Discussion and Review of Tiffin Municipal Code Revisions – Preparation for Setting the Public Hearing — Memo - Code Updates

AGENDA ITEM # WS -C XI. Chapter 167 - Sign Code The Sign Code has been reorganized, and its bulk regulations have been cleaned up. The final Code establishes a dedicated section for Sign Code Bulk Regulations, including the number and area of signs permitted in commercial and industrial zones. The sexually oriented business chapter now simply directs users to Chapter 167 for signage requirements, helping eliminate duplicate sign regulations. XII. Other Significant Administrative/Housekeeping Updates In addition to the more significant substantive changes outlined above, numerous administrative and housekeeping updates were made throughout the Code to improve accuracy, consistency, organization, and ease of administration. These updates include removing obsolete ordinance references, correcting Code of Iowa citations and chapter cross-references, updating terminology and chapter titles, removing duplicative provisions, incorporating ordinances adopted since the previous codification, correcting grammatical and formatting issues, updating provisions to reflect changes in State law, moving provisions into more appropriate chapters, and clarifying which requirements are established by ordinance versus Council resolution. While these changes generally do not require individual Council discussion, they are important to maintaining an accurate, current, and user-friendly City Code. XIII. Law Enforcement Suggested Changes Lt. Hynes has provided several recommendations for potential changes to the City Code, primarily focused on simplifying enforcement and creating more practical tools for addressing common violations. I am currently working with the City Attorney to review these recommendations and determine how they can appropriately be incorporated into the City Code and whether any additional statutory or procedural requirements would apply. The recommendations include: • Chapter 48 – Noise: Remove decibel-based measurements from the City's noise regulations because the City does not currently have the equipment or practical ability to measure noise levels in decibels. • Chapters 48, 55, 56, 76 & 77 – Scheduled Fines: Consider establishing scheduled fines in place of municipal infractions for certain noise, animal, licensing, bicycle, and golf cart violations. The intent would be to provide officers and staff with a simpler and more efficient enforcement option for routine violations. • Chapter 69 – Parking: Create a tow list for vehicles with three unpaid parking tickets. • Chapter 70 – Parking Tickets: Consider adding specific parking violation amounts to the City's ticket books, with a proposed $15 standard fine, $25 snow route violation, and $100 fine for improper use of a disabled parking permit. These recommendations are still under review. I am working with the City Attorney to determine which changes can be implemented through ordinance, whether scheduled fines are legally and administratively workable for each type of violation, and what enforcement and collection procedures would be necessary. A final recommendation will be brought back to Council once that review is complete. 7