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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdnc 004 - Change Fines for Consistency Deschutes County Board of County Commissioner 1300 NW Wall St., Ste 200, Bend, OR 97701-1960 (541) 388-6570 – Fax (541) 385-3202 – www.deschutes.org AGENDA REQUEST AND STAFF REPORT For Board Business Meeting of May 14 , 2014 ________________________ Please see directions on the next page for completing this document DATE: March 5, 2014 FROM: Laurie Craghead Dept.: Legal Ph.: 541-388-6623 TITLE OF AGENDA ITEM: Consideration of First Reading by Title Only of Ordinance 2014-004, Amending Deschutes County Code 15.04.200 to Be Consistent with DCC Chapter 1.16 PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS DATE? NO Has public notice been given? N/A BACKGROUND AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS: On September 4, 2013, the Board of County Commissioners (“Board”) adopted Ordinance 2013- 015 that amended Deschutes County Code 1.16.010 to bring the County’s fines in line with those in ORS Chapter 153. That ordinance became effective on December 3, 2013. The same change, however, was not made to DCC 15.04.200(B), which still includes a maximum fine for building code violations in an amount that was equal to the previously adopted fine amounts in DCC 1.16.010. Ordinance 2014-004 amends DCC 15.04.200(B) to mirror DCC Chapter 1.16. As it stands now, with the adoption of Ordinance DCC 2014-003, there is an inconsistency between DCC. 1.16.010 (D) that requires the fine to be $2000 and DCC 15.04.200(B) that sets the fine at $720. By statute, however, a continuing fine cannot be more than $1000 per day. This ordinance was previously before the Board on March 5, 2014 but was not considered given the changes requested by the Board for Ordinance 2014-003. FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Higher presumptive fines for the designated violation may mean more revenue for the County because the courts will not be able to impose a lesser fine. Additionally, they might result in fewer code enforcement costs if the public knows that the fine will remain steep. RECOMMENDATION & ACTION REQUESTED: MOTION: Move approval of first reading by title only of Ordinance 2014-004. Second reading no earlier than 13 days from this date. ATTENDANCE: Laurie Craghead DISTRIBUTION OF DOCUMENT: N/A PAGE 1 OF 2 - ORDINANCE NO. 2014 -004 For Recording Stamp Only BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON An Ordinance Amending Deschutes County Code 15.04.200 to Be Consistent with DCC Chapter 1.16. * * * ORDINANCE NO. 2014-004 WHEREAS, on September 4, 2013, the Board of County Commissioners (“Board”) adopted Ordinance 2013-015 that amended Deschutes County Code (“DCC”) 1.16.010 to bring the County’s fines in line with those in ORS Chapter 153 and that ordinance became effective December 12, 2013; and WHEREAS, DCC 15.04.200(B), the maximum fine for building code violations, was not updated with Ordinance 2013-015 and currently has a maximum fine less than what is stated in DCC 1.16.010(D) resulting in an inconsistency in the two code provisions; now, therefore, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON, ORDAINS as follows: Section 1. AMENDMENT. DCC 15.04.200 is amended to read as described in Exhibit “A,” attached hereto and by this reference incorporated herein, with new language underlined and language to be deleted in strikethrough. Dated this _______ of ___________, 2014 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON _____________________________________________ TAMMY BANEY, Chair _________________________________________ ANTHONY DEBONE, Vice Chair ATTEST: ______________________________ Recording Secretary _________________________________________ ALAN UNGER, Commissioner REVIEWED ______________ LEGAL COUNSEL PAGE 2 OF 2 - ORDINANCE NO. 2014 -004 Date of 1st Reading: _____ day of ____________, 2014. Date of 2nd Reading: _____ day of _____________, 2014. Record of Adoption Vote Commissioner Yes No Abstained Excused Tammy Baney ____ ____ ____ ____ Anthony DeBone ____ ____ ____ ____ Alan Unger ____ ____ ____ ____ Effective date: _____ day of ____________, 2014. Chapter 1.16 1 (38/2014) Page 1 of 1 – EXHIBIT A TO ORDINANCE 2014-004 15.04.200. Violation-Penalty. A. Violation of any provision of DCC 15.04, any specialty code or building code requirement administered by the County pursuant to this chapter, ORS 455.153, or the fire code is a Class A violation. B. A person liable for prosecution under DCC 1.16.015(C) for a violation of DCC 15.04 or any code adopted therein is also subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $720.00 per day the violation exists. C. The building official may initiate proceedings to assess a civil penalty for any violation of this chapter or codes adopted herein except for violations of the fire code. DC. A fire chief is authorized to initiate proceedings under DCC Chapter 1.17 to assess a civil penalty for a violation of the fire code. ED. Notwithstanding DCC 1.16.010(C) and (D), A in the case of a continuing offense, a civil penalty for a violation under a building inspection program may not exceed the maximum civil penalty amount authorized for an equivalent specialty code violation under ORS 455.895 $1,000.00 per day the violation exists. FE. The building official, a building inspector, or a fire chief may not serve as a hearings officer in proceedings to assess civil penalties under this chapter 1.17 of this code. GF. A fire chief is authorized to issue citations that charge a person with a violation of the fire code. (Ord. 2014-004, §1, 2014; Ord. 2011-022, §1, 2011; Ord. 2003-021 §31, 2003; Ord. 96-055 §2, 1996; Ord. 95-063 §1, 1995; Ord. 83-056 §17, 1983)