Aurora says code enforcement successes reduce crime

Aurora neighborhoods that are well-maintained help reduce crime across the city, police say.

Chief Greg Thomas said criminals are more likely to congregate in areas where residents don't take care of their property.

"Criminals believe they can engage in illegal activities (in those areas) and no one will report them," Thomas said. "The city's system of dealing with property violations has played an integral role in Aurora's declining crime rate over the past several years and, I believe, will continue to do so in the future."

Mark Anderson, assistant director of the Department of Neighborhood Standards, said appointing an administrative officer to hear cases dealing with property maintenance and zoning violations has streamlined the legal process.

But the city's hearing officer adjudication system is used in instances when property owners show limited cooperation or when the violations are so severe they must be prosecuted for public safety.

During the course of 2008, the Department of Neighborhood Standards filed a record 664 cases for prosecution, up 47 from 2007 and more than double the 309 cases in 2006.

In cases where property owners do not fully comply, fines may be imposed ranging from $50 to $500 per day per violation. Several property owners were able to avoid prosecution by complying with requirements before the first hearing date.

"In about 90 percent of the more than 10,000 property code violation cases that were corrected in 2008, owners complied voluntarily by making necessary repairs and improvements," Anderson said Wednesday.

Cases brought before hearing officer Victor Puscas often concern exterior and interior maintenance issues and illegal dwelling units, overcrowding and dangerous conditions at rental properties.

"A lot of things residents are cited for are things that are easily remedied, such as painting the outside of a house, minor repairs to exterior porches and stairs, relocating a recreational vehicle or improper commercial vehicle and fixing deteriorated soffits and fascias," Anderson said. "And in all cases that are taken to the hearing officer, the residents have received notices and have had time to perform the repairs."

East Side resident Maude Shackelford is also a member of the Taking Back Our Community citizens group aimed at alleviating overcrowding. She is a weekly observer at what she calls "housing court."

"The people haven't committed a crime, but they've failed to keep the standards and ordinances the city has," she said. "And there's a consequence."