Symposium to Address Code Enforcement in San Joaquin Valley Communities

The Code Enforcement Symposium gathered advocates, local government agencies, and code enforcement professionals from across the San Joaquin Valley and the state to explore current code enforcement strategies and the resources available to support and grow this work. 

The Symposium was held on Thursday, January 30th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at Diamond Cove Townhomes II Community Center in Stockton, CA. Hosted by the San Joaquin Valley Housing Collaborative, and its staff partners Office of Community and Economic Development at Fresno State, and the California Coalition for Rural Housing. 

Code enforcement is a crucial tool to improve the health and quality of life for our community members, promote development and investment in neglected areas, and hold bad actors accountable. However, limited funding and capacity leave many communities vulnerable and without options. 

The day began with a “Framing the Issues” panel featuring Curtis Wright, and Mariah Thompson from California Rural Legal Assistance. The day continued with a panel highlighting Neighborhood Revitalization Strategies and Collaborative Partnership Opportunities led by City of Sacramento Peter Lemos, Greater Valley Conservation Corps’s Nicholas Mueller, and STAND Stockton’s, Fred Sheil. It provided attendees with resources and interactive discussions, giving attendees an opportunity to discuss code enforcement in their communities, considering their own needs, challenges, and opportunities. 

The symposium brought forth around 30 attendees from a variety of professions: law enforcement officers, attorneys, and local city planners. Attendees explored updates and hot topics in community-led code enforcement, innovative resources for supporting code enforcement efforts, and heard about successful models from around the Valley and across the state.