Source: https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/Sultan/html/Sultan01/Sultan0110.html
Timestamp: 2020-01-25 06:06:34
Document Index: 503197394

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1']

1.10.030 Conflicting code provisions.
1.10.040 Joint and several responsibility and liability.
1.10.050 Computation of time.
1.10.060 Interference with code enforcement unlawful.
1.10.070 Service of documents.
1.10.080 Violations.
1.10.090 Infractions.
1.10.095 Chronic nuisance.
1.10.100 Voluntary correction.
1.10.110 Stop work order.
1.10.120 Notice of civil violation.
1.10.130 Response to notice of civil violation.
1.10.140 Scheduling of hearing to contest or mitigate – Correction prior to hearing.
1.10.150 Contested hearing – Procedure.
1.10.160 Mitigation hearing – Procedure.
1.10.170 Decision of hearing examiner.
1.10.180 Failure to appear – Default order.
1.10.190 Judicial review.
1.10.200 Recovery of penalties and costs.
1.10.205 Liens.
1.10.210 Abatement.
1.10.220 Right of entry.
The purpose of this chapter is to establish an efficient system of enforcing city regulations that will enable violations to be promptly resolved whenever possible, while providing both appropriate penalties and a full opportunity for alleged violators to have a hearing to contest the violations. It is the express and specific purpose and intent of this chapter to provide for and promote the health, safety and welfare of the general public and not to create or otherwise establish or designate any particular class or group of persons who will or should be especially protected or benefited by the terms of this chapter. It is also the express and specific purpose and intent of this chapter that no provision or term used in this chapter is intended to impose any duty whatsoever upon the city or any of its officers or employees. Nothing contained in this chapter is intended or shall be construed to create or form the basis of any liability on the part of the city, its officers, employees or agents, for any injury or damage resulting from any action or inaction on the part of the city, its officers, employees or agents. (Ord. 1219-15 § 1)
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise or they are more specifically defined in a section or subsection. Terms not defined shall be given their usual meaning.
A. “Abate” means to act to stop an activity and/or to repair, replace, remove, or otherwise remedy a condition, when such activity or condition constitutes a violation of this code or a city regulation, by such means and in such a manner and to such an extent as the applicable department director, enforcement officer, or other authorized official determines is necessary in the interest of the general health, safety, and welfare of the community. For the purposes of this chapter, the verbs “abate” and “correct” shall be interchangeable and have the same meaning.
C. “City” means the city of Sultan, Washington.
D. “Civil penalty” or “monetary penalty,” as used in any code, ordinance or regulation of the city, shall be deemed to have the same meanings as used in this chapter.
E. “Code” means the Sultan Municipal Code.
F. “Code enforcement officer” or “enforcement officer” means the city’s code enforcement officer(s); the building official; building inspectors; construction inspectors; the fire marshal or his or her designee; fire inspectors; the chief of the Sultan police department or his or her designee; the director of the community development department or his or her designee; the director of the public works department or his or her designee; or any other person or persons assigned or directed by the mayor or his or her designee to enforce the regulations subject to the enforcement and penalty provisions of this chapter.
G. “Correction notice” means a written statement issued by a code enforcement officer, notifying a person that property or work under his or her control is in violation of one or more regulations and informing such person that a notice of civil violation may be issued and/or an infraction or criminal charges filed if the violations are not abated.
H. “Costs” means, but is not limited to, contract expenses and city employee labor expenses incurred in abating a nuisance; a rental fee for city equipment used in abatement; costs of storage, disposal, or destruction related to abating a nuisance; legal expenses and attorneys’ fees associated with civil judicial enforcement of abatement orders or in seeking abatement orders; and any other costs incurred by the city, excluding fees and expenses associated with appeals authorized by this code or by state law.
I. “Day” or “days” means one or more calendar days, unless expressly stated otherwise in a given section or subsection. In addition, any portion of a 24-hour day shall constitute a full calendar day.
