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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1_03 Code EnforcementCOUNCIL RETREAT COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Thursday, February 19, 2026 VACANT BUILDINGS Charleen Pleasance Gina Estep Vacant Buildings Does the City have the tools to address vacant buildings effectively? YES. RMC 4-5-130 International Property Maintenance code establishes the regulations to do so. Vacancies are in flux in all cities daily, playing a role in both economic OPPORTUNITY, but also potential BLIGHT. Approach: Cases cannot be considered "one size fits all”. Goal: Compliance via win-win solution-based approach – Of course, this is the standard case approach – some cases will require a legal heavy hand. What we are doing now and next: A deep dive into our Code, financial needs, personnel needs, and legal strategies. Limitations, Challenges & Lessons Learned Vacant Buildings Assess financial needs and programs:Evaluating pros and cons of a vacant building monitoring process Municipal Code adjustments: Evaluating Municipal Code possible amendments for clearly &strategy for expedited case resolution Personnel needs /staffing: - Created a multi-departmental response team - ensuring quick, well-coordinated and efficient case resolution and responses - Hiring a Code Compliance Manager IMPORTANT: Code Compliance requires balancing compliance goals while recognizing and respecting the rights to due process awarded to the property owner Considerations Being Reviewed UNLICENSED FOOD VENDORS Jason Churchill Unlicensed Food Vendors Code Compliance coordinated with the King County Health Department and the property home-owner to remove an unlicensed commercial kitchen November 6th – 1 team of 2 Code Compliance Inspectors canvassed the city and identified 5 food vendors of which 4 had all the proper paperwork to operate and 1 vendor was not open for business What: Fall of 2025 saw a significant increase in the number illegal food vendors. City Response:Code Compliance successfully assembled a multi-departmental response team (Code Compliance, Police, Fire, King County Health Department and Economic Development) and conducted a successful outreach / code compliance operation. Goal: Educate vendors, shut down illegal vendors, protect public safety, and ensure a fair and equitable landscape for all businesses. Actions and Successes September 19th – 3 teams of 1 CC Inspector and 1 Police Officer swept the city. 7 vendors were present, 4 shutdown, and 3 were educated with a licensing packet (these needed a City Business License) A 3rd sweep is planned for the spring to continue educational outreach Actions Conducted an Education Outreach Campaign CED and Communications Unlicensed Food Vendors Operations must take place outside of usual city business hours to make the most impact (typically 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.). Language barriers make educational outreach more difficult. The only person allowed to place/post stop work orders on locations is the Fire Marshal, resulting in a challenge in our ability to quickly shut down an unlicensed vendor. We believe our success was driven by providing education and forming and utilizing the multi-departmental team. Navigating Unique Compliance Logistics Since our operation, the number and frequency of illegal food vendors has decreased. Continued and frequent action will be necessary to ensure this trend continues.