PORT ANGELES — Code enforcement and community policing in Clallam County will move from the auspices of the Department of Community Development to the Sheriff’s Office.
Community Development Director John Miller and Sheriff Bill Benedict agreed to transfer the administration, operation and budget of the community policing and code enforcement unit to the sheriff effective Jan. 1.
The unit is made up of Code Enforcement Manager Rich Sill and a growing number of volunteers.
Commissioners voted 3-0 Tuesday to authorize the move.
Commissioner Steve Tharinger said the county has been “real successful” in the coordination of community policing and neighbor-to-neighbor code compliance.
In more than 99 percent of the cases, owners of nuisance properties work with the county to comply with the code, Benedict said.
“But in the end, we do need to have the ability to take legal action,” Benedict added.
“What we look for is a partnership with Environmental Health and DCD [Department of Community Development] where they will bring these problems to us and we’ll look at them corroboratively in some way — first and foremost getting voluntary compliance.”
Miller said more than half of the cases in code enforcement are related to environmental health.
“So this does make a great deal of sense to put it in the sheriff’s department because the sheriff has overall responsibility for law enforcement for the county,” Miller said.
“This really is a more seamless way to approach this.”
Tharinger said he received an e-mail from a concerned citizen who took issue with the transfer being made after the election.
Sheila Roark Miller, who was elected community development director Nov. 2 and takes office next month, said she supports the move.
“I think code enforcement is a good match to the sheriff’s department,” Roark Miller said.
County Administrator Jim Jones said he did not see a conflict with the transfer.
Commissioner Mike Chapman said he supports the move for the same reasons he supported Clallam County Emergency Management going to the Sheriff’s Office last year.
He said it “cleans things up” and streamlines county government.
“I just think we’re looking for efficiencies, and I think this is a long-term efficiency,” Chapman said.
“Make a decision and put this budget under one elected official, one budget, instead of just kind of cross-deputization.”
In another matter, no decision was reached on an ordinance that would update the county’s building and construction code.
The ordinance formalizes an exemption for building permits for structures under 400 square feet — provided they meet code.
Multistory buildings and commercial structures are not exempt from the building permit requirement, regardless of size.
Exempt structures must have proper zoning setbacks and buffers, and plumbing and electrical permits are required.
County officials considered tightening the building permit exemptions to 200-square-foot structures earlier this year, but the 12-member Permit Advisory Board overwhelmingly rejected it.
Four people who spoke in a public hearing Tuesday said the exemption should include garages.
Commissioners formally asked the Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to review whether adding garages to the exempted building list would expose the county to liability.
The board will take up the issue in a Monday work session.
A date for that discussion was not set.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
