Comprehensive EBR code enforcement program planned

The East Baton Rouge Parish Department of Public Works and the Mayor’s Office are partnering with the East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority on a comprehensive code enforcement program to clean up blighted properties in the parish. While it’s too soon to talk specifics, DPW Director William Daniel confirms the agencies have been meeting and are working with a consultant to study how other municipalities have successfully combated blight and how best to tighten and enforce existing codes in the parish. “This is one of our top priorities,” Daniel says. “We absolutely have come to the conclusion we need to put a lot more resources into this. … When it’s done, we expect big dividends.” That may take some time. It will be next year before the parish is ready to roll out the joint code enforcement program, and funding remains one of the biggest challenges. “We struggle with trying to keep up with the things we have to do on our public properties,” Daniel says. “Yet we are taking on a bigger and bigger role with private properties.” DPW’s code enforcement division has a staff of 11 as well as one manager of blighted property—and needs more of each, Daniel says. At a mayoral forum this afternoon, Mayor Kip Holden and Councilman Mike Walker answered questions about eradicating blighted properties in the Tigerland area. Both agree it is a serious problem, though they differ on how best to address it. —Stephanie Riegel