(a) Code Violation Correction & Response Unit. The City Department of Community & Economic Development and/or the Department of Codes & Permits, with the addition of this section shall institute and enforce all provisions as follows:
(1) "A Codes Violation Correction & Response Unit" is created and authorized.
(2) The "Unit" and employees assigned to said unit shall work under the direction of the City Manager through the Director of Codes & Permits and/or Director of Community & Economic Development.
(3) Unit shall be dispatched to properties which have failed to correct and/or abate code violations as per local property maintenance or any other adopted ordinances.
(4) A minimum/mandatory charge shall be issued against the registered property owners. The fee shall be established by ordinance of City Council and amended from time to time. These fees, along with the applicable code violations, would be filed with the District Courts, if not paid within ten days of the "Code Violation Correction & Response Unit" taking corrective actions.
(5) Code violations would be required to be filed with the District Court as continuing violations not abated, every twenty days until full abatement and compliance has been met.
(6) Additional charges for materials, supplies and equipment required in situation requiring enclosing, securing units with open access and determine to be unsafe and hazardous conditions present.
(7) All monies collected for work performed by the City's "Code Violation Correction & Response Unit" shall be deposited and credited to established CDBG revenue line items such as: Reimbursement-"Code Violation Correction & Response Unit". Fines assessed by the district courts and collected, would be credited in the same manner to be determined by the City Manager.
(8) And all such violations "shall" result in charges being filed, and with no discretion permitted.
(9) Provision as contained in this section shall be given prior to the "Codes Violation Correction & Response Unit" being dispatched to said properties:
A. Given a written notice citing violations, and be given a period of fifteen days to correct or abate said violations.
B. The Code Enforcement Department may grant one fifteen day extension of time to permit compliance with Building and Housing Standards after an onsite inspection to determine if violations are being corrected.
(b) Penalty. All violations as listed under Part 14 titled: Building and Housing Code shall be:
(1) Given a written notice citing violations, and be given a period of fifteen days to correct or abate said violations.
(2) The Code Enforcement Department may grant one fifteen day extension of time to permit compliance with Building and Housing Standards after an onsite inspection to determine if violations are being corrected.
(3) All violation of Part 14 of the Building and Housing Code not corrected in the time stipulated, shall result in charges filed with the district courts, and upon conviction shall be fined not less the five hundred dollars ($500.00).
(4) Any such non-compliance is a continuing violation for each day the violation remains, and the same charges shall be filed with the district courts by the tenth day after the previous filing.
(5) Other than the granting of one fifteen day extension, City Codes and other City personnel with authority under this section, shall have no discretion in the filing of charges under this section, and failure to subject such personnel to provisions under Section 202.99, General Code Penalty; Complicity; Equitable Remedies, and possible discharge from employment with the City of Johnstown.
(Ord. 4975. Passed 10-12-05; Ord. 5054. Passed 2-24-10; Ord. 5353. Passed 5-31-23.)