J. “Hearing examiner” means the Sultan hearing examiner.
K. “Knowledge” means being aware of a fact or circumstance or having information which would lead a reasonable person in the same situation to believe a fact or circumstance exists. A person acts knowingly or with knowledge when that person either is aware of one or more facts, circumstances, or results, which are described by an ordinance defining an offense, or has information which would lead a reasonable person in the same situation to believe that facts, circumstances, or results exist which are described by an ordinance defining an offense.
L. “Mortgagee” means a financial institution, including a bank, credit union or other commercial lender, which holds mortgaged property as security for repayment of a loan.
M. “Notice of violation” or “notice of civil violation” or “violation notice” means a written statement, issued by a code enforcement officer, which contains the information required under SMC 1.10.120 and which notifies a person that he or she is responsible for one or more civil violations of the Sultan Municipal Code.
N. “Omission” means a failure to act.
O. “Owner” means any owner, part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, tenant in partnership, joint tenant, or tenant by the entirety, of the whole or of a part of a building or land.
P. “Person” means any individual, firm, business, association, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity, public or private, however organized. Because “person” shall include both human beings and organizational entities, any of the following pronouns may be used to describe a person: he, she, or it.
Q. “Person responsible for the violation” or “violator” or “responsible person” means any of the following: a person who has titled ownership or legal control of the property or structure that is subject to the regulation; an occupant or other person in control of the property or structure that is subject to the regulation; a developer, builder, business operator, or owner who is developing, building, or operating a business on the property or in a structure that is subject to the regulation; a tenant or other person having the owner’s permission to occupy the premises; or any person who created, caused, participated in, or has allowed a violation to occur.
R. “Regulation” means and includes any of the following, as now enacted or hereafter amended:
1. All Sultan Municipal Code provisions;
S. “Repeat violation” means, as evidenced by the prior issuance of a correction notice or a notice of violation, a subsequent violation that has occurred on the same property or that has been committed by a person responsible for the prior violation elsewhere within the city of Sultan. To constitute a repeat violation, the violation need not be the same type of violation as the prior violation. The violation of a written order of the hearing examiner that has been served as provided in this chapter shall constitute a repeat violation.
T. “Right-of-way” means land owned, dedicated or conveyed to the public or a unit of government, used primarily for the movement of vehicles or pedestrians and providing for access to adjacent parcels, with the secondary purpose of providing space for utility lines and appurtenances and other devices and facilities benefiting the public. “Right-of-way” includes, but is not limited to, any street, easement, sidewalk, or portion thereof under the jurisdiction of the city.
U. “Violation” or “civil violation” or “civil infraction” means an act or omission contrary to a regulation as defined in this section. A violation continues to exist until abated to the satisfaction of the city, and each day or any portion of a day during which a violation occurs or continues is a separate offense. (Ord. 1219-15 § 1)
In the event a conflict exists between the enforcement provisions of this chapter and the enforcement provisions of any international or uniform code, statute, or regulation that is adopted in the Sultan Municipal Code and subject to the enforcement provisions of this chapter, the enforcement provisions of this chapter will prevail, unless the enforcement provisions of this chapter are preempted or specifically modified by said code, statute, or regulation. In the event of a conflict between this chapter and any other provision of this code or city ordinance providing for a civil penalty, the more specific provision shall control. (Ord. 1219-15 § 1)
Responsibility for violations of the codes enforced under this chapter is joint and several, both as to duty to correct and to payment of monetary penalties and costs, and the city is not prohibited from taking action against a party where other persons may also be potentially responsible for a violation, nor is the city required to take action against all persons potentially responsible for a violation. (Ord. 1219-15 § 1)
In computing any period of time prescribed or allowed by this code, the day of the act, event or default from which the designated period of time begins to run shall not be included. The last day of the period so computed shall be included unless it is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, in which event the period shall run until the end of the next day which is neither a Saturday, Sunday, nor legal holiday. When the period of time prescribed or allowed is less than seven days, intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays shall be excluded in the computation. (Ord. 1219-15 § 1)
Any person who intentionally obstructs, impedes, or interferes with any lawful attempt to serve a notice of violation, stop work order, or emergency order, or intentionally obstructs, impedes, or interferes with lawful attempts to correct a violation shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor. (Ord. 1219-15 § 1)
2. “Service by mail” is accomplished by sending the document by regular first class mail to the last known address of the person subject to the document. The last known address shall be an address provided to the city by the person to whom the document is directed. If an address has not been provided to the city, the last known address shall be any of the following as they appear at the time the document is mailed: the address of the property where the violation is occurring, as reflected on the most recent equalized tax assessment roll of the county assessor or the taxpayer address appearing for the property on the official property tax information website for Snohomish County; the address appearing in any database used for the payment of utilities for the property at which the violations are occurring; or the address of the person to whom the documents are being sent that appears in the Washington State Department of Licensing database.
