File #: 2008-0340    Version:
Type: Ordinance Status: Passed
File created: 6/16/2008 In control: Law, Justice and Human Services Committee
On agenda: Final action: 7/28/2008
Enactment date: 8/7/2008 Enactment #: 16223
Title: AN ORDINANCE related to rental housing safety; and adding a new chapter to K.C.C. Title 12.
Sponsors: Reagan Dunn, Julia Patterson, Kathy Lambert, Jane Hague, Larry Phillips, Bob Ferguson, Dow Constantine
Indexes: Housing
Code sections: 12 -
Attachments: 1. 16223.pdf, 2. 2008-0340 Staff Report with Attachments for 07-17-08 LJHS.pdf
Staff: Curry, Clifton
Drafter
Clerk 07/18/2008
Title
AN ORDINANCE related to rental housing safety; and adding a new chapter to K.C.C. Title 12.
Body
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Findings:
A. The citizens of the county have a right to safe rental housing and the county should assist rental property owners and managers to reduce the occurrence of criminal conduct on rental properties. The council finds that it is a reasonable exercise of its police powers to require rental property owners to take reasonable steps to prevent the use of rental property for criminal purposes, and that rental property owners should be penalized in the event they take no action to discourage crime from recurring on their rental properties. The council further finds that increased cooperation between property owners, tenants and the sheriff's office is integral in reducing such crime.
B. Existing county laws have proven ineffective in encouraging rental housing property owners who have criminal activity occurring on their property, to take the proper steps necessary to help the sheriff's office in stopping crime.
C. This ordinance has been developed to give the sheriff's office and rental housing property owners the tools necessary to maintain and improve the safety, quality and appearance of the rental properties they own, and therefore, provide a safer living environment for renters and for the surrounding community.
D. Enforcement of this ordinance through issuance of civil infraction notices as provided in RCW chapter 7.80 will use procedures with which the sheriff's office and district court are accustomed. The district court will conduct hearings on infractions, with a sheriff's deputy presenting evidence in support of the infraction notice. As provided by RCW 7.80.090, a deputy prosecuting attorney may, but need not, appear on behalf of the county. It is anticipated that most cases will not require appearance by a deputy prosecuting attorney.
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