT, THE ANSWER TO BOTH OF THOSE IS YES. BUT THE OTHER PART OF IT IS, WE HAVE VACANCIES. WE WANT TO GET RID OF ALL THOSE VACANCIES AND WANT TO HAVE THOSE VACANCIES FILLED WITH GREAT TENANTS THAT ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BRING PEOPLE DOWNTOWN MARTINEZ AND IMPROVE OUR ECONOMY AND IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE DOWN HERE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. AND ANDREA, RIGHT OVER HERE. ANDREA. >> I'M SORRY, CAN WE PLEASE PAUSE FOR ONE SECOND? I DO HAVE A COUNCILMEMBER WHO WISHES TO COMMENT, AND I'D LIKE TO OPEN THE FLOOR TO HIM RIGHT NOW. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YES. OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY WEIGH IN HERE WITH SOME INITIAL THOUGHTS. YOU KNOW, I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE AL'S PARTICIPATION AND CANDOR HERE TONIGHT. I THINK HE'S GOT -- HE BRINGS A LOT OF INSIGHTS, AND I KNOW I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH HIM ALONGSIDE OTHERS. AND YOU KNOW, I SHARE IN A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, AN OVERALL DESIRE TO KIND OF FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE -- HOW DO WE MOVE THE BALL HERE? PARTICULARLY AS IT PERTAINS TO SOME OF THESE LONG-HELD STUBBORN PROPERTIES THAT BOTH HE AND JILL ELUDED TO. QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK AT LEAST IN THE SHORT --IN THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL, THE IMPRESSION THAT I HAVE IS THAT SOME --AND I EMPHASIZE SOME, NOT ALL OF THESE PROPERTY OWNERS, THEY JUST GOT USED TO THE FACT THAT THE CITY WAS ESSENTIALLY TURNING A BLIND EYE AND WAS WILLING TO PUT UP WITH HAVING THESE PROPERTIES REMAIN AS IS. AND I DON'T THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN ENOUGH OF A RECOGNITION NOW, AT LEAST ON SOME OF THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS' PARTS, TO SEE HOW MUCH THE, YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL HAS SHIFTED, THE STAFF HAS SHIFTED, AND OUR COMMUNITY HAS SHIFTED. AND SO WE'RE AT AN IMPORTANT INFLECTION POINT NOW. BECAUSE MICHAEL IS NOT TO NECESSARILY BE PUNITIVE, I WOULD LIKE TO TRY AND SEE, YOU KNOW, OFFER SOME INCENTIVES WHERE APPROPRIATE, BUT THAT'S REALLY HARD TO DO, WHEN AS JILL HAS MENTIONED, IN THE TIME -- YOU KNOW, IN THE TIME THAT SHE HAS BEEN WITH US, WE HAVE FOLKS THAT AREN'T EVEN WILLING TO RETURN HER CALL. AND THAT TO ME IS JUST SIMPLY, YOU KNOW, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. AND SO WHILE I DON'T WANT TO BE PUNITIVE, I ALSO WANT TO BE ABLE TO CONVEY TO THESE FOLKS THAT LOOK -- HELP US HELP YOU. BUT IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND RETURN THE CALL, AND AT LEAST IN ENGAGE IN A TWO-WAY CONVERSATION -- THERE ARE GOING TO BE CONSEQUENCES FOR CONTINUED NONCOMPLIANCE AND NONACTION. BECAUSE WE ARE A CITY ON THE MOVE. AND FOR TOO LONG, THESE PROPERTIES HAVE JUST SAT, AND SAT, AND SAT. AND FROM MY VANTAGE POINT, WE NEED TO TURN THE PAGE. AND THEY HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE. ARE YOU GOING TO INVEST IN YOUR PROPERTIES AND BE A RESPONSIBLE PROPERTY OWNER, AS I BELIEVE THE MAJORITY OF PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE DOWNTOWN ARE FOR THE MOST PART. OR ARE YOU JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO IGNORE AND ALLOW THESE PROPERTIES JUST TO SIT AND BE BASICALLY BE BLIGHT AND BRING DOWN --BRING DOWN, YOU KNOW, THE OVERALL, THE OVERALL SORT OF BUSINESS ATMOSPHERE HERE IN THE