Revision 1 

We, the undersigned, call on the city to provide clear guidelines and transparency regarding our right to repair, as well as the warnings issued to residents for conducting personal auto repairs on private property. On October 3, 2024, I (Vince L) received a warning for allegedly operating an illegal automotive repair business, despite the fact that the work was routine car maintenance performed on my personal, registered vehicles in my own driveway—and caused no public obstruction.

Many residents, including those in our neighborhood, regularly maintain their vehicles outside their garages to avoid potential ventilation issues or other safety concerns (e.g., lighting, work visibility, freedom of movement). It is unreasonable to impose limits on where safe and responsible car repairs can take place, especially when working outdoors reduces potential health and safety risks. Furthermore, this warning appears to have been enforced selectively, as many others have engaged in similar maintenance or repairs without issue.

We demand that the city either provide transparent and specific regulations regarding these matters or stop issuing vague and selectively enforced warnings that infringe on residents’ rights to safely maintain their property.

The transparency we seek is as follows:

 1. Clear Definitions of Major vs. Minor Automotive Work: The city must define what constitutes “major” versus “minor” vehicle repairs. Without this distinction, residents are left uncertain about which activities may trigger warnings, leading to arbitrary enforcement.

 2. Established Time Period Before Issuing Warnings: The city needs to clarify how long a vehicle can be worked on in a private driveway before it is considered a “nuisance” or violation. Is there a set period that must pass before a warning is valid, or can a single day of work trigger penalties? This ambiguity leads to unfair and unpredictable enforcement.

 3. Transparent Investigation and Proof Requirements: The city must clarify how they investigate these situations. What evidence is required to issue a warning? Can warnings be based solely on reports from others, or is there a process to confirm how long a vehicle has been in the driveway? Without a transparent investigation procedure, residents are vulnerable to warnings that may be issued without proper verification, leading to unjust outcomes.