Home Antioch Antioch Code Enforcement Sees 54% Increase in Calls for Service

Antioch Code Enforcement Sees 54% Increase in Calls for Service

by ECT

A city’s Code Enforcement Division represents a vital and important role in day to day operations and functionality. Responsible for investigating violation complaints on residential and commercial property pertaining to zoning, use of land, safety, housing, building, electrical, and plumbing, the Code Enforcement Division seeks to provide a reasonable time for those to voluntarily comply, and determines the steps necessary to bring properties to up to the standards to be legally compliant.

In 2017-18, Antioch Code Enforcement saw an increase in Calls For Service by 54% with a total of 8,819 calls while new cases increased by 22% (4,518 cases). Antioch also saw citations issued increased by 25% with a total of 4,011.

Antioch has also increased its blight/rubbish abatement by 86% with 8,060 cubic yards along with 1,026 graffiti abatement incidents which was an 81% increase. There was also a 6% increase in shopping carts abated with a total of 1,094.

“Code Enforcement is the prevention, detection, investigation and enforcement of violations of statutes or ordinances regulating public health, safety, and welfare, public works, business activities and consumer protection, building standards, land-use, or municipal affairs,” said Antioch Code Enforcement Manager Curt Michael. “Code Enforcement increases the quality of life for residents and buisinesses, improves the health, welfare and safety of the public, and improves the overall general appearance of a City.”

Data provided in Antioch City Manager Report

According to Michael, the Code Enforcement Division averages 375 new cases each month in the City of Antioch. Common code violations on residential and commercial properties include blighted, unmaintained, unsecured or unsafe properties, an accumulation of junk or garbage, overgrown or dead vegetation, inoperable or junk vehicles, graffiti, and zoning violations. Any property that does not meet the requirements of the Antioch Municipal Code (AMC) is considered in violation.

“Enforcement action includes the issuance of citations and/or abatement by the City, and may include legal action to compel compliance,” said Michael. “If a property remains in violation after a notice of a violation has been issued, enforcement action continues until the property is in compliance.”

When code violations occur, residents and business owners are encouraged to contact the City and submit a complaint or otherwise ask for service. Once the complaint is received, each complaint is subject to review in an effort to determine the severity of the complaint and to see if it is actually a violation, or to see if there is already an active code enforcement case for that situation. If the complaint is new, code enforcement staff will then create a new case with the use of an electronic case management system where all reported information is logged. From there, the case is then assigned to a Code Enforcement Officer based on the location and type of violation.

“A Code Enforcement officer will then conduct an inspection and issue a Notice of Violation to the owner and occupant for any violations found,” said Michael. “This notice describes the violation and provides a reasonable time limit for correction based on the violation’s type and effect on the health, safety, and welfare of the public.”

Typically, in the event of a complaint, a Code Enforcement officer will respond to a complaint within 72 hours of receiving the complaint. The response however, will vary depending on current priorities and the effect the violation has on public health, safety and welfare. Anonymous complaints are also accepted.

“Property owners will typically be required to correct the violation(s) within 10 days,” said Michael. “Although some violations, such as building code violations, must be corrected within 30 days.”

Those who fail to comply with the City’s code standards are subject to penalties, which could include fines of up to $1,000 for each day the violation remains after the date noted on the notice.

In fact, at least one property owner has been fined at least $30,000 in 2019 due to blight and code violations on their property.

Antioch’s Code Enforcement Division can be  reached in person from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM Monday through Friday, by calling (925) 779-7042, or via email at [email protected].

Additional information can also be found at the following link: Code Enforcement – City of Antioch, California


Sean Tongson, writer, is a resident of East Contra Costa County, a proud husband and father, and enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, road tripping, and traveling.

An avid bay area sports fan, Sean’s favorite teams include the 49ers, Giants, Sharks, and Warriors.