DOWNTOWN. WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK THAT WE WANT TO DO, BUT WE CAN'T DO IT, IF THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO COME TO THE TABLE. SO, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, I AGREE. WE NEED TO HAVE SOME VIABLE -- SOME VIABLE CARROTS. FORGIVE ME IF I MISSED IT, I SEE THE COMPARISON IN ALL OF THE DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS. WHAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE IS THE CARROTS. WHAT HAVE BEEN THE SUCCESSFUL CARROTS THAT HAVE BEEN USED IN A LOT OF THESE JURISDICTIONS? WHERE ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE REAPED SOME BENEFITS? AND IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO TO, YOU KNOW, ARE THERE SOME BEST PRACTICES THAT WE CAN PROBABLY INCORPORATE? SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME DISCUSSION AROUND SOME OF THAT. BUT, YOU KNOW, WITH RESPECT TO SOME OF THESE LONG-HELD STUBBORN PROPERTIES, MY PATIENCE YOU KNOW, IT ONLY GOES SO FAR, AND I THINK THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR MANY FOLKS HERE IN OUR CITY. SO THOSE ARE SOME INITIAL THOUGHTS THAT I WANTED TO SHARE, AND I'LL HAVE MORE AS THE EVENING PROGRESSES. BUT AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO AL AND OTHERS WHO HAVE COME FORWARD WITH, YOU KNOW, THEIR THOUGHTS AND THEIR SUGGESTIONS. BUT YES, LET'S -- IT'S TIME FOR US TO TURN THE PAGE, AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE CITY STAFF FOR BRINGING THIS INITIATIVE FORWARD, I THINK IT'S VERY PROMISING. THERE'S A LOT IN HERE THAT I DO LIKE, BUT ALSO, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS ISN'T A LONG, DRAWN OUT CONVERSATION. I WANT TO WORK WITH PEOPLE WHERE WE CAN WORK, BUT IF THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO RETURN OUR CALL, THEN YEAH, WE'VE GOT TO BE WILLING TO, TO DROP THE HAMMER AS APPROPRIATE. AND I'M NOT AFRAID TO SAY THAT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MALHI. NEXT, I HAVE ANN MARIE VASQUEZ. I'LL ASK YOU TO UNMUTE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALBERT TURNBAUGH, AND I ALSO AGREE WITH THE COUNCILMEMBER THAT JUST SPOKE. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THESE PROPERTY OWNERS AS A RENTER, AND IT IS INCREDIBLY DISHEARTENING WHEN YOU WALK AROUND DOWNTOWN, AND THERE IS SO MUCH POTENTIAL AND THAT POTENTIAL IS JUST [ INAUDIBLE ] AND THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO. AND AS A RETAILER, YOU CANNOT GROW. I CAN'T BRING MORE BUSINESS INTO DOWNTOWN OFFERING SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BESIDES GETTING DRUNK. SO IF IT TAKES MORE LIQUOR, IT SEEMS TO --IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN. YOU KNOW, THE SPACES JUST HAPPEN. BUT FOR US RETAILERS, IT IS REALLY A CHALLENGE TO GET IN AND JUST HAVE A PLACE TO GO, SO I GET IT. I GET THAT THESE PEOPLE DO NOT ANSWER PHONE CALLS, AND THEY'RE DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO ANSWER A PHONE CALL WHEN THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION. SO, YOU KNOW, WHY IS THERE NOT A TEXT ATTACHED TO THIS? MAYBE THE CARROT IS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY A TAX. SO IF WE CAN'T REACH YOU, YOU SHOULD BE TAXED. IF THE TOWN'S PEOPLE, IF RETAILERS CAN'T GET INTO STORES, AND THEY'RE JUST SITTING THERE BOARDED UP, THERE SHOULD BE A TAX. SO SOMETHING HAS TO GET WORKED OUT TO WHERE THERE'S A LOT MORE TRANSPARENCY INTO WHO OWNS WHAT, AND CUT IT OUT WITH THESE ELUSIVE MIDDLEMEN PROPERTY OWNERS WHERE