FORT PIERCE – The members of the Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency here voted unanimously Aug. 11 to approve an interlocal funding agreement with the city for the cost of a yearlong pilot program employing two new code-enforcement officers to work solely in the community redevelopment areas of Fort Pierce.
Community and Economic Development Director Shyanne Harnage introduced the resolution to the Board that evening, whose members are made up of city commissioners wearing different hats.
“We have outlined this pilot program to provide enhanced code-enforcement services within the Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency boundaries only,” she said. “These will go above and beyond the baseline code enforcement services that are currently offered through the City of Fort Pierce. If you read through the redevelopment plan, you’ll see multiple goals that talk about elimination of slum and blight, vehicles, litter [and] illegal dumping. We think this is a very creative way to eliminate those issues, be more proactive and have relationships with our residents that maybe our code-enforcement officers don’t have the time to do.”
Harnage then provided clarification on the pilot program oversight.
“There are quarterly reporting requirements,” she continued. “They would come to you all and discuss how it’s going [and] what’s happening. Then on an annual basis, we’ll decide if we want to renew this program. I will say that other CRAs are implementing similar programs, and they have been very successful. I don’t think this should be looked at negatively in terms of double enforcement for the residents who live in the CRA, but more so of additional beautification and how we can work together and engage.”
Community Response Director Shaun Coss also provided his input on the program, whose first year will cost up to $183,200.
“Shyanne hit the nail on the head,” he said. “We’re definitely looking at very focused, supplemental enforcement [of] non-operable vehicles, illegal dumping, the trash and litter. There will be daily sign sweeps on the main corridors within the FPRA boundaries and we’ll potentially deal with the noise complaints once we revise the noise ordinance. These are issues the typical code-enforcement officers are not going to be addressing. This is all proactive in nature and supplemental to what code enforcement typically does.”
Mayor Linda Hudson immediately expressed her satisfaction with the parameters of the new code-enforcement service.
“So, this is not necessarily complaint driven, but it is going to be aggressive and people are going to be looking out,” she said. “I think we need eyes on our streets and our properties and identifying it rather than somebody having to call it in. I am pleased about that.”
Commissioner Arnold Gaines, however, expressed concerns about potential misunderstandings by CRA residents directly impacted by the work of the two new code-enforcement officers.
“Let’s be very clear that we get the word out that certain neighborhoods are not getting picked on doubly because of this new program,” he said. “If we’re going to look for cars, you need to let people understand what they can and can’t do. If you have a car that might have a flat tire, but the car is registered, has insurance and is parked on their property, a homeowner’s saying, why are you messing with me when my car has a tag on it? Another thing is to make sure with the different cultures that we get the right information out with the language they can understand. Because what somebody things looks bad to us, their culture might think think is beautiful. It’s a disconnect. Let’s be proactive and get the word out instead of getting all these emails after you guys start.”
Commissioner Curtis Johnson Jr. agreed, hoping the new officers will solve the issue of illegal signs in the city’s rights of way.
“I think we should do a campaign to let people know who they are and what their assignments will be,” he said of the new officers. “I think it’s a really good program and I’m really interested to get the community to understand we’ve got to change the behaviors here to clean our city up. One of the things I want to talk to you about is trash cans. That’s becoming a problem because they’re in the street now, and people are hitting them causing damage not only to their cars but to the cans.”
Mayor Hudson posed a final clarification question related to the renewed enforcement of non-operable vehicle in the community redevelopment areas.
“So, you’re talking about on private property if somebody leaves a vehicle and it’s parked there forever and it doesn’t move and grass grows around it,” she asked. “Is that the kind of code enforcement you’re talking about in terms of the vehicles?”
Coss tackled that inquiry.
“Yes ma’am,” he replied. “Vehicles parked there with flat tires and clearly not operable, have expired tags or no tags on private property. The Police Department will continue to handle vehicles within the right of way or on the streets. The key component to this campaign is public education. A very big focus for these officers is going out and speaking with the residents and business owners and educating the public.”
The FPRA Board then voted unanimously for approval.