Calendar

Category All Art Classes Classical Music Concerts DANCE Etc Exhibits Families Farmers Markets Film Happenings Holiday Holiday Lectures Music (non-classical) Theater

Submit events

Nuisance crackdown achieves desired results

By John Larson

Tacoma Weekly
jlarson@tacomaweekly.com
Published on: July 24, 2008

The city of Tacoma implemented a nuisance cleanup program as a pilot project last year aimed at cracking down on blight. Charlie Solverson from the city’s Public Works Department gave an update to Tacoma City Council’s Neighborhoods and Housing Committee July 21.

“It is a heck of a tool in dealing with problem properties,” Solverson said. Those in violation of nuisance codes, once informed by city staff, have two choices. They can clean up the mess themselves within a designated time period, or city staff will come out to do it, and the property owner will be billed. Solverson said in 95 percent of cases, property owners choose the first route. From January 2007 through June 2008 there were an estimated 3,360 voluntary cleanups of private property, with 168 performed by city workers.

“That is the goal of the program,” he said. “We are getting pretty good results.”

What began as a pilot program is now a full-fledged, permanent effort.

The city has been adding inspectors and support staff and purchasing more equipment for them. This is funded through a slight increase in rates for solid waste services.

Between 1996 and 2006, the caseload ranged between 1,000 and 2,000 each year. It approached 2,500 last year and is on pace to hit 3,000. Solverson said the inspectors had a considerable backlog as of last year. Because more citizens have been calling in complaints, the number of cases has increased.

The pro-active approach is working, Solverson said. “There is excitement in the community about raising standards,” he said.

Organized neighborhood cleanups have generated much interest. There have been four in 2008, with a total of 1,050 participants and 65 tons of debris removed.

“The voluntary cleanups are huge,” said Lisa Wojtanowicz, coordinator of Community Based Services for the city. Another neighborhood cleanup is planned for the southern section of Hilltop in August.

Bob Sheehan, assistant chief for Tacoma Police Department, said the emphasis on removing blight complements efforts by law enforcement to reduce crime. “It really gets a lot of momentum,” he said.

Story Tools

This Week's
Front Page