RENTAL UNIT INSPECTIONS BEGIN PROGRAM STARTS IN CITY'S MARIPOSA DISTRICT.

Byline: Helen Gao Staff Writer

GLENDALE - Nearly a year in the making, a pilot program aimed at improving a densely populated neighborhood through increased code enforcement formally kicks off today, city officials said.

The city will mail letters to more than 800 property owners in the so-called Mariposa District - bounded by Brand Boulevard, Chevy Chase Drive and Broadway - notifying them that inspections of their rental units will begin in two weeks.

``This will be the first time a systematic approach to inspecting rental units in a particular area has been achieved,'' said Madalyn Blake, director of community development and housing. ``This project is really a pilot for systematic inspection for the city as a whole.''

The city has hired a five-member team made up of an inspector, field representative, administrative analyst, public education specialist and office services specialist to serve the Mariposa District.

The staff will work to ensure all units in the area meet minimum standards and develop a multilingual outreach and education program to reduce chronic maintenance problems. Public service announcements in Spanish, English and Armenian are scheduled.

When inspecting a property, code enforcement officers will carry a list of areas to check both inside and outside the building.

If the officer finds violations during the initial inspection, the property owner will be given 30 days to make corrections. A property owner who fails to comply repeatedly could ultimately be taken to court.

``All the inspections will be pre-scheduled, which will allow property owners to repair problems beforehand and give proper notice to tenants,'' said Sam Engel, neighborhood services administrator.

Code enforcement officers for the Mariposa District will eventually be armed

with handheld computers that double as cell phones to facilitate record keeping.

They will also carry two-way radios so they can call in translators from the code enforcement's staff of Latino and Armenian speakers if they encounter property owners who don't speak English.

The pilot program is being funded for the next three years through $569,377 from the city and a $372,600 matching grant from the state.

The city received the state grant in March 2001, but planning and approvals for use of city funds have taken nearly a year.

``I am happy we are off and running. I think (the program) is exactly what the city needs, not just in Mariposa but in other parts of the city,'' said Councilman Frank Quintero.

Glendale's program is modeled after those in Pasadena and Los Angeles, where there have been mixed reviews. In Los Angeles, intensified inspections have resulted in evictions of poor tenants who live in illegally converted units.

City officials have asked that the code enforcement staff members make periodic reports on the results of their inspections so they can deal with such issues when they arise.

``Likely in this area, we will have some of these issues. We are going to have to develop a policy on how to deal with the situation,'' said City Manager Jim Starbird.