TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Justin Clifton, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Kristen Crane, Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT:
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Recommendations from the City Council Code Enforcement Policy Ad-Hoc Subcommittee
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ABSTRACT
This report and recommendations are submitted on behalf of the City Council Code Enforcement Policy Ad-Hoc Subcommittee, which was established April 2, 2024.
RECOMMENDATION
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Review and discuss the recommendations of the City Council Code Enforcement Policy Ad-Hoc Subcommittee and provide direction to staff on next steps.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
At the City Council meeting on April 2, 2024, the City Council established a Code Enforcement Policy Ad-Hoc Subcommittee and appointed Council Members Holliday and Stone to serve on the subcommittee (Vote: 5-0).
STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT
The City Council’s goal of coordinatingand delivering responsive, effective community services is associated with this Tier 1 project.
DISCUSSION
At the City Council meeting on April 2, 2024, the City Council established an ad-hoc Subcommittee regarding the topic of Code Enforcement. Council Members Holliday and Stone were appointed to the Subcommittee.
Since then, the Subcommittee has met multiple times, along with staff from the City Manager’s Office, Code Enforcement, Planning, and occasionally the City Attorney’s Office and Public Works.
The Committee has conducted a deep review of the Code Enforcement-related sections of the Murrieta Municipal Code, detailed discussions of specific issues frequently raised related to Code Enforcement, and field observation activities.
The Code Enforcement team has nine (9) employees, including six (6) Code Enforcement Officers, two (2) Office Assistants, and a manager. For context, in 2025, 1,877 Code Enforcement cases were opened, and 1,699 cases were closed.
Based on the research and efforts of the subcommittee, the following are their recommendations for the full City Council:
• Recommendation #1: Expand Public Education regarding Code Enforcement
Based on their thorough review, the Subcommittee recommends that the City work to raise public awareness about code requirements and common challenge areas, including a “check before you build” campaign and providing clarity around the requirements for storage of recreational vehicles. This could also include preparing a flier for local realtors and new residents, a quick reference sheet to be available at the public counter, and periodic articles in the City’s magazine or monthly e-newsletter.
Staff seeks City Council feedback on this recommendation and whether to incorporate greater attention to this topic into the City’s public education efforts.
• Recommendation #2: Murrieta Municipal Code (MMC) Language Clean-Up
Based on a thorough review of the Code, several clean-up items were identified to clarify inconsistencies and correct typographical errors. These include:
o MMC Section 8.20 - Add definition of “City;”
o MMC Section 8.20.03.E1 - Need to fix references to the RA and AI zones, which no longer exist;
o MMC Section 8.20.03.F - Correct typo - “Blow” should be “blown;” and
o MMC Section 10.44.020 - Sections B and C can be consolidated into one section because they are almost verbatim to one another.
If the consensus of the City Council supports this recommendation, staff will return with a future agenda report to address this topic.
• Recommendation #3: Storage in the Downtown Specific Plan
The Subcommittee has identified an area of the MMC recommended for clarification and elaboration pertaining to storage containers (e.g. seatainers or conex boxes) in the Downtown Specific Plan area. The Subcommittee and staff’s understanding is that this type of use was not envisioned within the Downtown Specific Plan area, since the vision for this area is to promote a high-quality aesthetic and design standards, and a pedestrian-friendly environment, for which non-permanent, industrial, visually-unappealing structures would not be considered compatible, even with screening.
If the consensus of the City Council supports this recommendation, staff will return with a future agenda report to address this topic.
• Recommendation #4: Staff Education regarding Sidewalk Vending Requirements and Process
The subcommittee spent extensive time learning about the requirements for sidewalk vending. Relatively recent changes in California law prohibit a City from completely disallowing sidewalk vending; however, there are requirements for sidewalk vendors in place.
The Murrieta Municipal Code (MMC) regulates mobile/roaming and stationary sidewalk vendors as “solicitors” under MMC Chapter 5.20. They are not allowed to obstruct traffic, and if in the public right-of-way, they must leave a clear ADA path of travel. They may also not pass anything from a pedestrian to a vehicle or from a vehicle to a pedestrian. Lastly, they are not allowed on private property unless the property owner has given permission.
Although the City has provisions in place to address the topic of sidewalk vending, an area for improvement is increased staff training and coordination among the various departments that encounter sidewalk vendors (e.g., Code Enforcement, Police Department, Business Licenses). Staff will address this as an operational item.
• Recommendation #5: Establish Minimum Design Standards for Recreational Vehicle Screening
The Code is silent on the materials that can be used for screening recreational vehicles stored in front yards or visible side yards. The Subcommittee recommends that the City establish minimal design standards, such as using materials for screening to match neighborhood aesthetics, and to preclude the use of very low-quality materials, such as astroturf and tarps. Even shower curtains could be considered as a screening material without suitable standards.
If the consensus of the City Council supports this recommendation, staff will return with a future agenda report to address this Code change.
In addition to these topics, the Subcommittee considered the pros and cons of a proactive versus reactive approach to Code Enforcement. Historically and currently, the City’s approach to Code Enforcement has been reactive, which means it is generally complaint-based. The exception to this, is a narrow set of topics related to public health and safety and/or enforcement of the same issue within the near geographic vicinity of a complaint-generated issue/observed similar case. Therefore, to process matters in a timely and thorough manner, implementing a proactive approach would necessitate hiring several additional staff members, which would cost approximately $400,000. Considering other City priorities that require funding, the Subcommittee recommends continuing with the current reactive/complaint-based approach.
PUBLIC NOTICING
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of
the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
CEQA AND REGULATORY OVERVIEW
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because this action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with these recommendations. However, the recommendations identified can be incorporated into the City’s operations.
ATTACHMENTS
None.