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LOCAL NEWS

Public input requested

Property maintenance law likely

to be approved by city in April

SUNNYSIDE (Monday 3-30-99)---A new property maintenance law likely will be enforced in town beginning sometime in April, according to city councilmen meeting last night.

The new law outlines procedures for enforcing new and existing property maintenance codes. It also provides for a "property facilitator" whose only job is to see the law is enforced. He is budgeted to come on deck in June.

Realizing such a law might be controversial, the City Council urges plenty of public input before it's passed. Folks should email their favorite councilman or call city staff to have their say in the matter.

If any citizen--anonymous or not--complains about a neighbor's property, the property facilitator will look into it. In addition the facilitator may see it and complain himself. When a complaint is shown to be valid, the property owner will get a warning notice.

Ultimately, if the property owner doesn't comply, the facilitator can cite him--write him a "ticket". The new law provides for a maximum fine of $500 a day that each violation continues. Those violating a health or safety code may be charged with a misdemeanor. If found guilty a person could be fined up to $1,000.

Legal language regarding offenses for which one might be thumped include:

Nuisances affecting public health:

The erecting, maintaining, using, placing, depositing, causing, allowing, leaving or permitting to be or remain in or upon any private lot, building, structure, or premises, or in or upon any street, avenue, alley, park, parkway, or other public or private place in the city, any one or more of the following places, conditions, things or acts to the prejudice, danger or annoyance of others:

(a) Privies, vaults, cesspools, sumps, pits wells or cisterns or like places which are not securely protected from flies or rats, or constitute a hazard, or are otherwise prohibited.

(b) Filthy, littered or trash-covered premises, including all buildings and structures thereon and areas adjacent thereto.

(c) Tin cans, bottles glass, cans ashes, small pieces of scrap iron, wire, metal, articles, bric-a-brac, broken stone or cement, broken crockery, broken glass, broken plaster and all other trash or abandoned material unless the same are kept in covered bins or metal receptacles approved by the city, provided, that any such receptacles approved by the Yakima County Health District or designee shall be deemed approved by the city

(d) Trash, litter, rags, debris, accumulations of empty barrels, boxes, crates, packing cases, mattresses, bedding, excelsior, packing hay, straw or other packing material, lumber not neatly piled, scrap iron, tin and other metal not neatly piled which provides harborage for rodents or other pests

(e) Any unsightly or dangerous building, billboard or structure

(f) All places used or maintained as junk yards or dumping grounds, or for the wrecking, disassembling, repair or rebuilding or automobiles, trucks, tractors or machinery of any kind or of any of the parts thereof, or for the storing or leaving of any machinery or equipment used by contractors or builders or by other persons, which places are kept or maintained so as to provide harborage for rodents excluding properly zoned and lincensed wrecking yards, junk yards or machinery being used.

(g) Garbage disposed of in any manner other than provided in the "garbage collection and disposal" code Chapter 8.04

(h) Garbage cans which are not impervious to rodent gnawing or do not have tight-fitting lids

(i) Any putrid, unsound or unwholesome bones, meat, hides, skins or the whole or the any part of any dead animal, fish or fowl, butcher's trimmings and offal, or any waste vegetable or animal matter in any quantity, garbage, human excreta or other offensive substance; provided, nothing in this subsection shall prevent the temporary retention of waste in a manner consistent with the "garbage collection and disposal" codes, Chapter 8.04.

(j) Foliage or any tall grass or weeds that is rodent infested, or otherwise constitutes a fire hazard.

(k) Grass clippings, cut brush or cut weeds which may cause a fly or rodent harborage.

(i) Nests, colonies, hives or apiaries of bees, Africanized honeybees, yellow jackets, hornets or wasps which are not in full compliance with Chapter 15.60 RCW or Chapter 16-602 WAC; and

(m) Any accumulation of combustible, explosive or flammable substances which are stored in a way that poses a threat or danger to life or property.

Uncontrolled Weeds and Yard Maintenance

It is unlawful for any person to permit or allow weeds to become uncontrolled on any property within the city over which he or she has ownership, occupancy, or control. "Uncontrolled weeds" shall be defined as follows:

1. Any undesired, uncultivated or unsightly plants growing in profusion so as to crowd out desired plant growth or disfigure a lawn, or;

2. Any weeds, grass or plants, other than trees, bushes, flowers or other ornamental plants, growing to a height exceeding 12 inches; or

3. Any vegetation growth which obstructs or impedes full and free use of any street or sidewalk within the city or otherwise creates a fire or safety hazard

4. Every occupant of a dwelling unit located in the city shall keep the yard space thereof reasonably neat and clean and free of uncut grass, weeds, uncultivated and unsightly plants, bushes and debris, so as to prevent rodent, insect or other pest infestation and so as to prevent a fire hazard.
Removal of Litter from Private Property

The city manager or his designee, including the property maintenance facilitator, is authorized and empowered to notify the owner of any open or vacant private property within the city, or the agent of such owner, to properly dispose of litter located on such owner's property which is dangerous to public health, safety or welfare. Such notice shall be by certified mail, or comparable, addressed to said owner at his last known address.

