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Council affirms public-health nuisance finding for 3060 Charles Street; owner given 10 days to abate
Summary
After public hearing and testimony from the property owner, Beaumont City Council on Sept. 30 adopted an ordinance finding a public-health nuisance at 3060 Charles Street and ordered the owner to abate within 10 days. Council considered but rejected a separate motion to extend the timeline to 30 days.
Beaumont City Council on Sept. 30 adopted an ordinance finding that public-health nuisances exist at 3060 Charles Street and ordered the property owner, David Penner, to abate the conditions within 10 days or face city-initiated abatement and possible court action.
The ordinance followed a public hearing in which Environmental Health staff presented photographs they said were taken as recently as the day before the meeting and showed rodent harborage and mosquito-breeding conditions. David Penner spoke at the hearing and said he is retired and a veteran, acknowledged slow progress in cleaning the yard and said he would continue working to address the conditions.
Councilmember discussion focused on whether to allow more time. Councilmember Williams proposed giving Penner 30 days; the proposal was seconded but the amendment did not carry. The council then proceeded to vote on the ordinance as presented, which carried.
Environmental Health staff told council that the case originated in code enforcement and moved to health after multiple enforcement attempts; photos indicate the department had been unsuccessful at securing voluntary compliance. Staff described the next steps: after the council declaration the health department will send formal notice to the property owner giving 10 days to abate or to show significant progress; if the owner does not comply the city will seek a court order to enter and clean the property and ask the court for recovery of abatement costs (staff said the city obtains multiple contractor quotes and presents the lowest to the court).
Council members noted the longstanding nature of the case. Staff said the matter dates to 2020 for related litter or property violations and that the case had moved among code-enforcement and health processes; staff said the city has been working to streamline handling of longer-running cases.
Ending: The ordinance passed and staff will notify the owner and proceed with the abatement process if the property is not brought into compliance within the next 10 days.