 

You may also like

14 comments

Rob Mar 18, 2019 - 9:46 am

86% increase in blight/rubbish abatement?? Does Antioch have a free Neighborhood Cleanup Program? If not, the city leaders should seriously consider it. Brentwood does it 2x/year and a LOT of people utilize it.

Dawn Mar 18, 2019 - 3:48 pm

For starters, the CODE ENFORCEMENT people should enforce keeping those gorgeous TRASH CANS out of sight! They should be behind fences or in the back of a house and NOT in full view from the street! This is the beginning of BLIGHT!

Simonpure Mar 19, 2019 - 7:05 am

With you 100% on that one…we have one lazy dirty neighbor on the entire street that would leave their cans out 24/7. Their kids would even carry out the trash to the street. I have reported them so many times as parking is poor at best. I think they finally received a citation because for the last 2 weeks they have been bringing them in.
#nomoreblight

Mike G Mar 18, 2019 - 4:25 pm

Calls would be a lot higher and maybe more money allocated if code enforcement would respond in a timely manner. Proper code enforcement would improve quality of life for residents dramatically. Please write your favorite council member and demand proper enforcement.

Tony Online Mar 20, 2019 - 12:16 am

I’ve reported many violations to the city’ code enforcement and it takes them FOREVER to take care of the problem. A few times, someone parked their car in front of my house and then was picked up by someone else and NEVER returned for the car. One day, something made it burst into blames, the fire department was called and put out the fire and there was foam all over our street. The burned wreck sat there and after I called the code enforcement people to check into this problem, they told me that was NOT a high priority for them. Christmas was coming and we were expecting relatives ….. and that wreck just said there like it was some wretched sculpture. I was incensed!

Gary Schoo Mar 18, 2019 - 7:06 pm

This is a good thing the city does. You need to clean up San Jose Dr. here in Antioch. I can’t believe that we have become so trashy on this end of town. I see shopping carts full of junk all around town. If it were me I would stop them load the junk in a trailer take the cart back to the store. You need to look at this stealing property from a business a depriving there customer of the cart. These companies pay for those carts. Homeless sleeping in front of stores always asking for money.

MEV Mar 18, 2019 - 11:24 pm

You need to clean up Buchanan behind CVS all the way down to meadows. Volunteers do more than Antioch lack luster Code Enforcement does. 99 cent store area too. Entire town is a dump.

Vito Mar 19, 2019 - 1:04 am

Ever since FoodMaxx left, that entire area has gone to seed! Most of the stores in that strip mall have pulled up stakes. All we see there are winos and druggies. I don’t know why FoodMaxx left when they were always full of customers from what I saw.

MsKris Mar 19, 2019 - 2:19 pm

I noticed this morning that all those beat up/broke down vehicles n trailers that are usually parked on Fairview we’re gone this morning. Good stuff!!

Christy T Mar 19, 2019 - 3:24 pm

The blight is becoming worse and worse through the WHOLE city. They want to hire a new Economic Development director. Why? They already have 2. Use that money elsewhere such as more code enforcement officers and crews to pick up the trash. Start fining the property owners for not doing something about the homeless outside of stores and them camping out in their parking lots.

I believe the stores need to contribute to making Antioch shine again. More stores should buy the locking shopping carts that if they go past a certain distance from the store the wheels lock and you can no longer push them anywhere. Also the stores can hire someone to go around town and pick up their carts. The stores should be more proactive. Pittsburg has a shopping cart program and dedicated phone line to report a cart.

Give programs to the homeless. Give them resources to get off the streets. Teach them skills to land a job.

Something needs to happen to draw in new business. As it stands if I had a business I would NOT move to Antioch.

Come on city leaders, we want our city back.

Ipa Mar 21, 2019 - 8:03 pm

Food Max and others stores close because they can’t make any money with all the rampant theft and other $$$$ losing problems that come with operating in those kinds of areas.