Public input requested Property maintenance law likely to be approved by city in April SUNNYSIDE (Monday 3-30-99)---A new property maintenance law likely will be enforced in town beginning sometime in April, according to city councilmen meeting last night. The new law outlines procedures for enforcing new and existing property maintenance codes. It also provides for a "property facilitator" whose only job is to see the law is enforced. He is budgeted to come on deck in June. Realizing such a law might be controversial, the City Council urges plenty of public input before it's passed. Folks should email their favorite councilman or call city staff to have their say in the matter. If any citizen--anonymous or not--complains about a neighbor's property, the property facilitator will look into it. In addition the facilitator may see it and complain himself. When a complaint is shown to be valid, the property owner will get a warning notice. Ultimately, if the property owner doesn't comply, the facilitator can cite him--write him a "ticket". The new law provides for a maximum fine of $500 a day that each violation continues. Those violating a health or safety code may be charged with a misdemeanor. If found guilty a person could be fined up to $1,000. Legal language regarding offenses for which one might be thumped include: Nuisances affecting public health: The erecting, maintaining, using, placing, depositing, causing, allowing, leaving or permitting to be or remain in or upon any private lot, building, structure, or premises, or in or upon any street, avenue, alley, park, parkway, or other public or private place in the city, any one or more of the following places, conditions, things or acts to the prejudice, danger or annoyance of others: (a) Privies, vaults, cesspools, sumps, pits wells or cisterns or like places which are not securely protected from flies or rats, or constitute a hazard, or are otherwise prohibited. (b) Filthy, littered or trash-covered premises, including all buildings and structures thereon and areas adjacent thereto. (c) Tin cans, bottles glass, cans ashes, small pieces of scrap iron, wire, metal, articles, bric-a-brac, broken stone or cement, broken crockery, broken glass, broken plaster and all other trash or abandoned material unless the same are kept in covered bins or metal receptacles approved by the city, provided, that any such receptacles approved by the Yakima County Health District or designee shall be deemed approved by the city (d) Trash, litter, rags, debris, accumulations of empty barrels, boxes, crates, packing cases, mattresses, bedding, excelsior, packing hay, straw or other packing material, lumber not neatly piled, scrap iron, tin and other metal not neatly piled which provides harborage for rodents or other pests (e) Any unsightly or dangerous building, billboard or structure (f) All places used or maintained as junk yards or dumping grounds, or for the wrecking, disassembling, repair or rebuilding or automobiles, trucks, tractors or machinery of any kind or of any of the parts thereof, or for the storing or leaving of any machinery or equipment used by contractors or builders or by other persons, which places are kept or maintained so as to provide harborage for rodents excluding properly zoned and lincensed wrecking yards, junk yards or machinery being used. (g) Garbage disposed of in any manner other than provided in the "garbage collection and disposal" code Chapter 8.04 (h) Garbage cans which are not impervious to rodent gnawing or do not have tight-fitting lids (i) Any putrid, unsound or unwholesome bones, meat, hides, skins or the whole or the any part of any dead animal, fish or fowl, butcher's trimmings and offal, or any waste vegetable or animal matter in any quantity, garbage, human excreta or other offensive substance; provided, nothing in this subsection shall prevent the temporary retention of waste in a manner consistent with the "garbage collection and disposal" codes, Chapter 8.04. (j) Foliage or any tall grass or weeds that is rodent infested, or otherwise constitutes a fire hazard. (k) Grass clippings, cut brush or cut weeds which may cause a fly or rodent harborage. (i) Nests, colonies, hives or apiaries of bees, Africanized honeybees, yellow jackets, hornets or wasps which are not in full compliance with Chapter 15.60 RCW or Chapter 16-602 WAC; and (m) Any accumulation of combustible, explosive or flammable substances which are stored in a way that poses a threat or danger to life or property. Uncontrolled Weeds and Yard Maintenance It is unlawful for any person to permit or allow weeds to become uncontrolled on any property within the city over which he or she has ownership, occupancy, or control. "Uncontrolled weeds" shall be defined as follows: 1. Any undesired, uncultivated or unsightly plants growing in profusion so as to crowd out desired plant growth or disfigure a lawn, or; 2. Any weeds, grass or plants, other than trees, bushes, flowers or other ornamental plants, growing to a height exceeding 12 inches; or 3. Any vegetation growth which obstructs or impedes full and free use of any street or sidewalk within the city or otherwise creates a fire or safety hazard 4. Every occupant of a dwelling unit located in the city shall keep the yard space thereof reasonably neat and clean and free of uncut grass, weeds, uncultivated and unsightly plants, bushes and debris, so as to prevent rodent, insect or other pest infestation and so as to prevent a fire hazard. Removal of Litter from Private Property The city manager or his designee, including the property maintenance facilitator, is authorized and empowered to notify the owner of any open or vacant private property within the city, or the agent of such owner, to properly dispose of litter located on such owner's property which is dangerous to public health, safety or welfare. Such notice shall be by certified mail, or comparable, addressed to said owner at his last known address.