At its next meeting Wednesday, the Ukiah Planning Commission will discuss the city’s efforts to address “neglected vacant or abandoned buildings,” which were described in a recently adopted city ordinance as “a major source of blight.”
At the Jan. 8 meeting of the Planning Commission, Chairman Rick Johnson asked Community Development Director Craig Schlatter to provide an update on “what’s going on with the empty buildings we have downtown,” and staff note that they plan to address the issue with a presentation this week.
“The commission was also interested in understanding if any potential solutions had been identified for decreasing the number of vacant and/or abandoned properties,” the report prepared for the Feb. 12 meeting explains, noting that city officials have been discussing strategies for vacant buildings over the past several months.
Specifically, staff point out that last year “during the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget preparation and budget objectives development process, the City Council requested the Community Development Department explore a policy to address the growing blight and safety concerns related to vacant and abandoned buildings in Ukiah. (In response), staff drafted a vacant and abandoned properties ordinance for introduction by the City Council at the Dec. 18, 2024, regular meeting, which was approved by the Council by a unanimous vote. On Jan. 15, 2025, the City Council adopted the ordinance, which will become effective Feb. 14.”
The ordinance states:
Neglected vacant or abandoned properties are a major source of blight in the City of Ukiah and pose serious threats to public health, safety, and welfare. They attract criminal and unsafe activities, and as such, are vulnerable to fire, theft, and other illegal activities. The presence of neglected vacant or abandoned buildings and storefronts can lead to neighborhood decline, create nuisance conditions, lower property values, and discourage investment. It is the responsibility of property owners, lenders, trustees, or others with possessory, equitable, or legal interests in the neglected vacant or abandoned lots, buildings including without limitation historic buildings or structures, to maintain, secure, and prevent these buildings and lots from becoming a burden to the neighborhood and community or a threat to public health, safety and welfare.The ordinance also states that: “It is hereby declared to be in the public interest to promote the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the city of Ukiah … to establish an abandoned or vacant property registration program for residential and commercial properties as a mechanism to protect neighborhoods and commercial areas from becoming blighted through the lack of adequate maintenance and security of abandoned and vacated properties, which program and procedures shall be in addition to all other proceedings authorized by this code or otherwise by law.”
The Planning Commission meeting during which the new ordinance is expected to be discussed is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Feb. 12 in the City Council Chambers at 300 Seminary Ave., as well as online at: us06web.zoom.us/j/91264543193
To view the meeting (without participating), go to: www.cityofukiah.com/meetings/
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