Part 1: Progress with Marion County Code Enforcement

My chat this morning with CE director, SL, (of whom I'll leave more or less anonymous online) of Marion County, Florida... some highlights...

I could not pursuade the director that John Q. Public is entitled to remove snipe signs just like removing litter. After we split some hairs, we decided to define the argument as: "Can a citizen remove an illegally placed sign from public property?" This question is being presented to the County Attorney this afternoon, and I should hear back shortly thereafter. I figure if we can establish at least this much, we can split the rest of the hairs... what is right-of-way, so on and so forth.

Insofar as prescribing a remedy (which I repeatedly suggested was to kill-on-sight, no due process), I did not make much progress, but this was just an introduction, and Mr. SL knows I will continue to advocate this.

I conveyed the ineffectiveness of CE over the past few months. I explained that I had opened 14 cases for CE to handle, which included several 'hot spots', so about 30 signs in all. He was surprised to learn that the average response time to my complaints was 8-10 work days (as opposed to 24-48 hours), and that only 2 signs had been removed as a result of my reports. SL explained that a contributing factor may be that their officers do not think 'creatively' when addressing a particular sign (e.g. what law does this sign violate, and how should it be handled?). Quite telling of the CE culture; I'm certainly pleased SL was willing to admit that.

SL indicated he began an effort about a year ago to network all the local utilities that use the right-of-way, but that effort stalled. I think he implied that most of the utilities brushed him off -- the utilities have not done themselves a favor in doing so, as he seemed a wee bit aggitated by that! He indicated that my interest should help renew that effort.

We agreed that the area residents need some education regarding existing ordinances; that none of our efforts will pay off without it.

I asked him how will CE prioritize this problem, and if he had the necessary resources. SL said that, as of today, snipe signs will be a high priority... all it took was my asking, and persistence. Resources, however, are thin, as their staff has not increased alongside Marion's rapid growth.

To SL's credit, he seems to have lots of patience, which hopefully will pay off with both the County Attorney, as well as the County Commissioners. That leaves me to lean on SL frequently, which he is prepared for and willing to receive.

I mentioned CAUSS (and the CE forum section), and left him a couple interesting newspaper bits. Don't know if he'll check in here or not.

Will keep posting updates, probably in this thread from now on.

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Part 2: Progess (or lack thereof) with Ocala Code Enforcement

I stopped by Ocala CE to file a new complaint regarding a frequent street spammer, along with a sample, photos, the address and phone number of the perpetrator, (which I successfully reversed searched on Google, the phone book, and MapBlast. This is a local business, with dozens of signs pointing the way -- and just 3 blocks from the CE office, naturally). My routine was pretty much as I do with Marion County CE, so I figured I had enough practice to get my report details right.

I was told that all officers are on vacation for the rest of the week (it's Monday!), and that they would deal with it next week.

I asked for a case number. The assistant said that the address (printed on the sign) did not match any parcel number in the computer, so she couldn't technically open a case!!! Call back next week! I picked up my jaw and left.

*rant on* This is a fine example of why Ocala is a cesspool filled with crack addicts. I will no longer help clean that flea market they call the '6th Best Place to Live' (which, btw, has a huge unpermitted business sign next to the mural that says so). I'm taking all my discretionary spending with me (up to Gainesville, where people have a pulse), since none of the businesses in Ocala care about their community's image. *rant off*

The initial reply from the Co. Attorney's office sounded a little bit like this...

{{{........|..|......|.|........|...|.....|......}}}

e.g. static

After dozens of cases filed (representing hundreds of illegal signs) and hours of meetings and phone conferences with CE officers, the unthinkinkable has happened. Someone actually did something.

Case #439585 has been resolved! It was a snipe sign placed high in a tree, some 25-30 feet off the ground (for a tree service, no less). I provided CE a photo of the sign and street corner, a reverse look-up of the sign's end-benefactor, a copy of the adjacent land owners tax record, a look-up of that land owners phone number, a graphic representation of that parcel from the tax appraisers office, and a cover letter suggesting that 1) why the sign was illegal (both on and off public property), and 2) the importance of its removal (i.e. bad precedent in allowing these signs to be ignored 25 feet off the ground).

12 days after the case was filed, the sign was stripped ala shark style.

If I knew it would be this easy, I wouldn't have wasted all my time removing 1,100 other signs.

MCB

MCB,

I'm not entirely clear as to the "tongue-in-cheek" quotient on your last post. Let me ask if it was like this.

You spent hours, miles, and months working with the authorities and doing most of their job. Then, after 12 short days, a sign mysteriously disappeared. You assumed the authorities had something to do with the disappearance but you have no evidence to support that theory other than the missing evidence. Is this it?

Newbie (not)

Newbie (not)

>I'm not entirely clear as to the "tongue-in-cheek" quotient
>on your last post.

Yes, all TIC, but it is not likely that any other sharks are in my territory. If there are, I sure would like to hear from them.

Move to Ocoee...'the Center for good living' We are a very pro-active code enf. department. We are allowed to be creative in the use of ordinances etc...

I am not in the position to choose where I live right now (work needs).

'Creative' goes a long way in describing what our CE lacks.

I really should add that I wouldn't necessarily move if I could... home is what you make of it, right?

I went before the Marion County Commissioners this morning. After my stuttering wore off, I was able to convey my displeasure with these bandit signs. The commissioners were receptive.

From this, they acted as follows:

1 - They requested the County Attorney's office to draft some language to allow CE to begin levying fines. I will follow up.
2 - They went on record stating that it is legal for anyone to remove bandit signs from public property (we avoided private property issues for the most part).

In their own words: "Get out there and find more people that will clean up these signs."

So, afterward, I discussed this with the Ocala Star Banner's county reporter (who had attended the meeting). So long anonymity. I will link that story here if it's online.

Marion...,

That's great news!! A responsive council.

Great work.

Newbie (not)

Newbie (not)

Thanks Newbie.

The story, hot off the press:

http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articleAID=/20050518/NEWS/205180350/1001/news

>Thanks Newbie.
>
>The story, hot off the press:
>
>http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articleAID=/20050518/NEWS/205180350/1001/news

Yeah, great work, but that link didn't work for me, but I found it on the front page and ended up at this link:

http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050518/NEWS/205180350/1001/news

Looks like the ? dropped off.

This morning, even more good press; this time the paper's own opinion page. (skim past the first 2 paragraphs)

http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050518/NEWS/50518002/1008/news08

Too bad I couldn't get the causs website plugged.

Marion,

Very effective!! Dynamite coverage. Great work.

Perhaps they will include the benefactor clause in the new ordinances.

It says that those who place signs, cause the placement of signs, or benefit from the placement of signs are all in violation of the ordinance and subject to the same penalities. The presence of identifying information of a person or business on a sign is prima facia evidence of violation by that person or business.

Getting this in the ordinance makes it much more potent since it holds the end benefactor equally responsible.

The Dallas TX city attorneys felt this was constitutional and enforceable and would withstand challenge from defendants.

Newbie (not)

Newbie (not)

>The presence of identifying information of a
>person or business on a sign is prima facia evidence of
>violation by that person or business.

This was discussed at the commissioners meeting. I don't know if this language is going to be adopted, but the commissioners and county attorney acknowledged that prima facie evidence is already in the arsenal.

It's going to come down to CE applying some pressure on the benefactors. That's where I'll apply my pressure.