Council approves first reading of chronic‑nuisance ordinance; asks for wider work session to consider noncriminal nuisances

The Sandy City Council held a public hearing and approved the first reading of Ordinance 2025‑O4, updating the city’s chronic‑nuisance code (Chapter 8.22). Staff said the ordinance updates obsolete statutory references, adds the city manager to the list of officials who may declare a property chronic nuisance and clarifies penalty language.

Kelly (city staff) summarized the changes and told the council that the draft implements most of the code enforcement task force’s recommendations: “this chapter has been updated more recently … this would give the chief of police or the city manager the authority to declare something as a chronic nuisance property,” she said. The staff report also reflected input from the police chief and the city attorney; the police chief flagged that the list of violent offenses should include strangulation in addition to…