Council to serve as board of appeals for property declared unsafe at 650 Valley Ave.

Kevin Baronman, inspector in the city building and planning department, told the Baker City Council on Aug. 12 that a dwelling at 650 Valley Avenue had been declared unsafe under city ordinance after repeated nuisance and compliance violations involving the police department. The property owner submitted an appeal on July 30.

Baronman said the building official recommended the council form a board of appeals to review the order. City staff recommended that the governing body — the city council — act as the appeals panel and set a hearing date. Council members agreed to serve as the board of appeals and staff proposed Sept. 9 as the hearing date, to be held before the regular council meeting that night.

City Manager Murphy and planning staff emphasized the seriousness of the condition and said the council should weigh decisions carefully because repairs could require extensive work to make the home safe. Staff will provide council members with a packet summarizing the violations and the building official’s findings prior to the hearing.

No final determination on the property’s status was made at the Aug. 12 meeting; the council will hear the appeal on the scheduled date and may then affirm, modify or overturn the building official’s order under city code.