REALLY, THEY DON'T EVEN GET BACK TO YOU. SO IT'S JUST LIKE A ROUNDABOUT. SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE DOWNTOWN MEET ITS POTENTIAL. AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHEN WE ACTUALLY CALL AND SAY THERE ARE THINGS BESIDES BUILDINGS, BUT NUISANCES THAT ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE INHIBITING CUSTOMERS COMING IN FROM STORES, AND ARE CREATING BIOHAZARD ALL OVER OUR STREETS. SO THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS CAN DO, THAT WE CAN DO AS A COMMUNITY TO BRING THIS ALL TOGETHER AND BALANCE IT OUT. SO I JUST --I THANK YOU, AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT AN EASY TOPIC TO ADDRESS, BECAUSE OF THE ELUSIVE NATURE OF A LOT OF THESE OWNERS, AND I REALLY DON'T WISH THAT UPON ANYBODY. BUT AS A RENTER, IT IS --IT'S LIKE YOU'RE STUCK. YOU ARE STUCK IN A LOOP. AND IT MAKES YOU LOOK AT OTHER COMMUNITIES EVEN THOUGH YOU LIVE IN THIS ONE. AND THAT'S REALLY SAD. SO, THAT'S MY TWO CENTS. THANK YOU ALL. >> THANK YOU. I HAVE NO FURTHER HANDS. >> THANK YOU. ANDREA. >> THANKS. I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS AND PUT A LITTLE INFORMATION IN THE RECORD, BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU WANT TO GO TO, UNLESS YOU KNOW WHERE YOU'RE STARTING FROM. AND RIGHT NOW, AND REALLY FOREVER, IT'S NOT UNLAWFUL TO MAINTAIN A VACANT BUILDING OR AN UNDER-UTILIZED BUILDING. THAT'S NOT AGAINST THE CODE. ALL THE CODE REQUIRES FOR YOU RIGHT NOW IS FOR YOU TO BOARD UP THE WINDOW AND THE DOOR. IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO LOOK NICE. AND THAT'S --THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE PAST, AND ASKING FOR INPUT. THE CARROT. ONE OF THE CARROT IN THE PROGRAM IS NEW REGULATIONS THAT WHEN YOU COMPLY WITH THEM, YOU'RE GOING TO MOVE YOUR BUILDING INTO A READY FOR OCCUPANCY STATUS. YOU'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY TURN THAT BUILDING OVER AND START TO MAKE SOME MONEY ON IT. EITHER BECAUSE YOU'LL GET A TENANT, OR BECAUSE IT'S NOW BECOME MORE ATTRACTIVE AND YOU WILL SELL IT. THE STOREFRONT ACTIVATION ASPECT OF THE VACANT TO VIBRANT PROGRAM IN PARTICULAR IS LIKE A CARROT. AND ANOTHER CARROT THAT COULD BE OFFERED IS EXPEDITED PROCESSING. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YES, THERE IS A LOT OF STICK THERE. SO THE STICK THAT YOU HAD FOR DECADES IS JUST --BOARD THE WINDOWS, BOARD THE DOORS. THAT'S ALL WE REQUIRE. AND SO NO WONDER PEOPLE DON'T RETURN THE CALLS WHEN SOMEBODY LIKE JILL TRIES TO TALK WITH THEM ABOUT WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR PROPERTY. IT'S NO THE IN THE CODE RIGHT NOW, THAT'S WHY WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD AND THAT'S WHAT THE COUNCIL IS TRYING TO DO. WE STARTED THE EVENING WITH A FRAMEWORK. IT'S A FRAMEWORK SO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK OFF OF, AND WE LOOKED AT DIFFERENT CODES IN OTHER CITIES WHERE IT'S WORKED, AND YOU'VE HEARD SOME TESTIMONY FROM CHIEF WHITE ABOUT THAT. BUT THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT TONIGHT, IS WE'VE GOT A DRAFT. SO THAT YOU HAVE A FRAMEWORK TO REACT OFF OF, AND TELL US WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, WHETHER YOU THINK IT CAN WORK, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE A STICK, BUT THERE'S ALSO CARROT IN THERE. IT'S A LOT MORE THAN WHAT YOU HAVE TODAY, WHICH IS JUST BOARDED WINDOWS AND BOARDED DOORS. >> I DO HEAR FROM CUSTOMERS WHO COME INTO THE SHOP AND THEN ASK ABOUT ALL THE VACANCIES