Many said it was too long coming, and that it wasn’t going far enough.

The council members said they appreciated all the comments, but wanted to get something on the books.

“There’s no fix all,” Councilman Jeff Siebert said. “We may have to come back again.”

Members Rob Toyer and Michael Stevens said it was great to have input from so many citizens.

“It helps our decision making,” Stevens said.

Council president Kamille Norton said it took time to do it right.

“To solve the problem we had to find a balance and not be intrusive,” she said.

Councilor Stephen Muller said it was tricky because of all the barriers.

“It’s not just common sense, but Constitutional law,” he said.

Chief Administrative Officer Gloria Hirashima thanked the council for looking at all of the information.

“A lot of things were being thrown at you,” she said.

During the public comment period, six people spoke on the topic.

•Ed Bailey thanked Stevens for coming to his neighborhood to see the four houses in violation. “We need to work together for the betterment of the Marysville community,” he said. He added that after media coverage a tree that had fallen on a vacant “zombie” house months ago next to his finally was removed.

•Ron Friesen said areas newly annexed to the city need to be required to have garbage collection. Regarding numerous cars on people’s property, they need to be licensed and roadworthy, he added.

•Mark Johnson said a neighbor of his has “every vehicle he’s ever owned for forty years” in his yard, some with moss on them and others covered with tarps. He also said, “Boats and motorhomes are all over the place, not being used, just being stored.”

•Chris Hottinger said he has a drug house across the street, and his wife is afraid to walk their dog because of it.

•Michelle Taylor said she lives near senior housing and cars are so thick ambulances can’t even get through.

•Michael Oleson said he doesn’t care what people do as long as it doesn’t effect him. But his neighbors have so much garbage stored that there are rats, and it smells like animal feces.

Friesen said he was grateful for all of the improvements regarding code enforcement. But there are so many zombie houses, neglected homes and junk vehicles that more code officers are needed.

“Untie their hands,” he said, adding they shouldn’t have to wait for a neighbor to complain to respond to public nuisance problems.

 

 

Highlights of new law

Because of numerous complaints of nuisance conditions impacting neighborhoods, the council passed the law. Previously code allowed accumulation of garbage and trash so long as it was screened from view from a public street. However, the accumulation of garbage and trash in private yards endangers public health and safety and negatively affects property values. So, the law is being updated to maintain health, safety and welfare of the community.

•The new law allows the city to clean up property and bill the property owner for the work done, that is if the owner does not comply with previous violation orders. Fines and possible jail penalties increase with each citation.

•The law applies to front, back and side yards.

•No garbage storage is allowed for more than seven days.

•No appliances can be stored outside for more than 14 days.

•Unused automobiles cannot be stored for more than 30 days.

 

Definitions

•“Garbage” means all putrescible solid and semisolid wastes, including but not limited to animal and vegetable wastes. “Garbage” does not include: Recyclable refuse and yard waste; White goods, meaning any large household appliance, including refrigerators, stoves, water heaters, etc.; Rubber tires; or Oil.

•“Trash” means materials that are not economically viable for further use, such as bottles; broken glass; ashes (except human crematory ashes); waste paper; cans; the remains of anything broken down or destroyed, including discarded furniture, furnishings, appliances, household equipment and

similar items.