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Pioneer Press 06/07/2008 04:18:33 AM GMT
Roseville's new inspection program seeks to educate residents, prevent code violations

Roseville residents can expect to see a team of city inspectors browsing through their neighborhoods soon, looking for code violations. The city is launching a pilot inspection program this month called the Neighborhood Enhancement Program. Code inspectors will systematically inspect neighborhoods, instead of driving around town chasing complaints. The idea is to keep residents educated and prevent serious code violations, City Manager Bill Malinen said. "Some people might not like it because they'll be subjected to inspections and enforcement, but on the flip side there might be 10 neighbors who are appreciative of that," Malinen said. "We're just trying to maintain the appearance of our city and the value of the properties." City officials started hammering out program details about six months ago, looking for a way to improve the enforcement process and efficiency. The idea came from Imagine Roseville 2025, a community study in which residents were asked about their vision and priorities for the city. Code enforcement and problem properties were issues they said they'd like the city to improve upon. So Roseville officials looked to their neighbors, Malinen said. They modeled the Neighborhood Enhancement Program after Shoreview's SHINE (Shoreview Housing Inspections for Neighborhood Enhancement), which has been in operation for five years.

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