North Bend ups ante on code enforcement rules
By:
Travis Peterson
Snoqualmie Valley Record
October 28, 2004
NORTH BEND - Land owners who don't follow land-use rules and then
don't work with the city to rectify the situation can be cited with
a misdemeanor crime and face possible jail time under a new ordinance
passed by the City Council last week.
With only one code enforcement officer, and none working on the weekends,
the City Council said at its Oct. 19 meeting that such an ordinance
was warranted.
"[This gives the city the] ability to hold a stick over somebody
and say, 'Do this the right way or don't do it at all.'" said
Councilman Chris Garcia.
Under the new rules, persons violating a stop-work order or emergency
order who don't contact the city within 30 days will be subject to
arrest by local King County Sheriff's Office deputies. The misdemeanor
crime is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
City Attorney Mike Kenyon said such an ordinance is unusual but not
unheard of in other municipalities.
Community Services Director Larry Stockton said the ordinance was
born out of the Sunset Garage issue that came before the City Council
earlier this year.
In April, the City Council tabled an ordinance that would've offered
financial assistance to the Sunset Garage owner who's building had
been damaged by a passing truck, but was left unfixed for several
days. The Sunset Garage building is located on the corner of Bendigo
Boulevard and North Bend Way and had been hit several times in the
18 months prior to April. The building was eventually fixed, but during
the discussion of the ordinance, council members made it clear they
wanted to explore other ways to motivate noncompliant land owners.
Although the potential consequences of the new ordinance are strict,
Stockton said the city's current system will ensure that property
owners will have plenty of opportunity to rectify the situation before
the police are called. If a stop-work order is given, city staff will
contact that person and discuss the options surrounding fixing the
problem. Authorities will only be called when there is no contact
within the 30 days. Stockton said if the city and building owner reach
an agreement on a work schedule that extends more than 30 days, that
does not constitute failure to comply.
©Snoqualmie Valley Record 2004