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Resident urges action on Springtree nuisance property; city reports red-tag and legal steps on separate failing-septic case
Summary
A Springtree neighborhood resident asked the council for help over a long-running nuisance rental property; city staff confirmed they would follow up. Separately staff updated council on a different property placed under a red tag for septic failure; county health and the prosecutor's office have been engaged and civil abatement options are under,
During audience communication at the Oct. 14 Mill Creek City Council meeting, resident Alan Richards of the Springtree neighborhood urged the council to address a long-running nuisance at a nearby single-family home. Richards told the council he and neighbors have documented repeated disturbances — frequent police calls, parking problems, converted garage space used as living areas, off-leash dogs, trash burning in the backyard and vehicle-washing or black tar sealant runoff into drains.
"I'm here to ask for help," Richards said, describing the property as a three‑bedroom, three‑bath single‑family home occupied by multiple tenants and a pattern of neighborhood disruption. He asked whether an existing municipal code could be enforced or whether the city should develop new rules to prevent similar situations elsewhere. Richards said the Mill Creek Community Association (MCCA) has gathered details and offered to work with the city.
Mayor Brian Holtzclaw asked staff to contact Richards and report back; the mayor also asked staff to gather materials related to foreclosure and homeowners-association enforcement limits, which Richards raised in his remarks (Richards noted HOA rules and Washington foreclosure statutes that limit HOA foreclosure unless assessments reach a statutory threshold).
Later in the meeting staff provided a separate code-enforcement update about a different property at which the city placed a red tag after county authorities determined the septic system failed. The director of community development said the city issued a red tag declaring the property uninhabitable pending septic repairs and that the property passed the appeal deadline without an appeal. The county had earlier issued orders and referred the matter to the county prosecutor; city staff said they are coordinating with county partners and that the prosecuting attorney's office had been asked to pursue civil abatement and a public-nuisance declaration to provide the city stronger enforcement tools.
Mill Creek’s police chief said officers have visited the property to confirm compliance with the red-tag order and that the city is discussing potential trespass-based enforcement options with the prosecuting authority. City attorney Jared and staff told council that civil abatement, enforcement liens and, as a last resort, condemnation are legal paths that would require further evaluation and court action.
Council members requested continued updates. Staff said they would follow up with Richards about the Springtree case, coordinate with the HOA and county on foreclosure/HOA enforcement limits, and report back on next steps for the red‑tagged property and any recommendations for municipal code changes regarding nuisance rentals or temporary food vendors.
