Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Nuisance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council discusses nuisance-premises ordinance modeled on Beaverton code; staff and attorney to refine draft
Summary
City staff presented a draft chronic-nuisance-premises ordinance, noting Beaverton's model as a working example. Supporters said the tool can help landlords and police reduce repeat calls for service; city attorney and police chief agreed to review and adapt the ordinance to local needs.
City staff and several council members discussed a proposed chronic-nuisance-premises ordinance on Jan. 15 that would give landlords and the city an enforcement tool for properties that generate repeated calls for service.
Wayne (presenter) described Beaverton's ordinance as a model that had helped landlords and police reduce repeat nuisance behavior and provided tenants and neighbors a clearer path for remedies. "If there's a paper trail because of incidents...then...this gives the judge plenty of leeway to give people, you know, a break on the fines or to raise them," Wayne said, describing the ordinance's progressive-notice and penalty structure.
Staff described the proposed sequence of enforcement as administrative documentation, notices to property owners and, when warranted, municipal citations that the municipal court would hear. Presenters and council members stressed safeguards: the draft would exclude calls tied to active person-crimes that require emergency response, and the municipal judge retains discretion to dismiss or reduce penalties depending on circumstances.
City Attorney Ashley Weigand said she and her office would review Beaverton and other cities' experience and help tailor the ordinance to local constitutional and statutory limits. "I have also, have some experience with these ordinances, and they can be really effective," Weigand said, and offered to work with staff on revisions.
Police representatives and councilors said the proposed ordinance could create a notification trail for landlords and reduce repeated calls that currently burden officers and other tenants. Wayne illustrated a proposed penalty scale discussed in the packet: several early calls would produce warnings; after the 4th call in a month a $250 fine would be possible, with higher penalties for repeat calls over time. The presenters said fines would generally be assessed to the property owner or manager when the documented nuisance related to tenancy or property management.
Council requested staff, the police chief and the city attorney review the Beaverton model and other jurisdictions for implementation mechanics, impacts on staffing and wording to avoid deterring emergency 911 calls. Several councilors favored moving forward with a locally tailored ordinance; staff will return with a revised draft for council consideration. No vote was taken at the Jan. 15 work session.
