AgdaPkt 2017-04-03 Joint SA PFA - Laserfiche WebLink

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with the warrant process as described below. I. FIRST INSPECTION WARRANT On January 3, 2017, the San Mateo County Superior Court issued the City an Inspection Warrant, a copy of which is attached to this staff report for reference. The Inspection Warrant authorized and ordered the City to conduct an inspection of 112- 120 Vera Avenue relating to housing, building and fire safety. On January 10, 2017, representatives from the City’s Fire and Police Departments and Building and Code Enforcement Divisions of the Community Development Department and the County of San Mateo’s Environmental Health Services Division executed the Inspection Warrant. Representatives from the City Attorney’s office were present as well. The property owner was not initially present at the tim e of inspection. Police officers conducted a security sweep of the property and found unit 114A with its front door open. Officers performed a welfare check to see if anyone was inside. They did not find anyone inside but found evidence of what appeared to be squatters living in the unit. Officers continued the security sweep and through a window saw what appeared to be a squatter inside unit 116A. Police officers confirmed the person did not have permission to be on the property and asked him to leave the premises. He complied with the request. They also believed they may have seen a person in unit 112A. The property owner then arrived on the scene and granted permission to the Police Department to enter unit 112A for the limited purpose of removing any trespassers. The property o wner indicated he did not have a key to the unit so Fire Department representatives removed the lock from the front door. Police searched the unit but could not find anyone inside. The property owner denied entry to the other units on the property, indicating the City would need permission from the courts to conduct a health and safety inspection. In the course of execution of the first Inspection Warrant, City and County staff observed broken windows, evidence of people climbing into the units through windows, a squatter in unit 116A, human feces around units 114 and 114A, graffiti all over the buildings, and piles of refuse littering the property. Additionally, from the exterior of the buildings, staff could observe rooms filled with trash, paint cans, and shattered glass. Staff left the property upon the property owner’s denial of entry because the first Inspection Warrant did not authorize staff to forcibly enter the property if the owner would not consent to the inspection. Staff immediately began preparing to return to the Court and seek a second Inspection Warrant authorizing forcible entry. II. SECOND INSPECTION WARRANT (FORCIBLE ENTRY) On January 12, 2017, the San Mateo County Superior Court issued the City an Inspection Warrant (Forcible Entry), a copy of which is attached to this staff report for reference. The second Inspection Warrant (Forcible Entry) authorized and 7.B. - Page 4