D. Additional Proof of Service Not Necessary. No additional proof of service beyond the requirements in this chapter shall be required by the hearing examiner or other entity. Any failure of the person to whom a document is directed to observe a document served by posting or publication shall not invalidate service made in compliance with this section, nor shall it invalidate the document. (Ord. 1219-15 § 1)
B. Each day and any portion of a day during which a violation of this code occurs or continues is a separate offense.
E. Nothing in this chapter or in other chapters of the Sultan Municipal Code shall prevent code enforcement officers or any other officers of the city of Sultan or other governmental unit from taking any other action, summary or otherwise, necessary to eliminate or minimize an imminent danger to the health or safety of any person or property. The city’s costs of abating any such nuisance or endangerment summarily or otherwise abated shall be recoverable under this chapter as well as in the same manner and to the same extent as costs of abating nuisances or endangerment under any other provisions of this code, in addition to or as an alternative to any other rights or remedies the city may possess. (Ord. 1219-15 § 1)
A. When the city determines that it is appropriate to enforce violations of this code as civil infractions rather than civil violations as otherwise provided in this chapter, or if the city is unable to obtain payment of civil fines pursuant to a notice of civil violation, enforcement officers shall file such infractions in the Snohomish County District Court, Evergreen Division, and shall follow the provisions of Chapters 3.50 and 7.80 RCW. First offenses shall be class 2 civil infractions, for which the maximum penalty and the default amount shall be $125.00, and second or subsequent violations shall be class 1 civil infractions, for which the maximum penalty and the default amount shall be $250.00, not including fees, costs, and assessments.
B. Chapters 3.50 and 7.80 RCW are hereby adopted by reference to the extent that it is not inconsistent with explicit provisions of the Sultan Municipal Code, including this section. (Ord. 1219-15 § 1)
A. A repeat violation of the same regulation within two years of the underlying or previous violation shall be considered a chronic nuisance.
B. A chronic nuisance shall constitute a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for a term fixed by the court not to exceed 90 days or by a fine in an amount fixed by the court not to exceed $1,000 or by both such imprisonment and fine.
C. If a person has been convicted of a chronic nuisance, the determination of a second or subsequent chronic nuisance offense shall constitute a gross misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for a term fixed by the court not to exceed 12 months or by a fine in an amount fixed by the court not to exceed $5,000 or by both such imprisonment and fine. For the purposes of this section, the second or subsequent chronic nuisance offense need not be the same type of violation as the first chronic nuisance offense. (Ord. 1219-15 § 1)
A. General. When the city determines that a violation has occurred, a code enforcement officer may attempt to secure the voluntary correction of a violation by attempting to contact the person responsible for the violation, explaining the violation, and requesting correction. This may be done orally and/or in writing. The city may also enter into a written voluntary correction agreement with any person causing, allowing, or participating in the violation, including the property owner. A voluntary correction agreement may be entered into in lieu of, or in conjunction with a notice of violation. The option to enter into a voluntary correction agreement shall be within the city’s sole discretion, and voluntary correction efforts need not be made where the nature of the violation creates a risk of imminent harm to public health or safety or where it is a repeat violation.
8. A statement indicating that, pursuant to SMC 1.10.120, a notice of civil violation may be issued with each violation constituting a separate offense subject to civil penalties, or, alternatively, civil infraction or criminal charges may be filed.
1. Abatement by the City. In addition to any other remedy provided for in this chapter, the city may abate the violation in accordance with SMC 1.10.210, if the terms of the voluntary correction agreement are not met.
