Cactus Village Community

Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance Modified

Jul 21, 2003

The Phoenix City Council has approved some modifications to the Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance and Code Enforcement Policy.

Changes to the Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance include:

?• Reducing the maximum height of weeds from 12 to six inches

?• Specifying that dried palm fronds on trees are a violation when closer than 10 feet from the ground, a roof, a wall or a fence

?• Adding a definition of the word ?“stagnant?” as it relates to a stagnant pool violation, and

?• Specifying that essential, major appliances must be maintained in a safe, working condition.

The Code Enforcement Policy has been modified to distinguish between two types of recidivist categories:

?• A recidivist case is a newly opened case on a property involving the same responsible party for the same violatiofl or any of the common blight violations where, within the last 24 months, the responsible party has been issued a Notice of Ordinance Violation and/or civil citation, and/or had criminal charges filed for, and/or contractual abatement initiated.

?• A chronic recidivist case occurs on a property where,?’within the last 24 months, the property has had unresolved notice(s) of violation of city codes for six months or more, excluding time for administrative appeals or hardship assistance. The chronic recidivist designation remains with the property until the property has remained in compliance for past violations and common blight violations for 90 days following the close of the case.

The modifications follow an annual review of the code and policy conducted by the Neighborhood Services Department. The review process included an assessment of performance indicators and results of a customer satisfaction survey, and comments from resident focus groups and a community workshop hosted by the group Neighborhood Activist Inter-Linked Empowerment Movement and the department.

The modifications took effect July 26, 2002. Copies of the ordinance and policy are available by calling (602) 262-7844 or can be downloaded by visiting phoenix.gov/NBHDPGMS/nghordin.html on the Internet. . . ☻