GARDEN GROVE City Hall (Orange County Tribune photo).
By Jim Tortolano/Orange County Tribune
The efforts of the city’s code enforcement team were highlighted at Tuesday’s meeting of the Garden Grove City Council.
Rafael Avila, supervisor of the unit, spoke to the council about recent reorganization of the city’s efforts to bring property owners, business operators and others in compliance with municipal rules affecting public health, land use and beautification.
Among the tasks tackled by the unit are:
• a focus on vacant lots and abandoned buildings;
• enforcement of regulations on the sale of tobacco products, especially to minors;
• the three-acre vacant lot at Stanford Avenue and Flower Street;
• sidewalk vending of food, which requires a city permit and the lack of compliance possibly leading to confiscation of cooking items and perishables.
According to Avila, the city is now divided into five zones, with the nine full-and-part-time employees – along with volunteers – assigned to a specific zone to improve knowledge of an area to be served.
“Good code enforcement leads to higher property values,” said Councilman Joe DoVinh, who suggested that staffing be increased to as many as 10 or 12 persons.