2. Penalties and Costs. If the terms of the voluntary correction agreement are not met, the person responsible for the violation may be issued a notice of civil violation and assessed a monetary penalty in accordance with SMC 1.10.120, plus all costs and expenses of abatement. Alternatively, the city may file a civil infraction or criminal charges. (Ord. 1219-15 § 1)
A. Issuance. Whenever a code enforcement officer determines that any work, use, activity, or conduct is a violation under the Sultan Municipal Code and creates an imminent threat of injury to the health, safety, or welfare of any member of the public or will damage or injure, or exacerbate damage or injury already caused to, any property, the code enforcement officer may issue a stop work order directing any person causing, allowing, or participating in the offending conduct to cease such use, activity or conduct immediately.
B. Service of Order. Service of the stop work order shall generally be accomplished as set forth in SMC 1.10.070(A)(3).
D. Effect of a Stop Work Order. When a stop work order has been issued, posted and/or served pursuant to this section, it is unlawful for any person to whom the order is directed or any person with actual or constructive knowledge of the order to conduct the activity or perform the work covered by the order, even if the order has been appealed, until the code enforcement officer has removed the copy of the order, if posted, and issued written authorization for the activity or work to be resumed. In addition, a monetary penalty shall accrue for each day or portion thereof that a violation of a stop work order occurs, in the same amounts as under SMC 1.10.120. In addition to such criminal or monetary penalties, the city may enforce a stop work order pursuant to any other provision of this chapter and enforce it in superior court.
E. Removal of a Stop Work Order. When a stop work order has been posted in conformity with the requirements of this chapter, removal of such order without the authorization of the city, or the hearing examiner if the matter has been heard by the hearing examiner, is unlawful. (Ord. 1219-15 § 1)
B. Monetary Penalty. A monetary penalty shall accrue for each day or portion thereof that a violation continues beyond the date set in a notice of civil violation or any hearing examiner’s decision. Unless a different penalty amount for a given violation is expressly authorized or required by a more specific city code provision, the maximum penalty and the default amount shall be $125.00 for the first violation and $250.00 for a second or subsequent violation of the same nature or a continuing violation past a deadline set by a notice of violation, not including fees, costs, and assessments. The city may waive the monetary penalty, if corrective action is completed by the date specified in the notice of civil violation or a voluntary correction agreement. The city shall have the discretion to impose penalties in an amount lower than those shown above.
4. The amount of any civil penalty assessed on account of the violation, and a statement advising that if any assessed civil penalties are not paid, the city may charge the amount of the penalty as a lien against the property and as a joint and separate personal obligation of any person in violation;
5. A statement indicating that the violator must respond to the notice of civil violation within 14 days of the date of issuance, or within such other time period as specified in the notice of civil violation, by doing one of the following:
6. A statement indicating that failure to respond to the notice of violation, or failure to attend any hearing, shall result in the violation being deemed committed without requiring further action by the city, and that the monetary penalty specified in the notice shall be due to the city by the violator and further accrue as provided in this chapter; and
7. A statement indicating that payment of a monetary penalty does not relieve the person or entity named in the notice of civil violation of the duty to abate the violation, and that failure to abate may result in the issuance of additional notices of violation and/or criminal charges, with additional civil and/or criminal penalties, including the payment of costs for any abatement action taken by the city.
E. Transfer of Ownership. It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dwelling unit or structure who has received a notice of civil violation to sell, transfer, mortgage, lease or otherwise dispose of such dwelling unit or structure to another until the provisions of the compliance order or notice of civil violation have been complied with, or until such owner shall first furnish the grantee, transferee, mortgagee or lessee a true copy of any compliance order or notice of civil violation issued by the code enforcement officer and shall furnish to the code enforcement officer a signed and notarized statement from the grantee, transferee, mortgagee or lessee, acknowledging the receipt of such compliance order or notice of civil violation and fully accepting the responsibility without condition for making the corrections or repairs required by such compliance order or notice of violation. This provision shall not apply to the following types of transfers of real property: a gift or other transfer to a parent, spouse, domestic partner, or child of a transferor or child of any parent, spouse, or domestic partner of a transferor; a transfer between spouses or between domestic partners in connection with a marital dissolution or dissolution of a state registered domestic partnership; a transfer made by the personal representative of the estate of the decedent or by a trustee in bankruptcy; and a tax deferred exchange to an intermediary or facilitator. (Ord. 1219-15 § 1)
3. Contesting the notice of civil violation by requesting a contested hearing in writing and sending the request to the city as described in subsection (B) of this section.
