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in minutes, that is necessary for the successful performance of a typical <br /> example of that particular activity. Many of the activities listed, such as <br /> the Property Posting Process and the Processing of a Billing Invoice, are <br /> actually a combination of various minor processes. It is the total of the <br /> average performance times of these minor processes that will be used as the <br /> activity time in this matrix. (Please see Table I) <br /> It will be noted in this time matrix that the initial field investigation time <br /> for developed property complaints is 35 minutes, the time for an undeveloped <br /> property investigation is 67 minutes, and the time for a City owned property <br /> investigation is 25 minutes. These discrepancies are due to the differing <br /> nature of the investigation processes for these 3 management categories. <br /> When initially investigating City owned property, it is a fairly straight <br /> forward process to drive to the known location, inspect it, and write up a <br /> brief summary of the maintenance work necessary. On the average this takes 25 <br /> minutes of program time. However, investigations of developed property are <br /> almost always generated by a citizen complaint and on the average require and <br /> additional 10 minutes of investigation time. This time is usually spent in <br /> gaining access to the property and dealing with either the citizen registering <br /> the complaint, or the owner of the property, often both. <br /> The large discrepancy between these 2 initial investigation process times and <br /> the figure listed for undeveloped property is due to the large amount of <br /> additional investigation time spent "hunting" for any undeveloped property in <br /> violation of the City's obnoxious vegetation ordinance. Since the main intent <br /> of the City's obnoxious vegetation ordinance is the elimination of fire hazard <br /> posed by tall grass and weeds, it is imperative that all undeveloped property <br /> within the City limits be inspected for compliance during the summer growing <br /> season. The systematic "sweep" of the entire City required to accomplish this <br /> complete investigation involves much more time on a per abatement basis than <br /> what is required to drive to a specific known location. <br /> It will also be noted that the time for processing a billing invoice on either <br /> developed or undeveloped property is 22 minutes, whereas it is only 10 minutes <br /> for City agencies other than Maintenance Division and nothing at all for <br /> Maintenance Division property. This time differential is accounted for by the <br /> extra time necessary to prepare and deliver private ownership billing invoices <br /> for certified mail, as is required by code. City agencies other than Main- <br /> tenance Division simply have their billing invoices delivered to the City's <br /> finance office by internal courier. Abatements performed on property under <br /> the financial jurisdiction of the Maintenance Division do not require billing <br /> at all since the vegetation program operates within the Maintenance Planning <br /> Section of this City agency. <br /> One further note regarding Table I concerns the difference between the 3 <br /> separate operations functions listed under the undeveloped property management <br /> category. Although not required by code, the City has implemented a practice <br /> of sending supplemental "courtesy" violation notices to certain undeveloped <br /> property owners encouraging them to mow their property rather than have it <br /> abated by the City. This practice is employed only in those special cases <br /> Vegetation Program <br /> Cost Analysis 4 <br />