§ 6-116. Owner notification, enforcement and hearing.

(a)

Once the list of blighted properties has been generated, the UNIT shall provide written notice and warning of any violation(s) to the owner and to the occupant by mailing a written notice to the owner and the occupant by certified mail, return receipt requested. Such notice shall set forth the specific violation(s) and provide the owner and the occupant with a period of thirty (30) days from the date of the mailing of the notice to remediate the blight prior to any enforcement action being taken.

(b)

Once the written notice and warning required by section 6-116(a) has been mailed and the time period for remediation has elapsed with no remediation occurring, the UNIT shall issue written orders to the owner and to the occupant of such premises notifying them of the specific violation(s) by mailing a notice to the owner by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the last known address of the owner and the occupant, or in the case of an unidentified owner or one whose address is unknown, by publishing a notice in a daily or weekly newspaper having a general circulation within the community, stating that the property is cited for blight.

(c)

Said written order from the UNIT shall direct the owner and the occupant to remediate the blighted premises in a manner and within such reasonable time as is specified in said order. If such remediation does not occur within the time frame and in the manner specified, the UNIT is authorized to assess a civil penalty as described in section 6-117, for each day of noncompliance, and also shall notify the owner and the occupant that the City may remediate the blight and assess the owner of the property for all costs associated with such remediation, or such other additional fines as may be authorized or imposed by the state for a willful violation as described in section 6-117.

(d)

Any person who is a new owner or new occupant shall, upon request, be granted a thirty (30) day extension of the notice and opportunity to remediate provided pursuant to subsection 6-116(a). For purposes of this section, the term "new owner" means any person who has taken occupancy of a property within thirty (30) days of the notice.

(e)

In the event of noncompliance and/or City remediation of the subject property, the UNIT shall issue a notice, together with invoice to the owner/violator demanding payment of all accrued civil penalties, fines and costs of remediation. Further action to collect civil penalties, fines and/or costs shall be in accordance with procedures set forth in section 2-3 pertaining to enforcement, appeals and hearing.

(Code 1961, § 10-96; Ord. No. 584, 11-7-2002; Ord. No. 14, § 10-96, 9-3-2014)