4. Seeking to mitigate the monetary penalty by requesting a mitigation hearing to explain the circumstances surrounding the violation. The request to mitigate must be made in writing and sent to the city with a $100.00 filing fee as described in subsection (B) of this section. Requesting to mitigate the penalty shall not relieve the person responsible for the violation from the duty to correct or abate the violation. Additional notices of violation may be issued if the violation goes uncorrected.
C. If the person to whom the notice of civil violation is issued fails to respond as required in the notice of civil violation and this chapter, the violation(s) shall be deemed committed without requiring further action by the city or the city’s hearing examiner, and the person to whom the notice of civil violation was issued shall owe the monetary penalty indicated. (Ord. 1219-15 § 1)
B. Correction of Violation Prior to Hearing. The hearing may be cancelled and the party requesting the hearing need not appear if, at least two business days prior to the scheduled hearing, the code enforcement officer determines that the violation has been satisfactorily corrected or abated and the monetary penalty paid in full. Where the scheduled hearing involves a repeat violation as defined in this chapter, the hearing shall not be cancelled unless the new violation has been corrected or abated to the satisfaction of the code enforcement officer and the monetary penalty and costs for the new violation(s) and any monetary penalty and costs owing for the previous violation(s) have been paid in full. (Ord. 1219-15 § 1)
A. Where not in conflict with a more specific provision of this chapter, hearings shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 2.26 SMC and the rules of procedure as adopted by the hearing examiner.
E. Any notes, reports, summaries, photographs, or other materials prepared by the parties shall be admitted into evidence if requested; provided, that the parties are free to argue the weight that should be assigned by the hearing examiner to any evidence submitted. (Ord. 1219-15 § 1)
B. The city shall be given the opportunity, at its discretion, to provide evidence of the nature of the violation, evidence to rebut assertions made by any party, and any other information or evidence the hearing examiner deems to be relevant. (Ord. 1219-15 § 1)
A. At or after the contested or mitigation hearing, the hearing examiner shall issue a written decision to:
1. Sustain the violation notice;
2. Withdraw the violation notice;
4. Modify the violation notice, which may include an extension of the compliance date.
B. Contents of Order. Upon the conclusion of a hearing, the hearing examiner may issue an oral decision pending issuance of the written decision. If necessary, the hearing examiner may delay issuing the written decision for up to 10 business days following the hearing. In either event, the oral decision and written decision shall contain findings and conclusions based on the record, which to the extent applicable includes the following information:
1. In mitigation hearings, a statement indicating that each alleged violation has been found committed, and in contested hearings, a statement indicating whether each alleged violation has been found committed or not committed;
4. For violations found committed, a finding that abatement of the violations by the city is authorized, at the expense of the person responsible for the violations;
5. A statement notifying the person responsible for the violation that he or she is subject to additional civil and/or criminal penalties if any violation that was the subject of the hearing has not been corrected or abated as required by the hearing examiner’s decision; and
