A. If the owner or party in interest, following exhaustion of his or her rights to appeal, fails to comply with the order to repair, alter, improve, vacate, close, remove, and/or demolish the dwelling, building, structure, or premises, the Community Development Director or designee may direct or cause such dwelling, building, structure, or premises to be repaired, altered, improved, vacated, closed, removed, and/or demolished.
B. It is a gross misdemeanor if the owner or party of interest, following exhaustion of his or her rights to appeal, fails to comply with the order to repair, alter, improve, vacate, close, remove, and/or demolish the dwelling, building, structure, or premises. Furthermore, the Community Development Director or designee may direct or cause such dwelling, building, structure, or premises to be repaired, altered, improved, vacated, closed, removed, and/or demolished.
C. Whenever a building or premises is found to be unsafe or unfit and the cost of demolition or other abatement must be incurred by the City, there shall be charged against the property the costs of all administrative proceedings before the Community Development Director and the hearing examiner including, but not limited to, salaries, wages, benefits, material, equipment rental, and other expenses incurred for inspecting, conducting hearing, or otherwise determining the status of the property.
D. In accordance with Revised Code of Washington 35.80.030(1)(h), the cost of abatement by the City shall be assessed against the real property upon which such cost was incurred, which assessment the County Treasurer shall enter upon the tax rolls against the property for the current year and to become a part of the general taxes for that year to be collected at the same time and with interest at such rates and in such manner as is provided in Revised Code of Washington 84.56.020 for delinquent taxes, and when collected to be deposited to the credit of the City's General Fund. The assessment shall constitute a lien against the property which shall be of equal rank with State, County, and Municipal taxes.
E. Materials from any dwelling, building, structure, or premises removed or demolished by the Community Development Director or designee, shall, if possible, be salvaged and sold as if the materials were surplus property of the City, and the funds received from the sale shall be credited against the cost of the removal or demolition; and if any balance remains, it shall be paid to the parties entitled thereto, as determined by the Community Development Director after deducting the costs incident thereto. (Ord. 943, 8-21-2017)