Code enforcers join volunteers on walk

One thing the city of Spokane’s code enforcement officers have no control over is the weather.

Monday, the rain was flying sideways down Sprague Avenue, pushed by winds strong enough to knock out power and trees, but not strong enough to deter a group of East Central Neighborhood Council volunteers from touring their neighborhood looking for code violations.

“When we go out there, remember that we don’t regulate ugly,” said Heather Trautman, code enforcement officer. “There are a lot of things that people don’t like. They don’t like how it looks, but we don’t regulate that.”

The cleanup program is a collaborative effort between the East Central Neighborhood Council and the city of Spokane. Code enforcement officers Scott Emmerson and Trautman spent an hour with neighborhood volunteers educating them about two specific code issues: solid waste and substandard buildings. Neighbors then headed out to look at properties in the area immediately north and south of East Sprague, between Helena and Crestline streets.

Among the neighborhood activists at the meeting were Joy Hart, chairwoman of the East Central Neighborhood Council and a property owner, and Doug Schroeder, treasurer of the neighborhood council. They were joined by Liza Bornasal, an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer with Community Frameworks.

There were many questions about junk cars, trash piles and boarded-up buildings.

Then the group grabbed umbrellas and boots and braved the elements: Emmerson headed south of Sprague and Trautman took her group north.

Just off Helena, the first house that attracted attention had exercise equipment sitting on the covered front porch, along with a computer monitor and some other furnishings. And there was a toilet next to the porch.

“Well, there’s potting soil in the toilet so it is a planter,” said Emmerson. “Some people use old washing machine tubs for tomatoes – we really don’t care as long as there is an intended use.”

A bit farther down the street, a boarded-up house had a pile of old carpet, plastic bags possibly full of leaves, and other debris sitting in the backyard. That’s a code violation.

“If leaves are sitting in plastic sacks they aren’t composting,” Trautman explained to the group before they hit the streets. “Solid waste is anything that’s rotten or smelling, household garbage obviously, or household furniture that’s outside. You normally wouldn’t put a sofa outside in the rain.”

Kitchen chairs doubling as patio furniture are fine.

“Not everyone can afford expensive patio furniture – we are respectful of people’s different economic means,” Emmerson said.

Another house had a driveway crammed with cars that were stuffed full of clothes, furniture and old tires. Some of the old furniture was already loaded on a truck, like it was ready to be hauled off.

“We don’t write people up for that,” said Emmerson, gesturing to the full truck. “Especially at this time of the year, when lots of people load up trucks and trailers because they intend to get rid of yard waste and other debris.”

The intent of the cleanup program is not to punish, but to help property owners deal with solid waste and building issues. A similar program in West Central last fall resulted in 33 properties cleaned up in 18 days.

“The goal is for compliance to go up and for the number of violations to go down,” Trautman said. “We are doing this to deter crime, and to clean up the neighborhood so it looks good to everyone.”

Jim Hanley, owner of Acme TV Home and Office Furniture and a longtime community activist on East Sprague Avenue, asked how the many different zoning codes in the area affect potential code violations.

Trautman explained that some property owners may have retained the right to store building materials or cars on their property, even though the zoning has been changed to a lighter use.

“The storage of junk vehicles outdoors is only allowed in industrial zones,” said Trautman. “In the city, a junk vehicle must be stored inside a building – out of sight.” She added that junk vehicles are typically an area where the owner of the vehicle doesn’t agree with the complainant.

Jonathan Mallahan, director of neighborhood services and code enforcement for the city of Spokane, reminded the neighborhood volunteers not to be overzealous.

“We can only do so much within the frame of the law,” Mallahan said. “If we are overzealous the city can get sued by a property owner and then taxpayers end up having to pay for that.”

Hanley was also worried about transients who, he said, have taken up residence in some empty houses owned by the Washington state Department of Transportation. The homes have been purchased to make room for the upcoming freeway expansion.

“I drive by there every day and I see how the plywood has been pried from the windows, so someone is climbing in and out that way,” Hanley said. “The buildings were supposed to have come down a long time ago.”

Trautman said the DOT battles that problem “on a daily basis” and plans to demolish the houses.

Within city limits a building can be boarded up for two years without being a code violation.

While Emmerson was taking his group around the neighborhood he reminded people to never trespass.

“You have to respect property rights. Stay in the street or in the alley – you can’t go into people’s yards to get a better look,” Emmerson said.

He encouraged people to send in complaints.

“But make sure you see it with your own eyes,” Emmerson said. “When you put your name on that form it becomes public record and you may be called to be a witness. You want to make sure you know what you sign for.”