6. A statement that a lien for the civil penalty or cost of abatement, or both, may be claimed by the city.
C. Notice of Decision. The hearing examiner may cause a copy of the decision to be served upon the parties at the close of the hearing. When the hearing examiner requires more time to prepare a written decision, or when a party fails to appear after requesting a contested hearing, the hearing examiner shall cause a copy of the decision to be served on the parties by mailing a copy to each party’s last known address no later than 10 business days following the hearing. (Ord. 1219-15 § 1)
If the person who requests a hearing to contest a violation or mitigate the penalty then fails to appear at the scheduled hearing after having been given notice in the manner provided for by this chapter, the hearing examiner shall immediately issue a default decision, which finds committed all the violations set forth in the notice of civil violation and which assesses a monetary penalty in the full amount indicated in the notice of violation. In addition, at the request of the city, the hearing examiner shall also impose upon the nonappearing party any costs to the city related to preparation for the hearing. The hearing examiner shall cause a copy of the decision to be served upon the nonappearing party by mailing a copy to the last known address of the nonappearing party within 10 business days of the hearing. Upon the motion of a party, the hearing examiner may rescind a default decision only upon a showing of good cause to do so and only if such motion has been brought within 30 calendar days of the date of the hearing at which the default decision was entered. (Ord. 1219-15 § 1)
Judicial review of a hearing examiner’s decision relating to any ordinance regulating the improvement, development, modification, maintenance, or use of real property may be sought by any person aggrieved or adversely affected by the decision, pursuant to the provisions of the Land Use Petition Act, Chapter 36.70C RCW, if applicable, or other applicable authority, if any, if the petition or complaint seeking review is filed and served on all parties within 21 days of the date of the decision. For purposes of this section, “aggrieved or adversely affected” shall have the meaning set forth in RCW 36.70C.060(2). Judicial review of all other decisions may only occur subject to the procedures of Chapter 7.16 RCW. (Ord. 1219-15 § 1)
A. Payment of Monetary Penalties and Costs. Any monetary penalties or costs assessed pursuant to this chapter constitute a personal obligation of the person responsible for the violation. In addition, the monetary penalties or costs assessed pursuant to this chapter may be assessed against the property that is the subject of the enforcement action. The city attorney is authorized to collect the monetary penalty or costs by use of appropriate legal remedies, the seeking or granting of which shall neither stay nor terminate the accrual of additional per diem monetary penalties so long as the violation continues. The city may incorporate any outstanding penalty or cost into an assessment lien for abatement costs. Any monetary penalty assessed must be paid in full to the city within 30 days from the date of service of an uncontested notice of civil violation or any decision of the hearing examiner that assesses monetary penalties.
B. Recovery of Costs. The city shall bill its costs, including incidental expenses, of pursuing code compliance and/or of abating a violation to the person responsible for the violation and/or against the subject property. Such costs shall become due and payable 30 days after the date of the bill. The term “incidental expenses” shall include, but not be limited to, personnel costs, both direct and indirect, including attorneys’ fees incurred by the city; costs incurred in documenting the violation; the actual expenses and costs to the city in the preparation of notices, specifications and contracts, and in inspecting the work; hauling, storage and disposal expenses; the cost of any required printing and mailing; and interest. The city manager or designee, or the hearing examiner, may in his or her discretion waive in whole or in part the assessment of any costs upon a showing that abatement has occurred or is no longer necessary or that the costs would cause a significant financial hardship for the responsible party. Any challenge to the amount of the abatement costs must be made within 14 days of issuance of the bill and shall be heard by the city manager in an informal hearing. The city manager shall make a written determination as to whether or not the city’s costs were accurate and necessary for accomplishing the abatement.
C. Use of Collection Agency. Pursuant to Chapter 19.16 RCW, as currently enacted or hereafter amended, the city may, at its discretion, use a collection agency for the purposes of collecting penalties and costs assessed pursuant to this chapter. The collection agency may add fees or interest charges to the original amount assigned to collections as allowed by law. No debt may be assigned to a collection agency until at least 30 calendar days have elapsed from the time that the city attempts to notify the person responsible for the debt of the existence of the debt and that the debt may be assigned to a collection agency for collection if the debt is not paid. Notice of potential assignment to collections shall be made by regular first class mail to the last known address of the person responsible for the debt; provided, that inability to ascertain a current mailing address shall not prohibit the debt from being assigned to collections.
D. Continuing Duty to Abate Violations. Payment of a monetary penalty or costs pursuant to this chapter does not relieve the person responsible for the violation of the duty to correct or abate the violation. Additional notices of violation may be issued and/or criminal charges filed for continuing failure to correct or abate a violation. (Ord. 1219-15 § 1)
A. Lien Authorized. The Snohomish County auditor shall record and index the claims and notices described in this chapter.
