Council adopts chronic nuisance ordinance by emergency authority, adds provision allowing police to offer alternatives to CNAP

The Talent City Council on Oct. 15 adopted Ordinance 2025‑998‑O by emergency authority to create a chronic nuisance process and to permit immediate citation in limited, defined circumstances.

Staff described two principal edits made since the last draft: a condensed intent paragraph clarifying that the chronic nuisance provisions are not intended to apply to properties established and operated in compliance with federal fair housing laws or other applicable state or federal protections for people with disabilities, and a change to allow the chief of police or their designee to offer an alternative, less burdensome method than a full Chronic Nuisance Abatement Plan (CNAP) to achieve abatement in appropriate cases.

Alex, a city staff member, read the revised intent language into the record: “this section is not intended to apply to properties established and operated pursuant to and in full compliance with federal fair housing rules or other applicable state or federal laws for the purpose of housing individuals with disabilities who or who are members of other protected classes.”

Councilors debated the scope of the chief’s authority and sought wording that would require an alternative be less burdensome than a CNAP and that it be offered or accepted through a negotiation or agreement with the property owner. The police chief (name not specified) described examples in which an owner’s voluntary action—such as issuing an eviction or arranging cleanup with volunteers—could satisfy compliance and avoid the full CNAP process.

A motion to adopt Ordinance 2025‑998‑O by emergency authority, as amended to include the “may offer an alternative method other than the CNAP” language, was made and seconded; the ordinance was adopted on roll call.