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Pasco Code Enforcement To Seek Volunteers

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By Carl  Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: January 8, 2008

DADE CITY, Fla. - DADE CITY, Fla. - With more budget cuts possible this year, Pasco County will ask residents to act as the unpaid eyes and ears for code enforcement officers.

Even though the code violation caseload is increasing, the county won't hire more code enforcement officers, Debra Zampetti, the zoning-code compliance administrator, told the County Commission today.

So as an alternative Zampetti and Richard Ortiz, the code enforcement manager, created the volunteer program.

Commissioners applauded the concept, but had several questions regarding how the plan would operate.

Commission Chairman Ted Schrader, for example, wondered if the volunteers would be deputized and carry some sort of badge.

"So long as we don't become a police state," Commissioner Pat Mulieri interjected.
That's not how it will work, Ortiz explained. The volunteers would serve as a kind of network feeding tips to county code officers to check. Many residents informally do this now, he said.

"So you just want them to be your eyes and ears?" Schrader asked.
Exactly, Ortiz said.

"So they're not a vigilante squad, if you will," Commissioner Michael Cox said.
The code volunteers would have the authority to issue verbal or written warnings, according to a memo from Zampetti. The volunteer could place door-hanger notices as well. If the problem persists, the code officer could then pursue the case.

"Code enforcement is a big issue here in this county," Cox said.

Volunteers could keep track of problems such as boat trailers or commercial vehicles parked illegally in residential neighborhoods, Cox said.

The Hudson-area Leisure Beach and Signal Cove communities would have lots of people willing to help, Commissioner Jack Mariano said.

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