It's an abandoned vehicle—the kind of thing Jamie Matthews, administrator from the San Jose Code Enforcement Division says should be reported to his department.

"We are everything from A to Z," said Matthews, who was speaking to a group of about 40 businesspeople attending the Almaden Business Association meeting Dec. 4 at Chevy's on Almaden Expressway. A to Z, Matthews, said, includes abandoned vehicles, lawn parking, weeds, and zoning.

The ABA asked Matthews to speak to the group about how best businesses can use the services of his department and where to go with questions about city code enforcement.

"We're not about enforcement," Matthews said. "We're about compliance."

Matthews, who has worked for the city for 20 years but who started out as a small-business man, said his department tries to remain as flexible and understanding as possible when dealing with businesses and residents, because, he said, he believes most people want to abide by the laws.

"The laws are not to impugn businesses. They are there for public safety."

It is for public safety reasons, he says, that many areas of San Jose are subject to laws that restrict the use of sandwich-board advertising in front of storefronts and other businesses because the boards can take up a lot of space on sidewalks. Exemptions are made in the downtown area, along The Alameda, and on Lincoln Avenue in Willow Glen, because areas such as those have walkways wide enough to not impede foot traffic or get in the way of things such as baby carriages.

Public safety and environmental protection are reasons the city does not allow cars to be parked on lawns. People walking on sidewalks in front of homes would not expect a car to drive off a lawn, and therefore would not be as aware of a vehicle in movement while passing by.

As a car drives off a lawn, it picks up dirt on the tires and deposits the debris on the sidewalk and the street where it washes into the storm drains that head out to the bay.

He said the vast majority of the calls his department gets are from residences. People wishing to call to report a possible code violation are encouraged to call the code enforcement division.

Following Matthews' presentation was a discussion by association members about when and how often to hold regularly scheduled association business meetings—it was decided that the whole association would meet quarterly—and to have more committee meetings, evening mixers and more networking.

The organization, which has grown to 65 businesses since its founding in October, also appointed a new recorder, who will be responsible for recording minutes of the meetings.

Member business owners, whose businesses are located in the Almaden or Blossom valleys, agreed to a mission statement for the association, which was developed by the steering committee.

The correct department number to phone can be found on the department's website at http://www.ci.san-jose.ca.us/code/ or by calling the city's main line for directions at 408.277.4000.

For information about the Almaden Business Association, contact Doug Keller, chairman, at dkeller@y2marketing.com.