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Council tables vacancy/abandoned-property rule, asks city attorney for penalty guidance
Summary
Council reviewed draft vacancy rules (180-day threshold and penalties) and agreed to table the item pending guidance from the city attorney about allowable fine amounts and enforcement procedures.
Council members reviewed a draft ordinance section proposing treatment for vacant or abandoned properties, including a 180-day vacancy threshold and civil penalties for noncompliance. Members asked how to calculate 180 days and whether existing nuisance-penalty levels should apply; some council members said they favored a higher penalty in this new chapter than under the nuisance rules.
Multiple speakers suggested the penalties section required legal review. The chair and members agreed to table the vacancy-tax/abandoned-property item and to request recommendations from the city attorney on permitted fine amounts and the appropriate enforcement mechanism before proceeding.
Council discussion also covered practical enforcement steps — such as tracking vacancy periods, using water/electric service status as evidence, and drafting forms or spreadsheets for staff — and confirmed that some properties already appear to meet the vacancy standard. The council did not adopt penalties or a timeline at the meeting.
