(A) The City Council finds that vacant buildings have caused significant problems for the city including but not limited to frozen pipes, leaks in water lines and utilities, building becoming dilapidated and unsafe, building becoming attractive nuisances, and negative impacts on nearby property values. The City Council finds that boarded up windows and doors should only be a temporary solution to prevent unauthorized entry into a building. The City Council finds that windows and doors boarded up for extended time negatively impact on the property values and serves as a notice that the building is vacant. The city finds that it has authority to adopt this chapter based upon the city's general police powers in protection of the public health, safety, and welfare of city residents.
(B) The intent of this chapter is to protect the public health safety and welfare by:
(1) Establishing a program for identification registration and maintenance of buildings which are or become vacant on and after the effective date of this chapter;
(2) Determining the responsibilities of the owners of record of vacant buildings; and
(3) Providing for additional means of avoidance and abatement of public nuisances.
(Ord. 1683, passed 9-19-18)