Item3c_WinterStormUriResponse-PPT_dw edits_slides — original pdf

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AUSTIN CODE DEPARTMENT Community Development Commission Presentation July 13, 2021 Impact of Winter Storm Uri On February 15, 2021, the City Manager announced that the City of Austin would suspend normal operations due to the hazardous weather conditions. The Austin Code Department (ACD) temporarily halted its business operations, including routine code inspections, from February 16 through February 19, 2021. ACD mobilized an initial emergency response team of field personnel to remain on standby, ready to address any urgent complaints reported to Austin 3-1-1 during this timeframe that would require immediate attention. Procedural Outlines • • • • Responded to Priority 2 (non-imminent/dangerous conditions) and COVID-19 cases as the top priorities. Responded and inspected properties in accordance with the department’s ACD-103 Case Management Standards policy. For tenant-occupied properties, tenants were advised to reach out to their landlord to request a service repair order. Inspections were prioritized for properties in the City’s Repeat Offender Program (ROP) to quickly assess living conditions and protect Austin’s vulnerable tenant populations. Data Data Maps Council Districts Response to Unsafe Housing Complaints • Resumed inspections on a priority basis to maintain a consistent response and in consideration of the challenges faced by homeowners and property managers in correcting the problems. Increased request of response from the affected property owners and landlords to include: • • An Action Plan for repairs within 48 hours. • Action Plans were to include repair plans, alternative accommodations for the tenants, and any resources that would be provided to tenants such as food, vouchers, or water. • Non cooperative Managers/property owners will receive a notice of Violation upon confirmation of the violations • All cases will be expedited through the legal process if no actions are taken Initiated Virtual Inspections as part of the policy and procedures as an • option for tenants IT working on a public dashboard to include status updates • Response to ROP Unsafe Housing Complaints • • Repeat Offender Properties are reviewed for Eligibility of the suspension every 30 days this review consists of the deficiency status and compliance timeline Improvements to the 2 5 2 query criteria to improve the criteria of property qualification for the program • Included a formal review of those properties on a quarterly basis. • Notification of periodic inspections on ROP is communicated to the • occupants of the properties through the ACD website. Increased request of response from the affected property owners and landlords to include: • An Action Plan for repairs within 48 hours. • Non cooperative Managers/property owners receive a notice of Violation upon confirmation of the violations • Stakeholder input and assistance with communication when conducting follow up inspections Legal Escalation ACD Emergency Response Phase 3: Legal Escalation- Once an NOV compliance timeframe has expired and a property owner has failed to make progress toward compliance, ACD may escalate non-compliant cases through the following avenues of legal enforcement: 1. Administrative hearing process under City Code Chapter 2-13 (Administrative Adjudication of Violations) 2. Building and Standards Commission (BSC) 3. Municipal Court May 13th, 2021 Special Called Building and Standards Commission – Next Steps in Response to Unsafe Housing Complaints • Working with APH to discuss next steps related to the public heath of tenants while corrections and repairs are being completed • City legal meeting for consultation • Continue responding, monitoring and escalating cases as needed to encourage compliance Any Questions?