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Committee approves ordinances to allow removal and towing of unlicensed/inoperable vehicles; members seek clearer timelines
Summary
Two ordinance changes were advanced: one adds an appeal path to the Board of Building and Housing Appeals and the other updates towing authority. Debate focused on appeal timing and fairness; the committee approved both measures (one vote 5–1–1, the other 6–1).
The Judiciary and Administration Committee on June 3 advanced two related ordinance changes to address long‑standing problems with unlicensed, inoperable or non-street-legal vehicles on private property.
Chief Reinhardt explained that the first ordinance change would allow enforcement orders (orders to correct) to be appealed to the Board of Building and Housing Appeals and would authorize the city to remove unlicensed vehicles after the appeals period. “What these 2 changes would do would allow the city to remove 1 of those vehicles if the order is not complied with,” he said, adding that owners would have an opportunity to appeal.
Committee members pressed staff on process and timeframes. Chief Reinhardt said the existing ordinance gives owners 14 days to correct an unlicensed-vehicle violation; if the new language is adopted the order-to-correct and appeal period will be spelled out in the notice the owner receives. He also said the city’s code-enforcement technicians proactively patrol and generate orders to correct, and that towing would be performed by a tow company with the owner responsible for towing and storage fees.
Council Member Bedford urged clearer, written timelines and uniform application so residents receive consistent treatment; several council members suggested staff and the city attorney refine the draft before final council action. Chief Reinhardt said an amendment to extend the time frame would require a separate legislative change.
The first ordinance (creating appeal language to the Board of Building and Housing Appeals) passed by a committee vote of 5 yes, 1 no and 1 abstention and will go to the full council. The second, which amends storage/towing references so towing is lawful under the revised process, passed the committee 6–1.
Staff noted enforcement aims for compliance rather than punishment and that extensions may be granted when owners contact the city and explain circumstances. The committee directed staff to work with the legal department to ensure the order-to-correct notices specify time frames and appeal rights.
