A. 
This chapter shall be known as, referred to and cited as the "Vacant Buildings Code" and is hereinafter referred to as the "Vacant Buildings Code" or "chapter."
A. 
This chapter is enacted to facilitate the identification of, inspection of, and property maintenance of vacant buildings for purposes of preserving and promoting the public health, safety, prosperity and general welfare, and to abate and prevent property maintenance issues, public and private nuisances and potential fire hazards.
B. 
The Common Council of the City of Onalaska finds that there are now, and may in the future be, vacant buildings which are dilapidated, unsafe, unhygienic and inadequately maintained so as to create or contribute to blight and so as to jeopardize the health, safety, prosperity and general welfare, and so as to create a public and/or private nuisance.
C. 
Intent. The purpose of this code is to establish the measures and requirements reasonably necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public from public nuisances, blight and negative market impact of vacant or abandoned buildings and structures.
A. 
Finding. In addition to the purposes in Section 12.02.12 above, the City finds that vacant buildings are targets for vandalism, arson, squatting, and other illegal activities. The City still further finds that the public disclosure of the identification of any or all vacant buildings would provide to persons with criminal intentions a data source to locate vacant buildings in which to carry out illegal activity. While the City acknowledges the requirements of the Wisconsin Public Records Law embodied in §§ 19.31 through 19.39, Wis. Stats., and the strong public policy underpinning those statutes that all persons are entitled to the greatest possible information regarding the affairs of government, the City also recognizes that against that strong public policy, records custodians must balance contrary public policy that would weigh against disclosure of a particular document.
B. 
Policy. Prior to releasing any records that are received, created, or maintained pursuant to the provisions of this chapter or are received, created, or maintained to accomplish the purpose of this chapter, the records custodian will consider the intent of the City articulated in this section.