AGENDA #5b

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT:            Response to Davie Circle Petition

DATE:             July 5, 2000

This memorandum responds to a petition from several residents who live on Davie Circle regarding problems with garbage and trash removal, and the general appearance of the neighborhood.

BACKGROUND

In October 1999, the Town Council received a petition (Please see Attachment 1) from several residents living on Davie Circle.  According to the petitioners:

• Some of the landlords renting to students appear unwilling to maintain their property as evidenced by inattention to the disposal of garbage including cans without lids, filled with water, tipped over, or left at curbside.  The landlords do not provide the proper cans or build a secure place for them out of view from the street.

• The garbage problem has become a health problem.  Domestic and wild animals forage in the garbage. Cans left open fill with rainwater and breed mosquitoes.

• The petitioners made the following requests that:  (1) the proper agencies of the town monitor these problems and contact the landlords; (2) the town insist that landlords provide out of sight, secure places for covered garbage cans to be stored at all times; and, (3) the town maintain Davie Circle appropriately.    

DISCUSSION

During the past months we have taken actions to address the concerns of the residents of Davie Circle.  The staffs of the Inspections, Public Works and Police Departments are working together to implement the following corrective actions:

·        The Police Department served “Notices to Tow” on three vehicles illegally parked and stored on the public street.  Two of the vehicles have been towed.

·        The Public Works Department has picked up brush and yard waste on a routine schedule and also removed the unused signpost.

·        The Public Works Department worked with residents to cut and remove weeds, debris and underbrush from the public-rights-of-way.

·        The Postmaster removed the unsightly mailbox that was located in the public right-of-way.

·        The owner of a recently acquired five-unit apartment building is cleaning-up and making improvement to the property.

·        The Town mailed violation notices to four property owners, requesting that they remove overgrown weeds and maintain their property free of trash and debris.  The yards of two properties have been mowed as of June 26, 2000.  

·        The Town mailed notices in June to property owners, requesting that adequate garbage containers be provided and placed in the back yard.

·        The Town mailed notices in June to owners of seven dilapidated vehicles, requesting that these vehicles be removed by July 31, 2000.

The Zoning Enforcement Officer will continue to monitor the Davie Circle neighborhood. 

ATTACHMENTS

1.  Petition from Davie Circle Neighbors, October 3, 1999.