Ames forms public nuisance appeals board to help enforce new property maintenance ordinance
As part of a new property maintenance law, the city of Ames has created a Public Nuisance Appeals Board with seats ready to be filled. The board will consist of seven appointed members – one individual from each of Ames’ four wards and three other at-large members.
The board was formed after the city approved its first property maintenance law for non-rentals on Sept. 12. The law − which will go into effect Jan. 1, 2024 − sets city standards for residential, industrial and commercial properties.
The new public nuisance board will help enforce the ordinance citywide.
“The board’s purpose is if a person who is cited (in violation of property maintenance code) disagrees or feels like they are not in violation, they can then file a formal appeal,” Ames Mayor John Haila said. “This board would then hear them and make a decision whether or not to pull the finding of the inspections department. It allows people who feel they’re aggrieved to seek some recourse.”
More: Time for a makeover: Many homes will likely run afoul of Ames' new property maintenance ordinance
Holding the City of Ames in check
Issues like trash storage, sidewalk cleanliness, plant growth, tree branch removal and weed control are all covered in the approved city maintenance standards. The entire ordinance can be found on the city of Ames’ website.
The council first started work on the new code in the summer of 2020. Haila said staff struggled to handle compliance issues at local properties, including concerns with open water or unmaintained vegetation. No direction or enforcement meant neighbors were complaining to the city.
Further research uncovered a number of problem areas throughout town.
“Our inspections department identified some potential life or property safety issues that exist in areas of town,” Haila said. “There was no ordinance that allowed them to bring (the issues) to property owners attention and require them to make improvements for life, health, safety and welfare - which would include both occupants as well as adjacent property owners.”
A property maintenance ordinance was drafted to allow city staff to work with property owners and keep them in check with specific restrictions.
A rough draft of the ordinance was presented to the council on May 25, 2021. The following month, the city held a workshop to receive public input in person or via an online survey. The findings were presented to the council at an additional workshop on June 20, 2023, and some changes were made to the ordinance based on public feedback.
“Everything was taken into consideration,” Haila said. “Everything people asked for may not have made it, but there were changes that were made.”
New code comes with some leeway
Mayor Haila said violators may not be cited on the first offense. The process will be complaint-driven, where issues can be brought to city staff by a neighbor or neighborhood. From there, staff will talk to the property owner, find out the problem, and inform them of the code violation. Property owners will be allowed time to fix the issue, but if it is not resolved when staff follow up then a citation will be issued.
The city has dealt with a bit of pushback related to the new code, though Haila views it as an opportunity to improve the city.
“There’s been some apprehension (about the ordinance),” Haila said. “People feel like the city is trying to be too heavy-handed or telling people what they should do with their property. One of the functions of city government is to oversee and watch over the health, safety and welfare of the overall community. (The ordinance) is really trying to help accomplish that objective.
He added, “I think it will be a positive process that will make Ames a more attractive place for people to call home.”
Applications for the public nuisance appeals board will be accepted through Nov. 13, and appointments will be approved by the council at a regular meeting in December. The board will begin operations on Jan 1., 2024.
Applications can be found on the City of Ames website.
Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education report for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Ames' property maintenance ordinance goes into effect Jan. 1