ON THE STREET, AND WONDER WHY -- BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN HERE FOR MONTHS MAYBE, AND THEY COME BACK, AND THEY STILL SEE THE SAME VACANCIES THAT THEY SAW BEFORE, MAYBE ONE OR TWO ADDITIONAL ONES. SO PEOPLE DO ASK ABOUT THAT. I WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS MEETING TONIGHT, BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE WE WERE GOING TO BE MOVING INTO A POSITIVE DIRECTION AND I HOPE THAT IS THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE MOVING. I WONDER IF --IN ANSWER TO ONE OR TWO, OR ADDRESSING POINTS ONE OR TWO, I'VE HEARD NOW IN A PREVIOUS MEETING AND TWICE TONIGHT THAT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT GETTING IN TOUCH WITH PEOPLE WHO OWN PROPERTIES, OR PEOPLE WHO CONTROL PROPERTIES. AND SO IF OUR REGISTRATION PROCESS MOVES THAT BALL FORWARD, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A VERY POSITIVE THING. IF THE CITY KNOWS WHO OWNS THE BUILDINGS, WHO'S MANAGING THE BUILDINGS, WHO THE REALTORS ARE, WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR ASPECTS OF THE BUILDINGS, AND WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WOULD MOVE THE BALL FORWARD IN A LOT OF CASES. IT LOOKS LIKE SOME KIND OF REGISTRATION PROCESS WOULD BE VERY CRITICAL TO HAVING THIS PROGRAM MOVE FORWARD. THE OTHER QUESTION THAT I HAVE, THOUGH, IS, AND IT'S REALLY A QUESTION FOR CITY STAFF, AND IT'S ASKED BECAUSE I DON'T REALLY KNOW, BUT I'M WONDERING ARE THERE THINGS IN THE CITY CODES, IN THE BUILDING PERMIT PROCESS IN THE BUILDING INSPECTION PROCESS? ARE WE TOO RIDGED? ARE THERE THINGS WE COULD DO TO FACILITATE DEVELOPMENT TO SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES? I KNOW THE COUNTY HAS THE FLOOD DISTRICT, AND THOSE ARE THINGS WE CAN'T CONTROL. BUT IN THE THINGS WE CAN CONTROL, ARE THERE THINGS IN OUR ORDINANCE THAT MIGHT SLOW DOWN OR IMPEDE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO MIGHT WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OPENING THEIR PROPERTIES? I SO JUST ASK STAFF TO TAKE A MORE UNIVERSAL LOOK AT WHAT IT TAKES TO GET A BUILDING PERMIT APPROVED, GET THE PROCESS DONE? ARE OUR FEES TOO HIGH? ARE THEY JUST ABOUT RIGHT? ARE THERE THINGS? IS THAT THE CARROT WE COULD OFFER THROUGH EXPEDITED PROCESS, MAYBE LOWERING FEES FOR SPECIFIC KINDS OF THINGS? I WOULD JUST ASK STAFF TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. >> THANK YOU. >> YEAH, I'LL RESPOND TO THAT. THE FEES ARE ADOPTED BY COUNCIL. SO WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF ABILITY TO MAKE THOSE GO AWAY, OR WAIVE THEM. WHAT WE DO HAVE CONTROL OVER IS EXPEDITING THE PROCESS. THAT IS USUALLY A HUGE HELP FOR BUSINESSES WHO ARE PERFORMING IMPROVEMENTS OR TENANT OWNERS AS WELL. OBVIOUSLY TIME IS VERY CRITICAL IN THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS. ANYTIME THERE'S A BUSINESS, SO FAR SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF, WE DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS, EVEN IF I HAVE TO DO THE PLAN CHECK MYSELF, WHICH I HAVE BEEN DOING, NIGHTS AND EVENINGS SOMETIMES. ROSS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE, THAT IS MOVING IN. ALSO THERE'S A FITNESS FACILITY THAT HAS TAKEN OVER THE NEW --THE OLD WELLS-FARGO BANK LOCATION. I'M WORKING WITH THAT GENTLEMAN, DEAN, TO GET THAT LEGALIZED. AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT COMES THROUGH, BUSINESS WISE, NOT TO SAY I'M NOT HELPING RESIDENTS AS WELL. I DO MY BEST TO TRY TO KEEP PEOPLE MOVING. DEVELOPMENT