Jefferson City seeks options to better enforce code

Officials consider daily tickets and heftier fines

Jefferson City is looking at how to best enforce city code, and officials are hoping to give staff all the tools they need.

At the Public Works and Planning Committee meeting Thursday, City Attorney Drew Hilpert presented a draft resolution "setting a policy for code enforcement."

The resolution states "some within our community allow nuisances and code violations to exist upon their property and refuse to correct the same even when notified of the violation." It emphasizes that correcting code violations is a high priority of the council and empowers staff to issue tickets to those who violate city code when necessary.

Hilpert said it simply sends a signal to staff to use allowed methods that are rarely used, such as issuing tickets every day the violation exists.

Third Ward Councilman Bob Scrivner, who also acts as committee chairman, said code also allows for someone to become a "persistent offender" (city code calls it "habitual offender") after being ticketed three times within one year, which allows for larger fines and jail time. Obviously, he said, any harsher punishments would be up to the city prosecutor and municipal judge.

Scrivner sponsored an identical resolution in September 2012.

The committee unanimously approved the resolution, which will go to the full City Council for review.