Request for Nuisance Specialist Position Copyrighted
January 21, 2020
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 5.
ITEM TITLE: Requestfor Nuisance Specialist Position
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending approval to add a Nuisance
Specialist position in the Housing I nspection Division to
start as soon as February 1, 2020.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receiveand File;Approve
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Nuisance Specialist Position Request-MVM Memo City Manager Memo
Staff Memo Staff Memo
Dubuque
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Nuisance Specialist Position Request
DATE: January 15, 2020
Housing and Community Development Director Alexis Steger recommends City Council
approval to add a Nuisance Specialist position in the Housing Inspection Division, to
start as soon as February 1, 2020.
As of January 1, 2020, the Housing & Community Development Department is
responsible for the licensing, monitoring, inspection and enforcement of
Vacant/Abandoned Buildings (VABs).
The Nuisance Specialist will be responsible for licensing, monitoring and inspection of
Vacant/Abandoned Buildings, including any necessary enforcement through court
proceedings. The position will also respond to routine nuisance complaints including
grass, weeds, and rubbish complaints. Previously nuisance complaints were assigned
to a Seasonal Code Enforcement Official, however that position would be eliminated
with the creation of the Nuisance Specialist position.
The cost of adding the Nuisance Specialist position in the current fiscal year would be
covered by the savings from vacant positions. The recurring costs of the position for
future fiscal years will be covered by revenue from Vacant Building Licensing fees and
associated court-imposed penalties. Community Development Block Grant funds will
support the position when working on eligible projects, and savings from the elimination
of the Seasonal Code Enforcement Official will be redirected to support this position.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
v
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Alexis M. Steger, Housing and Community Development Director
2
Dubuque
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TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Alexis M. Steger, Housing and Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Nuisance Specialist Position Request
DATE: January 8, 2020
INTRODUCTION
The Housing DepartmenYs fiscal year 2020 budget included an approved improvement
package to add one full time Inspector 1 position to meet the growing demands of rental
inspections and nuisance code enforcement. In June of 2019 a veteran Inspector
unexpectedly announced his resignation and in July of 2019 another veteran Inspector
retired, leaving the division with three open Inspector 1 positions. This memo will
summarize the hiring procedure for the three positions and will include a request to
approve an additional Nuisance Specialist position that is proposed in the Fiscal Year
2021 budget.
BACKGROUND
The Inspector 1 position was posted on June 4�^, 2019 and two candidates were
selected from candidate pool to fill the recently vacated positions. The additional
position created through the Fiscal Year 2020 budget process was posted on
September 26�", 2019 and 69 applications were received for the position. The candidate
pool was reviewed by a four-person interview panel, skills testing was offered for the top
ten candidates, of which six were interviewed and of those two candidates stood out as
the clear top candidates.
As of January 1, 2020, the Housing & Community Development Department is
responsible for the licensing, monitoring, inspection and enforcement of
Vacant/Abandoned Buildings (VABs).
Upon further review of the Inspector 1 candidates and the VAB enforcement needs, the
interview panel made an informal request to expedite the opportunity to hire for a
Nuisance Specialist position that was to be included in the Fiscal Year 2021 budget.
The Nuisance Specialist will be responsible for licensing, monitoring and inspection of
VABs, including any necessary enforcement through court proceedings. The position
will also respond to routine nuisance complaints including grass, weeds, and rubbish
complaints. Previously nuisance complaints were assigned to a Seasonal Code
Enforcement Official, however that position would be eliminated with the creation of the
Nuisance Specialist position.
The goal of this position is to move Vacant/Abandoned Buildings back to their intended
use. Staff is looking at the VAB Ordinance to see what changes might need to be made
to ensure buildings are not left vacant/abandoned for long periods of time. National
studies show that crime rates around vacant buildings increases and the feeling of
safety decreases. The pride of the neighborhood also decreases. The current
enforcement and ordinance do not support the outcomes the City Council has
established for having Safe, Healthy and Inclusive Neighborhoods Citywide.
Additionally, the VAB ordinance does not allow for the licensing of the
Vacant/Abandoned Buildings to cover the cost associated with the required inspections
and monitoring. In turn this puts a larger burden on the everyday tax payer, instead of
the property owner.
BUDGETIMPACT
The cost of adding the Nuisance Specialist position in the current fiscal year would be
covered by the savings of nearly $46,595 from the period where approved inspection
positions were vacant. Originally this budget was approved to be utilized for an
Assistant Housing & Community Development Director position starting February 2020;
however, the addition of a True North employee that does not require this funding has
freed up this budget for the Nuisance Specialist position.
The recurring costs of the position for future fiscal years will be covered by revenue
from Vacant Building Licensing fees and associated court-imposed penalties.
Community Development Block Grant funds will support the position when working on
eligible projects, and savings from the elimination of the Seasonal Code Enforcement
Official will be redirected to support this position.
Fiscal Year 2020 Requirements = $36,600
Fiscal Year 2021 Re uirements $72,200
Seasonal Code Enforcement Officer $11 ,100
Elimination
Licensing Fee $350 for 103 identified $36,050
structures
CDBG funds to eliminate slum/bli ht $25,050
Total Revenue for Position $72,200
RECOMMENDATION
I respectfully request that the addition of a Nuisance Specialist position in the Housing
Inspection Division to start as soon as February 1 , 2020.
Cc: Shelley Stickfort, Human Resource Director
Jenny Larson, Budget and Finance Director
Ben Pothoff, Rental License and Inspections Supervisor