(Added by Ordinance No. 174265; amended by Ordinance No. 176381, effective May 10, 2002.)
A. Abatement. If, within the time limit set by the Hearings Officer’s Order for Demolition, the dangerous structure described in the Order has not been removed and abated, or cause shown, as specified in Chapter 29.80 of this Title, why such dangerous structure should not be removed or abated, or where summary abatement is authorized, the Director may cause the dangerous structure to be removed and abated, including disposal in an approved manner.
B. Warrants. The Director may request any Circuit Court judge to issue a demolition warrant whenever entry onto private property is necessary to demolish a dangerous structure.
C. Grounds for Issuance of Demolition Warrants; Affidavit
1. Affidavit. A demolition warrant shall be issued only upon cause, supported by affidavit, particularly describing the applicant’s status in applying for the warrant, the statute, ordinance or regulation requiring or authorizing the demolition of the dangerous structure, the building or property to be entered, the basis upon which cause exists to demolish the dangerous structure and a general statement describing the structure to be demolished. In addition, the affidavit shall contain a statement describing the conditions under which the demolition is to be completed, including completion of all work on the property within a thirty-day period.
2. Cause. Cause shall be deemed to exist if reasonable legislative or administrative standards are satisfied with respect to the demolition of the dangerous structure.
D. Procedure for Issuance of a Demolition Warrant.
1. Examination. Before issuing a demolition warrant, the judge may examine the applicant and any other witness under oath and shall be satisfied of the existence of grounds for granting such application.
2. Issuance. If the judge is satisfied that cause for the demolition of any dangerous structure exists and that the other requirements for granting the application are satisfied, the judge shall issue the demolition warrant, particularly describing the person or persons authorized to execute the warrant, the property to be entered, and a statement describing the structure to be demolished and the work to be performed. The warrant shall contain a direction that it be executed on any day of the week between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., or where the judge has specially determined upon a showing that it cannot be effectively executed between those hours, that it be executed at any additional or other time of the day or night.
3. Police Assistance. In issuing a demolition warrant, the judge may authorize any peace officer, as defined in Oregon Revised Statues, to enter the described property to remove any person or obstacle and to assist the representative of the bureau in any way necessary to enter the property and demolish the dangerous structure.
E. Execution of Demolition Warrants.
1. Execution. In executing the demolition warrant, the person authorized to execute the warrant need not inform anyone of the person’s authority or purpose but may promptly enter the designated property if it is or at the time reasonably appears to be a) unoccupied, or b)not in the possession of any person. A copy of the demolition warrant shall be conspicuously posted on the property.
2. Return. A demolition warrant must be executed within 10 working days of its issuance by the judge. The authority to enter into the property and perform the demolition work shall continue for a period of up to 30 days after the date of execution, unless the judge extends this time before it has expired. The executed warrant shall be returned to the judge upon the completion of the demolition or the expiration of the authorized time, whichever occurs first. If the warrant is not executed within 10 days after the issuance by the judge, the warrant shall be void.
F. Disposal of Demolition Debris. The Director may cause the debris to be removed pursuant to the demolition warrant and disposed of in an approved manner whenever the Director, in the Director’s sole discretion, finds that the fair and reasonable value of the debris would be less than the cost of storing and selling the items. In making the above determination, the Director may include in the costs of sale the reasonable cost of removing debris to a place of storage, of storing the items for resale, of holding the resale including reasonable allowances for costs of staff, and any other reasonable and necessary expenses of holding a sale.