IS VERY TIME SENSITIVE. TIME IS MONEY. AND THERE'S A LOT OF SITUATIONS WHERE, YOU KNOW, HOMEOWNERS AND THEIR PETS AND THEIR ANIMALS ARE STUCK IN A MOTEL BECAUSE THEIR HOUSE IS BEING TORN APART. I'VE BEEN ON THAT SIDE, SO I HAVE A GREAT TEAM HERE AND WE DO OUR BEST TO KEEP THINGS MOVING. WE DO GET A LITTLE OVERWHELMED SOMETIMES. BUT WITH JILL'S LEADERSHIP, WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YEAH, WE MOVE FORWARD AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WITH BUSINESSES. >> AND BEFORE WE GO ONTO YOUR COMMENT, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY, A PORTION OF THE FRAMEWORK THAT GOES INTO THE VACANT TO VIBRANT DOES TOUCH ON THE REGISTRATION COMPONENT THAT INCLUDES CAPTURING ALL OF THE CONTENT INFORMATION FOR ANYBODY ON THE PROPERTY. PROPERTY OWNER, PROPERTY MANAGER, REALTOR, SO THAT IT DOES FACILITATE AND EASE OF BEING ABLE TO CONTACT SOMEONE WHEN IT'S ON SITE. IN ADDITION TO THAT, ANOTHER COMPONENT TO THAT IS THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH. WHICH ONCE THE PROGRAM IS BUILT OUT, THEN THAT INITIATIVE WILL ROLL OUT AS WELL TO PROVIDE A PATHWAY TO COMPLIANCE FOR THE COMMUNITY AS WELL. LETTING THEM KNOW, THIS IS WHAT THE PROGRAM LOOKS LIKE. THIS IS WHAT WE'VE DECIDED. SO OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER, JUST TO GET SOME THOUGHT GOING BEHIND THE QUESTION ON NUMBER TWO IS FEES. WHAT ABOUT THE FEES? DO CAN THE FEES MAKE SENSE? WE TALKED ABOUT SANTA ROSA CHARGING A $1,040 FEE TO COVER THE PROGRAM INSPECTIONS, MAINTENANCE THEREOF, THEN WE TALKED ABOUT CLEARLAKE. DO THOSE FEES MAKE SENSE FOR US? DO WE WANT A LOWER FEE? DO WE WANT A HIGHER FEE? WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PROPERTY OWNERS THAT ARE PERHAPS NON COMPLIANT, DOES THE PROPERTY FEE NEED TO BE LOWER? DOES IT NEED TO BE HIGHER? THOSE ARE THINGS TO PUT THOUGHT INTO AS WELL, SO WE ARE PROVIDING A CARROT FOR THOSE THAT ARE COMPLIANT, BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING THAT WE NEED TO ESCALATE COMPLIANCE THOSE THO ARE NOT COMPLYING WITH THE PROGRAM. DO WE AUTOMATICALLY REGISTER? DO WE ALLOW A TIME PERIOD BY WHICH WE NOTIFY PROPERTY OWNERS HEY, WE HAVE THIS PROGRAM THAT'S GOING TO ROLL OUT. YOU HAVE 100 DAYS, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE, TO BRING YOUR PROPERTY INTO COMPLIANCE PRIOR TO REGISTRY. OR IF YOU DO REGISTER, THESE ARE THE STANDARDS YOU NEED TO ADHERE BY TO EITHER STAY ON THE LIST, OR BE OFF OF THAT REGISTRY LIST. THAT'S ALSO ANOTHER COMPONENT. NOBODY LIKES TO BE ON A LIST THAT SAYS HEY, YOU HAVEN'T MAINTAINED YOUR PROPERTY, RIGHT? SO THE INCENTIVE IS LET US HELP YOU GET OFF THAT LIST BY PERHAPS WE STREAMLINE BY EXPEDITING, LOOKING AT THE FEES THAT ARE CHARGED THROUGH THAT PROCESS. LOOKING AT THE FEES THAT ARE CHARGED THROUGH THE PROGRAM ITSELF. NOTIFICATION. HOW THAT WORKS, AND ROUTINE INSPECTIONS FOR COMPLIANCE. GOING BACK TO YOUR COMMENT HERE, SIR. >> YES, JUST VERY BRIEFLY, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR MAKING SO MANY COMMENTS. I WANT TO COMPLIMENT SANTINDER AND THE OTHER SPEAKERS, AS WELL AS THIS GENTLEMEN. I HAVE NO EMPATHY FOR RECALCITRANT OUTRIGHT DEFIANT PROPERTY OWNERS. IF THE CITY IS SENDING THEM A NOTICE THAT OUGHT TO BE INCLUDED IN THAT NOTICE, YOU'VE GOT 60 DAYS TO GET BACK TO US, TALK TO US, AND HAVE A DISCUSSION. IF YOU --IF THEY FAIL TO DO THAT, THEN LET'S STOP TALKING AND LET'S HAVE SOME CONSEQUENCES. SO I DON'T WANT ANY OF MY COMMENTS TO BE MISUNDERSTOOD. I HAVE NO EMPATHY. THESE PE