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FY09 Budget Change Proposal <br /> Title: Nuisance Vegetation Code Enforcement No: <br /> Department: Public Works Dept. Target: <br /> Service Category: 42 - Parks & Open Space Service Category Dept. Contact: Johnny Medlin <br /> FTE <br /> General Fund One -Time Ongoing Total Change <br /> Revenue Change - - <br /> Expenditure Change (40,000) (40,000) (0.50) <br /> Net Change - (40,000) (40,000) (0.50) <br /> Other Funds: <br /> Fund # Revenue Change - <br /> Expenditure Change - - - <br /> Net Change - - - 0.00 <br /> Fund # Revenue Change - <br /> Expenditure Change - - - <br /> Net Change - - - 0.00 <br /> All Funds Total Revenue Change - - - - <br /> Expenditure Change - (40,000) (40,000) (0.50) <br /> Net Change - (40,000) (40,000) (0.50) <br /> Brief Summary of the Change: <br /> Under this service reduction option, the Parks and Open Space Division would lose a half of an FTE (Technical Specialist 2) that is <br /> dedicated to enforcing the City Code provisions related to nuisance vegetation (Eugene Code 6.81 -6 6.845). Under this code, <br /> property owners are responsible for keeping grass and weeds below ten inches in height and for removing blackberry vines or other <br /> obnoxious vegetation that extends into a public right of way, impairs motorists' visibility, or crosses a property line. These provisions <br /> help ensure that overgrown grass, weeds, and other forms of obnoxious vegetation do not create fire and traffic hazards or impede <br /> pedestrian's use of sidewalks. <br /> Impact on Customers and Other City Services (include the Impact on Performance Measures): <br /> Each year, the vegetation code enforcement program receives approximately 1,000 requests for service, over 70% of which are <br /> generated by citizens, while the remaining 30% are generated by City staff. Approximately 70% of the service requests are related to <br /> cases that are in violation of code and require enforcement. If a violation is found on developed property, the owner is notified by <br /> letter and has ten days to correct the problem. If the property owner does not correct a violation, the City will hire a contractor to mow <br /> or remove the nuisance, and the costs will be billed to the property owner. Implementing this service reduction would eliminate this <br /> enforcement program on private property. This would lead to increased fire and traffic hazards on private lands, decreasing the <br /> overall safety of the community. It would also lead to cases of sidewalks that are impeded by encroaching vegetation, resulting in <br /> decreased safety for pedestrians. <br /> Impact on Council Goals & Initiatives: FT <br />