A. Whenever the director has inspected or caused to be inspected any premises and has found and determined that the premises are in violation of this code, the director may issue a citation and order to abate the nuisance as provided herein. Before a citation and order is issued, the director shall communicate with the owner to request that the owner voluntarily cooperate with the city to abate the nuisance, and encourage the owner to participate in a mediation program designed to foster cooperation between property owners, interested persons, and the city.
B. No citation and order shall be issued hereunder if the owner is making good faith efforts to abate the nuisance. Indicia of good faith may include prompt responses to city communications and requests, active professional property management, and taking steps to repair physical conditions which contribute to the nuisance.
C. 1. Whenever the director notifies an owner or manager of rental residential property orally or in writing of a nuisance alleged to be caused by a specific tenant or the tenants of a specific unit, the director shall concurrently give written notice thereof to the specific tenant(s) or unit and the executive director of the human rights/fair housing commission. The written notice shall state that the tenant(s) have the right to contest the allegations of nuisance at an informal meeting with the executive director of the human rights/fair housing commission as described in subsection (C)(4) of this section. Notice to the tenant or unit need not be given when the director determines that doing so would endanger persons or compromise an ongoing police investigation.
2. Whenever the director notices an owner or manager of rental residential property orally or in writing that a nuisance exists at their property, the director shall concurrently issue a written notice to the tenants of the property and the executive director of the human rights/fair housing commission. The notice shall generally describe the nuisance and the city's remedies under this code. The notice shall also state that tenants may contact the director to provide or receive information about their building. The notice shall also state that tenants who are served with thirty (30) day eviction notices shall have the right to an informal meeting with the executive director of the human rights/fair housing commission as described in subsection (C)(4) of this section.
3. Whenever the director issues a citation and order to abate a nuisance at a rental residential property, the director shall concurrently issue a written notice to the tenants of the cited property and the executive director of the human rights/fair housing commission. The written notice shall state that tenants who are served with thirty (30) day eviction notices shall have the right to an informal meeting with the commission as described in subsection (C)(4) of this section.
4. The executive director of the human rights/fair housing commission, or the executive director's designee, shall hold an informal meeting pursuant to subsections (C)(1), (2) or (3) of this section no later than ten (10) business days after the tenant's request. At the meeting, the tenant shall be given the opportunity to demonstrate that he or she is not causing a nuisance. The executive director, or the executive director's designee, shall mail certified copies of a letter describing the results of the informal meeting to the tenant, the owner, and the director of neighborhood services within two business days after the meeting. The executive director will forward to the director of neighborhood services each month a statistical summary of all informal meetings held.
5. The director shall establish procedures for providing all tenants with notice of subsequent proceedings and actions pursuant to this chapter.
D. The city attorney shall review and approve each citation and order before it is issued. (Prior code § 61.16.1609)