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<br />• <br />Code Enforcement Overview <br />I. Introduction <br />As a division of the Planning Department, Inspection Services is charged with the <br />enforcement of a variety of City ordinances. The specific ordinances enforced by the division can be <br />broken into three categories: Building and construction codes; Zoning and Development ordinances; <br />Code Enforcement ordinances. This summary will primarily deal with Code Enforcement. <br />In broad terms, code enforcement deals with issues of public nuisance. Specific examples of <br />code enforcement related activities are: <br />• Dangerous Building abatement <br />• Junk vehicle removal <br />• Weed mowing program <br />• Private property cleanup <br />• Correction of unsanitary conditions <br />The reasons code enforcement is important to the City of La Porte are: <br />• The blighting influence of public nuisances such as weeds, junk vehicles, and <br />abandoned buildings can depress property values and discourage economic <br />development. <br />• Public nuisances harbor and provide breeding grounds for rodents, insects, <br />and other vermin that spread disease. Continuation of public nuisances can <br />result in real and serious health hazards. <br />• Blight undermines and depresses civic pride. <br />Council recognizing the need for an increased level of nuisance abatement within the City, <br />authorized an additional Inspection Services position in the fiscal year 1995 budget. It has been filled <br />as a secretarial position. The additional secretary has significantly reduced the time inspectors have <br />spent providing their own clerical support. It has increased the time inspectors are able to spend in <br />the field and in conjunction with an organized approach to nuisance abatement, has increased overall <br />divisional efficiency. It is also furthering the Division's goal of reducing the time necessary to resolve <br />public nuisance violations. <br />1 <br />