This Arlington city department earned an international award for community service

Known as the Dream City, Arlington’s reputation is widely known as a great place to visit and live.

Of course, a great place to live has to have top-notch folks making it so. An example of this is the City of Arlington Code Compliance Department, which was recently awarded the 2022 International Code Council Community Service Award.

“My staff has done an excellent job serving our community and all that our department has accomplished for the residents of Arlington is a testament to their great work,” said Brian Daugherty, Arlington Code Compliance Services Director.

Daugherty attended the annual ICC Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, last month to accept the prestigious award. The ICC Community Service Award recognizes outstanding service that promotes public health, safety and welfare.

This is the first time Arlington has won the award.

Code Compliance in Arlington has developed many innovative programs that increase community engagement, provide essential services and build public trust while helping create and sustain healthier, safer and more beautiful neighborhoods.

The department’s newest initiative is its Tool Sharing Program available to Arlington residents for free use of tools and equipment to help with property cleanup and maintenance. Almost 300 door-step deliveries have been completed this year, with almost 1,000 tools used at numerous community cleanup events.

City officials note that because of this, more than 200 potential code violations were corrected.

The department’s Neighborhood Enhancement Team (NET) has a new expanded program serving the Arlington community. This initiative is focused on teamwork and building community partnerships.

Community cleanup events through NET have yielded almost 120 tons of trash and debris removal.

“Arlington’s Tool Sharing Program and the Neighborhood Enhancement Team Program are both making real differences in our neighborhoods and have created a new way for us to partner with our residents,” Mayor Jim Ross said. “It’s no surprise to me that our Code Compliance Department has been recognized for its innovative work and I encourage residents to check out both of these options if they are looking to increase the curb appeal in their neighborhoods.”

Other code compliance programs that make Arlington stronger and safer include:

▪ The Graffiti Abatement Team that offers free graffiti removal.

▪ The city’s apartment inspection program with workshops and interactive maps for the public displaying apartment scores.

▪ The Dangerous and Substandard Structures (DSS) Team works citywide to identify substandard structures that pose a risk to public health and safety and bring these properties into compliance either by rehabilitation or removal.

▪ Code Compliance provides an expanded educational effort with a comprehensive website with informative rapid reference guides for single-family, multi-family, and commercially zoned properties within a couple of clicks to the unified development code and city codes.