To: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
From: Supervisor Haschak
Meeting Date: September 9, 2025
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Department Contact: |
Supervisor Haschak |
Phone: |
707-463-4221 |
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Item Type: Regular Agenda |
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Time Allocated for Item: 30 Minutes |
Agenda Title:
title
Discussion and Possible Action Including Direction to Staff on Modifications to the Code Violation Complaint System to Require Complainants to Provide Verifiable Contact Information While Continuing to Maintain Complainant Confidentiality in an Effort to Prevent Abuse and Protect County Resources
(Sponsor: Supervisor Haschak)
End
Recommended Action/Motion:
recommendation
Direct staff to modify the Code Violation Complaint System to require complainants provide verifiable contact information while continuing to maintain complainant confidentiality in an effort to prevent abuse and protect County resources.
End
Previous Board/Board Committee Actions:
None.
Summary of Request:
The Board of Supervisors is asked to direct staff to revise the Code Enforcement complaint system to require that complainants provide their real name and verifiable contact information, while maintaining confidentiality protections within the limits of the law. Although the anonymous complaint system was originally established to protect community members during the peak of non-permitted cannabis cultivation, it has increasingly been used for retaliatory and vexatious purposes. Transitioning to a non-anonymous system will align Mendocino County with the practices of many comparable jurisdictions, protect community members from retaliation, and ensure limited resources are focused on the highest life-safety risks and the violations that most affect community quality of life.
Under this direction, staff would indefinitely suspend all active investigations initiated from anonymous complaints, with the exception of any recorded Notice of Violation Liens. Affected property owners and responsible parties would be notified that the suspension does not absolve them from obtaining required permits, and enforcement may resume if a valid complaint is later filed by a known complainant. Future community-based complaints would only be accepted from Mendocino County residents who provide their real name, valid contact information, and a verifiable County address, with discretion reserved to staff on whether to proceed if the complainant cannot be contacted directly. If a complaint is submitted without the required information, that complaint will be subject to the Department’s available resources and Division’s discretion as to what level of investigation, if any, will be performed. In addition, each complainant would be limited to a total of five complaints per year, with no more than two concerning the same property, unless additional complaints are authorized by a Department Head or the Code Enforcement Manager.
Alternative Action/Motion:
Provide alternative direction to staff.
Strategic Plan Priority Designation: A Safe and Healthy County
Supervisorial District: All
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supplemental Information Available Online At: N/A
Fiscal Details:
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source of funding: N/A |
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current f/y cost: N/A |
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budget clarification: N/A |
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annual recurring cost: N/A |
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budgeted in current f/y (if no, please describe): N/A |
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revenue agreement: N/A |
AGREEMENT/RESOLUTION/ORDINANCE APPROVED BY COUNTY COUNSEL: N/A
CEO Liaison: Executive Office
CEO Review: Yes
CEO Comments:
FOR COB USE ONLY
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Executed By: Atlas Pearson, Senior Deputy Clerk |
Final Status: Direction Given to Staff |
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Date: September 9, 2025 |
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