Code enforcement efforts in Ceres were highlighted at the outset of the Monday, August 25 City Council meeting.

Ceres Police Sgt. Dirk Nieuwenhuis gave the presentation for Lt. Travis Hudson who is attending an academy. Hudson oversees the Code Enforcement Unit which seeks to eradicate blight, address building violations and health and safety laws.

“We also want to emphasize that our approach starts with education,” said Nieuwenhuis. “Our goal is always to work with our residents and not against them. We understand that city codes can be complex and that many people may not even realize they’re in violation, and that’s why we focus on gaining compliance through communication and education first before taking enforcement action.”

Nieuwenhuis explained that the unit deals with three main issues – illegal vendors, illegal encampments, and general code enforcement issues like abandoned vehicles, overgrown vegetation and illegal dumping.

In 2024, the Code Enforcement team collected and disposed of over 187,000 pounds of trash throughout the city from illegal dumping and abandoned homeless encampments.

The unit is comprised of three Code Enforcement officers. Jeff Farney has been with the city for six years, Jack Taylor for three years and Angie Martinez for a year and a half. The department has been without a code enforcement secretary which forced officers to take on administrative duties and reduced their time in the field. Cassandra Lopez has been hired to fill that position.

Officer Varney said while the public generally thinks the unit is all about giving citations “in reality, a big portion of our work is education, prevention, cleanup, and making property safe and habitable.”

Some of the work includes includes red-tagging buildings with hazardous conditions. Officers report graffiti, remove illegal dumps, responding to trash piles, discarded furniture, and debris, and then transferring that illegal dump or an abandoned illegal camp to Bertolotti.

“But most of the time it’s been proactive, reactive, and follow up inspections. Every request received is investigated by one of our code enforcement officers.”

Approximately 883 new requests were received in 2024 through 2025.

While some problems may be corrected with some education and a warning, other cases may escalate into a case with property owner and occupants being notified of the violation. The letter provides an explanation of the violations, a timeline for correction, and any penalizing for uncorrected violations. If not corrected, the city can issue administration citations that can include other fines, liens or abatement actions.

Varney said many issues relate to public nuisances, which may include:

• Trash, personal belongings, or debris in the front yard to collection carts being left out;

• Parking on the lawn;

• Discarded refrigerators or open gates to swimming pools;

• Leaf and limb piles being placed out within the street;

• A basketball hoop being left out in the street, which creates an obstruction.

Varney showed a slide presentation showing how the unit cleaned up a home in the 1900 block of Hollister Street in March 2024. The house was reported because of 84 dogs being kept inside, endangering the health of a child and elder living in the home.

Angie Martinez spoke about ways the unit deals with illegal vendors.

“Over the past year we’ve seen a noticeable increase in unpermitted vendors here in Stanislaus County,” said Martinez. “While many of these individuals may simply be trying to make a living, the reality is that operating without permits introduces serious public health risk and affects our local restaurant owners.”

The chief concern is food that may be mishandled or stored improperly that can quickly lead to foodborne illness.

Officers approach vendors and provide vendor permit applications but when vendors refuse to comply, administrative citations are issued. If violations continue, the officers arrange inspection with the Department of the Environmental Resources, which may involve confiscating equipment and issuing restitution fines.

“Although there has been an increase in Stanislaus County, there has been a decrease in our city,” reported Officer Martinez. “The drop shows a consistent enforcement paired with education makes a difference.”

She showed a photo of unpermitted taco vendors operating outside of Walmart. After failing to get compliance, Martienz involved Environmental Resources and the equipment was confiscated. 

Officer Taylor said homeless camps, if allowed to remain, can be a detriment to public perception of a community and its business districts.

“Travelers who may come off the freeway to stop at one of our establishments, such as Cane’s, Dutch Brothers, McDonald’s, form their impression of our city based upon what they experience and what they see,” Taylor said. ”If they see homeless camps, trash, and drug paraphernalia, most likely won’t return. Code Enforcement has been working hard to address these issues.”

Last year the unit dealt with 884 compared to 806 this year, a decrease of 9.23 percent.”

He said he’s encountering small camps, mostly “ground sleepers.”

He showed a slide taken about 13 months ago of the abandoned Kmart property, showing large camps with lots of people and property. Because of pressure by the city, most have moved to the city’s outskirts, squatting in empty fields and often out of public view “so the public doesn’t call us.”

His job includes making contact with homeless persons who are trespassing, illegally possessing shopping carts, blocking sidewalks and interrupting of commerce.

“This constant contact and enforcement prevents camps from growing out of control, occupying our empty lots, buildings, parking areas, and public parks,” Officer Taylor said.

Property owners have helped by posting 602 signs, improving lighting, clean up landscapes, and enforcement of trespassing laws.

At times sworn police officers are called in to deal with uncooperative trespassers and those with outstanding warrants, and drug violations.

On the side of compassion, officers work with the Community Assessment Response Engagement (CARE) team, has assisted greatly they were able to offer the homeless an alternative, a connection to services that will help them get off the street.

“We’ve had several success stories this past year,” said Taylor. “Subjects who are now housed and thriving due to this partnership. Overall, the results have been positive, and we could do to look for better solutions.”

Nieuwenhuis asked the public to be patient as the city deals with approximately 100 GOGov requests  at any given time. GOGov is an app whereby residents can request action on code violations.

“If some of these requests seem like they’re stalled out, they’re still moving,” said Nieuwenhuis. “We have checks and balances to make sure they’re continually progressing. Some can be as quick as an hour. Some take several years at a time. So just be patient with us.”

“I’ve seen the hours and the time that you’ve put in and I appreciate what you do,” said Councilwoman Rosalinda Vierra. She noted that Independence Park, formerly a hotbed of homeless activity, has cleaned up dramatically.

She noted that help is being offered but some are rejecting it.

“I think a lot of the community doesn’t realize that you guys are taking steps and coordination with care to try to get them off the streets and they’re making a choice to live in these situations and on the streets and on these curbside and in the parks as opposed to just having no other options.”

Councilman James Casey asked about the procedure for those who are selling produce and fruit on the streets. Taylor said many fruit vendors are dropped off from other towns like Merced, Fresno and Los Angeles and on foot. They are identified and most do not have a permit to sell.

“They’re basically asked to leave the property, which they usually cooperate with that. But much like with the homeless situation, they will tend to pop up in other places. So we’re kind of running a circle sometimes getting them off the property.” He indicated that some are being trafficked by others.

“The human trafficking is a big thing in our country, and if these people don’t have a valid license, a valid ID, why don’t you take their two-wheeled dolly and their strawberries away from them and let them go someplace?” asked Casey. Nieuwenhuis said “we can’t just take their property, but we … given them how to get a business license within the city of Ceres. We give them information on stuff like that.”

Administrative citations aren’t effective in many cases of illegal vendors who are dropped off because “they’re not the responsible party, technically.”

Casey noted the young mother who was stationed near the Wells Fargo Bank ATM selling oranges. “You’re saying that you can’t do anything about that except you’re an administrative thing?” asked Casey.

“Again, we can give administration citations and then remove them from the property,” said Nieuwenhuis. “But we can’t be just taking their property. We can’t take their fruit from them. That’s against law.”

“And I understand that there’s challenges, but I do appreciate everything that you guys are doing,” said Mayor Javier Lopez. “It takes a village and we have the app and I know it’s just three code enforcement officers out there. So I appreciate the hard work that you do and we’re going to continue on pushing and trying to make sure we keep this community clean and safe for everybody in this building and everybody in the city of Ceres.”