Members of a city advisory board have asked officials to consider greater enforcement of an ordinance they believe would allow the city to remove derelict vehicles from property without a lengthy court process.
The matter was discussed Thursday by the residential housing advisory board. The board has asked officials to provide more information at their Nov. 8 meeting.
The regulations are contained in Chapter 385 of city code, and may be better than enacting a new law to restrict off-street parking, said board member Greg West.
A portion of the ordinance allows the police chief or a designee to take possession of the vehicle, if it is not removed within a time frame given under a notice of violation, West said.
"In my opinion, we don't need more laws, we just need to enact the ones we have and this one looks like a really good one," he said. "It takes it out of the city judge's problem and puts it with another department. The way I see it, it gives the police department the authority to take care of this problem."
Section 385.110 of the code states the vehicle would be stored by the city for a period of 30 days, allowing the owner to reclaim it for the cost of its removal and storage. Vehicles that were not redeemed after 30 days could be sold to the highest bidder, or disposed of.
"If it doesn't (take care of it), I would like someone in authority to explain to me where I'm misreading it," West said.
The matter was raised during discussion of a proposal to limit off-street parking.
City planner Matt Winters said he has worked on a draft of the proposal, but has concerns.
"I don't want to present something to the city council that isn't enforceable or that is going to be difficult to enforce or that is an undue burden on code enforcement," Winters said.
It would be difficult to limit parking in yards in some areas of the city where there are few other parking options, according to the discussion.
The board has also asked for more information at the next meeting concerning the city's liability insurance.
West has proposed using volunteers to demolish derelict houses.
An initial response from the city's insurance company was not supportive, according to Winters, who estimates there are as many as 200 properties that would meet the city's definition of derelict.
"I just think there are so many issues it could open up, workmen's comp for example. We don't have workmen's comp on these people like we do our employees," he said.
West argued the work would be done by volunteers and they could be asked to sign liability waivers.
The greatest expense for removal of derelict properties is the disposal fee, Winters said.
"We've got two houses out for bid right now and hopefully we can keep it under $20,000, just with two houses," he said.
It has also been proposed that the city demolish homes and store the debris at the east side landfill until it can afford to pay for disposal.
Winters said he has contacted the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to discuss regulations regarding this.
Houses are ordered to demolition by the Building Standards Board, which must follow laws regarding the time owners have to appeal or give notice of an interest in the property.
The city has approximately eight homes which have completed the process and could be demolished, Winters said.
A bulk trash service initiated following a board proposal also made its first pick ups this week.
Five tags were sold for pick ups, Winters said.
Tags are sold in the first week of the month, with pick up on the second Tuesday each month. For a $20 fee, residents can have up to four large items picked up from their curb, including appliances and furniture.