Baker Approves Revised Property Maintenance Ordinance
Legislation Update
March 13, 2019
Source: Baker City Herald
Additional Resource:
City of Baker (Ordinance No. 3371 Text/Information)
*Ordinance information begins on page 19 of agenda.
The Baker City Council on Tuesday voted 5-0 to approve the final reading of a revised property maintenance ordinance that gives the Baker Justice Court judge the authority to block residents, and others, from properties the judge deems “chronic neighborhood nuisances” based on criteria in the ordinance.
The city would have to ask the judge to make such a determination.
Mayor Loran Joseph and Councilor Ken Gross were absent Tuesday due to previous engagements.
Criteria the judge can use to designate a property as a chronic nuisance include: accumulation of rubbish and waste; prior violations of the property maintenance ordinance; whether the structure is vacant or structurally sound; vandalism on the property; whether the property has “adequate” water and sewer service; and whether the property has a tax lien due to a previous violation.
The ordinance also includes a section under which the judge can allow property owners who make an effort to clean up their property to continue to have access to it.
Councilors have been discussing the ordinance since December.
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