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Council approves stricter property-maintenance code despite business and property-owner objections
Summary
An ordinance tightening property-maintenance and vacancy standards passed 4–2 after speakers including the Spokane Business Association warned it could impose costly private-security mandates without clear thresholds; council members were split over vetting and stakeholder engagement.
The Spokane City Council on July 14 approved an ordinance that revises property-maintenance and use standards, consolidating multiple code sections into a single chapter and adding provisions on weed abatement, derelict vehicles and security measures on vacant properties. Brad Barnett, president of the Spokane Business Association, told the council the business community supports consistent property standards but warned the draft could "allow code enforcement to require vacant property owners to install private security measures,…
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