North Bend ups ante on code enforcement rules

Published 11:35 am Thursday, October 2, 2008

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.