Agenda 05/26/2009 Item #10E
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Agenda Item No. 10E
May 26, 2009
Page 1 of 3
For the Board of County Commissioners to consider revising the name of the Code
Enforcement Department to Code Compliance Department
OBJECTIVE: To review the ramifications of a name change for the Code Enforcement
Department to Code Compliance Department.
CONSIDERA TIONS: At the April 28, 2009 Board of County Commissioners ("BCC")
meeting, under Agenda Item 15, "Staff and Commission General Communications,"
Commissioner Coletta presented the idea of changing the name of the Code Enforcement
Department to Code Compliance Department. After a brief discussion, the Board
directed staff to evaluate the feasibility of such a proposal and bring the matter back for
discussion on a future BCC agenda.
Most of the agencies and organizations in the Code Enforcement profession utilize the
term Code "Enforcement" rather than Code "Compliance". The professional
certifications required of Investigators utilize the term Code Enforcement. In addition,
State organizations and National organizations also utilize the name Code Enforcement.
Florida Statutes, as well as County Ordinances, utilized the term Code "Enforcement" to
define the responsibilities and procedures of Department employees, Code Enforcement
Board members, and the Special Magistrate.
The Department's Mission statement, utilized to guide the actions of Department
employees and identitY the Department's overall goal, direction, and guide to decision
making at all levels of management, was revised several months ago to emphasize code
compliance. The Mission Statement was revised to read: "To protect the health, safety,
and welfare of Collier County residents and visitors through education, cooperation, and
compliance ".
The mission of the Code Enforcement Department has focused on compliance and
abatement, however, over the past year given the impact of the foreclosure and economic
crisis the staff has also focused most of its efforts on voluntary compliance through active
involvement in the community task force concept. The Department's actions have
resulted in a significant increase in voluntary compliance by community members; wide
participation by agencies and community members in the Community Task Force teams;
numerous meet and greet opportunities with successful outcomes in the neighborhoods of
unincorporated Collier County; and a significant reduction of punitive "enforcement"
actions. Additionally, the Code Enforcement Board and the Special Magistrate also issue
Orders, for Code cases brought before them that focus on compliance and often waive
fines, once the property is brought into compliance. The revisions have resulted in a
Department focused on assisting community members to achieve compliance, rather than
on enforcement and collection of fines.
_.
Although many communities use the term "code compliance" to identitY the code
enforcement function, the term "code compliance department" is used to describe the
functions and responsibilities of the building department construction inspection and
building code compliance process. Based on the aforementioned considerations and
considering the financial impact, staff believes it is best to retain the name "Code
Enforcement" to identitY the Department.
Agenda Item NO.1 OE
May 26,2009
Page 2 of 3
FISCAL IMP ACT: The cost to change the name of the Department from Code
"Enforcement" to Code "Compliance" is estimated to be $9,600. This would include
costs for uniform replacements, badges, etc., lel1ering of equipment and vehicles,
business cards and documents and staff time (and advertising costs) for revisions of
Ordinances, citation, and other documents.
LEGAL CONSIDERATION: None. This item is legally sufficient for Board Action.
-JW
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMP ACT: There IS no growth management impact
associated with this Executive Summary.
RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of County Commissioners direct the County
Manager or his designee to continue their focus to assist community members in
achieving compliance rather than pursuing punitive enforcement and collection of fines
and to leave the name of the Department unchanged.
PREPARED BY:
Diane Flagg, Code Enforcement Director
Item Number:
Item Summary:
Meeting Date:
Page I of I
Agenda Item NO.1 OE
May 26, 2009
Page 3 of 3
COLLIER COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
iDE
For the Board of County Commissioners to consider revising the name of the Code
Enforcement Department to Code Compliance Department. (Diane Flagg, Director, Code
Enforcement. CDES)
5/26/200990000 AM
Prepared By
Marlene Serrano
CDES
Investigative Supervisor
Code Enforcement
Date
5/14/20098:37:15 AM
Approved By
Joseph K. Schmitt
Community Development &
Environmental Services
Community Development &
Environmental Services Adminstrator
Date
Community Development &
Environmental Services Admin.
5/14/2009 8:50 AM
Approved By
Jeff Wright
County Attorney
Assistant County Attorney
County Attorney Office
Date
5114/200911 :52 AM
Approved By
Diane B. Flagg
Community Development &
Environmental Services
Code Enforcement Director
Date
Code Enforcement
5114/2009 1 :52 PM
Approved By
Jeff Klatzkow
County Attorney
County Attorney
County Attorney Office
Date
5114/2009 2:56 PM
Approved By
OMB Coordinator
County Manager's Office
OMB Coordinator
Date
Office of Management & Budget
5115120099:11 AM
Approved By
Mark Isackson
County Manager's Office
Budget Analyst
Office of Management & Budget
Date
5118120099:15 AM
Approved By
Leo E. Ochs, Jr.
Board of County
Commissioners
Deputy County Manager
Date
County Manager's Office
51181200910:39 AM
file://C:\AgendaTest\Export\ 130-May%2026,%202009\ 1 0.%20COUNTY%20MANAGER...
5/20/2009