HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/16/2013 06 Audience Participation(Distributed at the
;Meeting
Dear City Council and City Manager,
We are writing as representatives of Yakima's faith community to call for changes
to procedures utilized by the City Planning Commission when enforcing code
violations in high- density low- income housing complexes in our community.
Recent events involving the Senator and Cascade buildings have prompted this
letter.
First, we want to express our support and encouragement to the City of Yakima
for the following responsibilities that it carries:
• We understand that the City of Yakima is in a position to develop
and protect a vision for a clean, vibrant and safe environment in
downtown Yakima. We share and support this vision.
• We agree that building codes should be observed and enforced in
order to provide safe and secure facilities for all citizens of our
community.
• We support the City of Yakima as it works to hold owners
accountable for maintaining clean and safe housing within the city.
However, recognizing that the City of Yakima carries these responsibilities, we
must protest the manner in which enforcement was carried out in the case of the
code violations at the Cascade and Senator buildings. We cite the following
actions:
• A 72 hour notice to relocate, as was given by the city on Tuesday,
July 9, 2013, presents an undue hardship on the residents of those
facilities, many of whom are on limited or fixed income.
• No provision was made to provide for relocation costs for these
vulnerable residents, despite the fact that the City of Yakima
possesses the unique power of placing a lien upon the owner to
see those costs reimbursed.
• The City of Yakima made little to no effort to mobilize community
support services (e.g. Northwest Justice Project, Homeless
Network, or faith community advocates) in advance of the notice to
relocate, despite the fact that serious code violations were known
to the City as early as December 2012.
A great many of the tenants of the Cascade and Senator buildings live with
serious financial restraints. While the City can and should pressure delinquent
owners to adequately maintain facilities, the City also has a responsibility to
promote just outcomes for the residents, especially those whose level of financial
restraint makes them particularly vulnerable. We would ask that the following
considerations be taken up by the City Council when code enforcement is taking
action against apartment buildings and hotels where people live:
• In cases of mandatory relocation, a minimum of 30 -day notice be
given to residents.
• Low - income residents be provided relocation assistance by the City
to be reimbursed by the delinquent owner, utilizing the power given
in state law to the City to extract such compensation.
• Community resources be notified and collaborated with by the City in
order to help provide adequate support to families forced to
relocate.
• Courtesy copies of code enforcement notices be given to residents
in order to make them aware of the potential of building closure in
advance of final notice.
These measures would help ensure that code enforcement could continue to be
robust, delinquent owners can be held financially responsible in the case that
facilities are forced to close, and vulnerable low- income populations can find in
the City an advocate not only for their safety but for their continued ability to find
a home within our community.
We would ask that the City of Yakima develop procedures that would include
these or like suggestions in order to avoid a crisis such as was created during the
days between July 9th and July 14th, 2013. We share a vision for the City of
Yakima as a vibrant, safe and just community where residents of all income
levels can find safe and secure housing. We trust that the City Council and
Manager share this vision as well.
Respectfully,
The Faith Community of Yakima, Washington