The city council finds that it is necessary to establish appropriate procedures for the administrative and summary abatement of public nuisances and code violations. The procedures established in this chapter are in addition to any other legal remedy, criminal or civil, established by law which may be pursued to address violations of this code or applicable state codes. This chapter governs all other nuisance abatement procedures established in other chapters of this code unless other procedures are specifically stated to apply.
(Ord. 1457 § 2, 2010)
Any condition caused, maintained, or permitted to exist in violation of any provisions of this code or an applicable state code, which constitutes a public nuisance, may be abated by the city pursuant to the procedures set forth in this article.
(Ord. 1457 § 2, 2010)
A. 
Abatement Notice.
1. 
Whenever the director determines that public or private property or any portion of public or private property is a public nuisance as generally defined in Section 17.53.020 or as declared in any other specific section of this code, including adopted uniform codes or applicable state codes, an abatement notice (notice and order) may be issued to the responsible person to abate the public nuisance.
2. 
The abatement notice shall contain a description of the subject property in general terms reasonably sufficient to identify the location of the property. It shall refer to specific sections of this code, adopted uniform codes, or applicable state code violations, which render the property a public nuisance.
3. 
The abatement notice shall describe the action required to abate the public nuisance, which may include, but is not limited to: corrections, repairs, demolition, removal, obtaining the necessary permits, vacation of tenants or occupants, or other appropriate action and shall establish time frames by which each action must occur.
4. 
The abatement notice shall explain the consequences should the responsible person fail to comply with the terms of the notice.
5. 
The abatement notice shall identify all applicable hearing and appeal rights.
B. 
Service of Abatement Notice. The abatement notice shall be served by any of the methods of service listed in this chapter.
(Ord. 1457 § 2, 2010)
A. 
Once the director follows the procedures set forth herein and the time for compliance has lapsed, if the violations remain, the nuisance conditions may be abated by city personnel or by a private contractor.
B. 
City personnel or a private contractor can enter upon private property in a reasonable manner as provided by law to abate the nuisance conditions as specified in the abatement notice or abatement order.
C. 
If the responsible person abates the nuisance conditions before the city performs the actual abatement pursuant to an abatement notice or abatement order, the director may still assess all costs incurred by the city against the responsible person pursuant to the procedures set forth herein.
D. 
When abatement is completed, a report describing the work performed and an itemized account of the total abatement costs shall be prepared by the director. The report shall contain the names and addresses of the responsible persons of each parcel, the name and address of the property owner, if different from the responsible person, the tax assessor's parcel number, and a legal description of the property, if the responsible person is an owner.
E. 
The director shall schedule a confirmation of costs hearing before an administrative hearing officer pursuant to the procedures set forth in this chapter, unless waived in writing by all responsible persons.
F. 
All administrative and actual costs incurred by the city in abating the violations may be assessed and recovered against the responsible person pursuant to the provisions set forth in this chapter.
(Ord. 1457 § 2, 2010)
This article governs the procedures relating to summary abatement of public nuisances.
(Ord. 1457 § 2, 2010)
Whenever the director determines that an imminent health and safety hazard exists that requires immediate correction or elimination, the director may exercise the following powers without prior notice to the responsible person:
A. 
Order the immediate vacation of any tenants and prohibit occupancy of the subject property until all repairs are completed;
B. 
Post the premises as unsafe, substandard, or dangerous;
C. 
Board, fence, or secure the building or site;
D. 
Raze and grade that portion of the premises or site to prevent further collapse and remove any hazard to the general public;
E. 
Make any minimal emergency repairs as necessary to eliminate any imminent health and safety hazard; or
F. 
Take any other action as appropriate under the circumstances.
(Ord. 1457 § 2, 2010)
A. 
The director shall pursue only the minimum level of correction or abatement as necessary to eliminate the immediacy of the hazard. Costs incurred by the city during the summary abatement process shall be assessed, collected, and recovered against the responsible person through the procedures outlined in this chapter.
B. 
The director may also pursue any other administrative or judicial remedy established by law to abate any remaining public nuisance.
(Ord. 1457 § 2, 2010)