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Committee refers eight foreclosure ordinances to council after years of code complaints; $432,000 in liens cited
Summary
The Finance Committee referred eight foreclosure ordinance items to the full council with a recommendation to pass. City staff said the properties have chronic code violations, visible trash, graffiti, and unlawful occupants; the eight properties carry about $432,000 in combined delinquent city liens.
The Portland City Council Finance Committee on Sept. 8 voted to refer eight foreclosure ordinances to the full council, asking that each be considered for foreclosure to collect delinquent city liens. City revenue and permitting staff told the committee the properties are vacant or in extreme disrepair, have chronic code violations, and have not responded to repeated outreach.
Thomas Lanham, revenue division director, and Kevin Foster, the city’s foreclosure prevention manager, said the foreclosure process is a last resort after years of attempts to engage owners and address fire, life and safety violations, graffiti, trash, and unauthorized encampments. Foster said the city’s foreclosure program began in 2016 and that referrals originate from Portland Permitting and Development when code violations go uncorrected.
Foster presented details on the eight properties the committee considered. He said the combined total of liens…
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