The following definitions shall apply:
A. 
"Abate"
means to destroy, remove, correct or terminate.
B. 
"Continue"
means failure to destroy, remove, correct or terminate.
C. 
"Junk"
means discarded, broken or disabled material including, but not limited to, furniture, appliances, toys, abandoned vehicles, inoperable vehicles or other items that are not in functioning condition, but not vehicles held on a temporary basis in a licensed impound yard.
D. 
"Litter"
means waste materials, including but not limited to paper wrappings, packaging materials, used bottles, used cans.
E. 
"Owner"
means any person in actual control of real property, or his agent, whether such control is based on legal or equitable title or any other interest entitling the holder to enjoyment, possession or use of the property and, for purposes of liability for payment pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, means the possessor of legal or equitable title.
F. 
"Person"
means any individual, partnership, corporation, incorporated association, firm, the state of Washington, or any department, agency or subdivision thereof, or any other entity.
G. 
"Property"
means land and any buildings or structures located thereon.
H. 
"Trash"
means waste food products and other household garbage.
I. 
"Weed"
includes but is not limited to any noxious plant which has been determined by the State Noxious Weed Control Board to be injurious to crops, livestock, or other property and which is included for the purpose of control on Pacific County's noxious weed list, or thistles, nettles or other plants that are a nuisance, hazard, tend to overgrow or choke out more desirable plants, or cause injury to man, animal or a desired crop, flower, garden plant or lawn cover.
(Ord. 1645 § 1, 2001)
No person owning, leasing, renting, occupying, being in possession or having charge of any property in the city, including vacant lots, shall maintain or allow to be maintained on such property, except as may be permitted by any other city ordinance or state statute, any of the following conditions visible from any public street, alley, or from any other private property:
A. 
Junk, trash, litter, boxes, discarded lumber, salvage materials, or other similar materials in any front yard, side yard, rear yard or vacant lot;
B. 
Attractive nuisances dangerous to children, including but not limited to abandoned, broken or neglected equipment, machinery, appliances, excavations, wells or shafts;
C. 
Broken or discarded furniture, household equipment and furnishings in any front yard, side yard, rear yard or vacant lot;
D. 
Shopping carts in any front yard, side yard, rear yard or vacant lot of any property;
E. 
Dead, decayed, diseased or hazardous trees, or any other vegetation to include a majority of vegetation (other than vegetation located in flower beds, or trees or shrubbery) which exceeds 12 inches in height, or which is dangerous to public health, safety and welfare, located in any front yard, side yard, rear yard, or upon any vacant lot;
F. 
Graffiti or signs, not in compliance with the city zoning code, on the exterior of any building, fence or other structure in any front yard, side yard, rear yard or vacant lot;
G. 
Any accumulation of weeds, brambles, berry vines, or other vegetation which is over-growing any structure or which exceeds an average height of three feet, or any accumulation of junk, litter, trash, dead organic matter, debris, offal, rat harborages, stagnant water, combustible materials and similar materials or conditions constituting fire, health or safety hazard;
H. 
Dilapidation or state of filthiness or uncleanliness of any dwelling or other structure which endangers health or life or which permits or encourages entrance by rats, mice or other rodents;
I. 
Temporary repairs which do not meet code requirements and are not replaced with permanent repairs which do meet code requirements within 30 days of such temporary repair.
(Ord. 1645 § 2, 2001)
It is unlawful and a nuisance for the owner or occupant of property, including any unimproved right-of-way, parking strip, or similar area abutting and adjacent to said property, within the city to allow, continue or maintain the property in a condition which violates RMC § 8.52.020. Any property found to be maintained in violation of RMC § 8.52.020 is hereby declared to be a public nuisance and shall be abated by rehabilitation, removal, trimming, demolition or repair.
(Ord. 1645 § 3, 2001)
Under this chapter, the city has authority to go upon any property located within the city at any reasonable time for any reason necessary to effectuate the purposes of this chapter, including but not limited to taking of specimens of weeds or other materials, general inspection and performance of eradication or control work.
(Ord. 1645 § 4, 2001)
A. 
If it appears to the city that any provision of this chapter is being violated or has been violated, the city shall serve written notice either personally or by certified mail, with a five-day return receipt requested, upon the owner, or if the owner cannot be located, the agent having the care or control of the premises upon which the violation exists, or existed.
B. 
The notice required by subsection (A) of this section shall include:
1. 
A description of the property on which this alleged violation has occurred or is occurring; and
2. 
The prohibited condition which exists; and
3. 
The section or sections of this chapter alleged to be violated; and
4. 
The date by which the prohibited condition is to be abated, which date shall not be less than 10 days after the receipt of such notice by the alleged offender; and
5. 
That if abatement of the prohibited condition or request for a hearing before the Raymond municipal court made to the city clerk/treasurer is not made by the owner within 10 days after receipt of such notice, then the city will bring this matter before the city council, the date thereof to be specified in the notice, and request the city council to pass a resolution authorizing the city to cause the abatement of the prohibited condition.
C. 
Should the city cause the abatement of the prohibited condition, the cost thereof incurred by the city shall become a charge against the owner of the property and a lien against the property and shall be subordinate to all existing special assessment liens previously imposed upon the same property and shall be paramount to all other liens except for state, county and property taxes with which it shall be upon a parity. The lien shall continue until the assessment and all interest due and payable thereon are paid.
D. 
If the cost of the abatement is not paid by the property owner upon demand, the same may be recovered in a civil action in which the city will be the plaintiff and the property owner will be the defendant.
E. 
Any payment received for the cost of abatement shall result in partial release of the lien and or partial satisfaction of any civil judgment received for the same cost of abatement, or full release of lien and or satisfaction of civil judgment if such payment constitutes payment in full. The city may not recover separately on the lien and a judgment for the same abatement.
F. 
Upon receipt of a request for a hearing provided for in this section, the Raymond municipal court shall set a date for the hearing on the question of abatement of the prohibited condition. The municipal court clerk shall provide 20 days' notice of the time, location and date of such hearing to the person requesting the hearing and the owner of the property.
G. 
Notice of the lien set forth in this section shall be in substantially the same form, filed with the same officer, completed within the same time and manner, and enforced and foreclosed as is provided by law for liens for labor and materials. Specifically, a lien for work on a specific parcel or lot shall be filed within 90 days of the last day of work performed on said parcel or lot.
(Ord. 1746 § 1, 2008; Ord. 1645 § 5, 2001)
In the event any owner to whom notice has been given does not do or cause to be done the abatement of the prohibited condition as described in the notice, within the time provided in the notice, such person shall be deemed to have committed a civil infraction and shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $75.00.
(Ord. 1645 § 6, 2001)