Port Arthur council members pushed city staff on April 21 for faster, more coordinated enforcement after repeated complaints about illegal vehicle storage, appliances and junk accumulating in residential and commercial neighborhoods, particularly Mobile Avenue and surrounding streets.

Council members described areas where multiple vehicles are parked in ways that block streets and alleys or accumulate for extended periods. Councilman Doucette and others asked why tagged vehicles are sometimes still present 30 days after notice, and whether the municipal court process or paperwork delays are limiting enforcement.

Pam Pierce, the city's code and regulatory official, briefed the council on the multi-departmental approach: code enforcement, police (for public-right-of-way blocking), environmental health for fluid and junk hazards, and planning/zoning for land-use violations. Pierce said staff compiled a list of local automobile repair shops and planned a compliance meeting; enforcement may involve zoning actions, environmental citations and municipal-court applications for administrative search warrants when evidence is not visible from a public right-of-way.

Several council members said the city needs sharper tools and faster follow-up. Councilman Doucette said a repeat process of tagging without removal creates only temporary compliance: "We keep tagging them and keep hauling them; I think that's the way we get people's attention." Council member Frank urged a zero-tolerance posture and earlier escalation if violations are not remedied.

Staff acknowledged constraints: municipal-court warrants and legal process are required before entry into private fenced yards, and not all violations are visible from the right of way. The city's enforcement manager said staff is reviewing whether the city should change instructions, add public outreach campaigns ("Keep the City Clean") and allocate budgeted resources for persistent problem areas. Staff also said municipal court and code enforcement would coordinate to gather the probable-cause affidavits required for administrative search warrants when needed.

Why this matters: Council members said visible junk and abandoned vehicles hurt neighborhood livability and discourage investment. The exchange underscored practical limits to enforcement on private property and the need for cross-departmental coordination and clear, timely communication with residents.

Ending: Staff said they would re-evaluate enforcement tactics, prepare a compliance meeting for auto repair shops, provide the council with status reports, and look at adding public-education outreach as part of the budget process.