B. Lien Priority. Liens assessed pursuant to this chapter shall be subordinate to all existing special assignment liens previously imposed upon the same property and shall be paramount to all other liens, except for the state and county taxes, with which it shall be on a parity.
C. Lien Claims – Generally.
1. Filing. The building and zoning official shall cause a claim for lien to be filed for record in the Snohomish County auditor’s office within 90 days from the date the civil penalty is due or within 90 days from the date of completion of the abatement work performed pursuant to this unified development code.
a. The authority of imposing a civil penalty or proceeding to abate the violation, or both;
b. A brief description of the civil penalty imposed or the abatement work done, or both, including the time the work is commenced and completed and the name of the persons or organizations performing the work;
c. A legal description of the property to be charged with the lien;
d. The name of the known or reputed owner, and, if not known, the fact shall be alleged; and
3. Verification. The building and zoning official or duly authorized representative shall sign and verify the claim by oath to the effect that the affiant believes the claim is just.
D. Foreclosure of Liens. The lien provided by this code may be foreclosed and enforced by a civil action in a court having jurisdiction.
1. Joinder. All persons who have legally filed claims of liens against the same property prior to commencement of the action shall be joined as parties, either plaintiff or defendant.
2. Actions Saved. Dismissal of an action to foreclose a lien at the instance of a plaintiff shall not prejudice another party to the suit who claims a lien. (Ord. 1219-15 § 1)
A. Abatement by City. Upon noncompliance with the terms of an unappealed notice of violation, a voluntary correction agreement, or a final decision of the hearing examiner, the city may perform the abatement required by said notice, agreement, or decision. The city may utilize city employees or a private contractor under city direction to accomplish the abatement. The city, its employees and agents using lawful means are expressly authorized to enter upon the property of the violator for such purposes. Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the city from pursuing abatement of a violation pursuant to any other laws of the state of Washington or the city.
B. Summary Abatement. Whenever any violation causes a condition the continued existence of which constitutes an immediate threat to the public health, safety or welfare or to the environment, or whenever any violation is of such a character and is so situated that the same can be abated without the invasion or destruction of private property and the further continuance is likely to result in expense to the city or injury to any person, the city may summarily and without prior notice abate the condition. Notice of such abatement, including the reason for it, shall be given to the person responsible for the violation as soon as reasonably possible after the abatement. No right of action shall lie against the city or its agents, officers, or employees for actions reasonably taken to prevent or cure any such immediate threats, but neither shall the city be entitled to recover any costs incurred for summary abatement, prior to the time that notice thereof is served on the person responsible for the violation as set forth in SMC 1.10.070.
C. Obstruction with Work Prohibited. No person shall obstruct, impede or interfere with the city, its employees or agents, or any person who owns or holds any interest or estate in any property in the performance of any necessary act preliminary or incidental to carrying out the requirements of a notice of violation, voluntary correction agreement, or decision of the hearing examiner issued pursuant to this chapter. (Ord. 1219-15 § 1)
A. When it is necessary to enforce the provisions of the Sultan Municipal Code, or when a code enforcement officer has reasonable cause to believe that there exists in a building or upon a premises a condition that is contrary to or in violation of this code, the code enforcement officer may enter the building or premises at reasonable times to inspect or to perform the duties imposed by this code; provided, that if such building or premises be occupied, the code enforcement officer shall present identification credentials, state the reasons for entry, and demand entry. If such building or premises be unoccupied, the code enforcement officer shall first make a reasonable effort to locate the owner or other person having charge or control of the building or premises and demand entry. If entry is refused, or the code enforcement officer is unable to locate the owner or other person having control of the premises, the code enforcement officer shall have recourse to the remedies provided by law to secure entry.
C. Employee Identification. City employees shall carry identification cards while on duty. Any employee, when legitimately requested by the public, shall show the requesting party his or her identification card.
D. Intimidation of Employees. Threats, intimidation, or other violations of public peace directed against an employee engaged in lawful action upon private property are unlawful and may subject the threatening person and the owner of the property, as applicable, to legal action. (Ord. 1219-15 § 1)