Nina Mar 22, 2019 - 2:28 pm

I agree trash is an eye sore if and when piled up as it can from time to time..but to complain about your eyesore is petty n cause more problems for some without knowing reason is ignorant n unneighborly of u thankfully we have a twice a year garbage pick up as it helps many at times when trash gets excessive due to individual reasons (no assumptions here) n I guess it would be better to have excessive trash at rougher times in front of one’s house creating invitation for bugs for another drama… just to cure ur eyesore ?maybe u r one of those whiny judgemental closed n dark minded ..drama starters or window peeper waiting for something or someone to get out of your order …yes I had a neighbor who was so negative n militant he never saw the good n always trying to cause more problems ..one time the police told him he was ridiculous n he had better things to do than to be stopped for trash that was bagged anyway n luckily no body or animals rippin through it …practice being a better neighbor and person as positivity spreads …just some advice …(I’m not religious but the bible gives the best advice on anything about love n compassion n understanding n opinionated people n effects of them)…common sense stuff ..have a nice day (yeah I said a lot but sometimes u just have to )

Wanda West Mar 24, 2019 - 4:24 pm

In 2014, and 2015 new owners of my apt. Complex, allowed 4 people to a 1 bd apt. The more people living in this 32 apt. Complex made the garbage increase dramatically! The new owners did not get us a larger trash bin, and we had the smallest one already! If that wasn’t enough their gardeners that came once a week used our trash bin for all their clippings! On top of that when ever an apt. Became vacant they renovated it! Filling the bin with faucets, sheet rock, closet doors, carpet, and wood trimings, etc. It got so full and all around the bin the garbage man that came only once a week wouldn’t pick it up. 2 weeks later the maintance guy is there with some guys cleaning up the mess up. When he came back he was aggrivated they left a carpet “big” rollef up in front of the bin. He took that carpet and drug it ouy to the street and left it there. I had to dribe around it every time going in and out of the driveway.for several months!! The apts. Were right behind a resteraunt, auto parts store, discount cigeretts, wells fargo bank, a beauty saloon, another resteraunt…….it didn’t ever stop every week 2 days after garbage was picked up it took 2 days for it to be mound high and bags all around the outside. We would get nasty letter from new owners to stop putting our garbage outside the cantainer. I left voice mail to public works, and I sent e-mail to code enforcement dept. Nothing was ever done about it for the remainder that I lived there! The apts where i live now the trash bins dont ever get a chance to get full! Those trucks come every other day! Antioch is what you see it is! The city has poor management and does not care about the residentents. Now everything is snow balling on them for not doing their job in the 1st place. They rely on us to tell them a street light is out and if it doesnt get reported by a resident they can slide by not having to do their job!!! Enough is enough! Courtsey clerks at safeway sweep the floors of every isle every 1/2 hour to make sure the stores isles are safe and clear of any items that could cause be hazardous to customers or employees. I suggest all city employees can learn a lesson, and do the same! They clean out the drain basins before rainy season they can report potholes along there route! If they are doing their job then they are out and about they city and can notice a street light out during day light saveings. In their mind it is ok to only check streets once a year! Yeah thats really keeping the neighborhood safe!!!! I am sorry but what are you guys doing with all the money the city is allocated for makeing these repairs? You have been getting calls and complaints all long, what is a priority in your book? The easiest job that you dont have to spend alot of time doing? Or waiting for a complaint that you want to make record of? Who ended up picking that carpet up on 16th and A street? Yeah it was there long enough for anyone to notice. You know my words aren’t bullshit! Residentents are not blind what you have not been doing has accuminlated and people are finally tired of it. 32 apt complex should have a manager there living there, not work the same system you all are working. Laundry busts a pipe during a sever daurght in the middle of the night and it was up to the tenants to find the # number to call. 5 drowned possimum in laundry room sink had to take time out of my schedule to do the job of absent manager. Constantly glad I dont live there slumlords of the city as well as the over charged apts.
NINA YOU COULDN’T BE MORE WRONG!

Simonpure Mar 27, 2019 - 7:00 am

Spell check Wanda Spell check girl.

Comments are closed.