SENATE BILL REPORT
ESHB 2628
AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS,
FEBRUARY 25, 1994
Brief Description: Revising provisions relating to condemnation of blighted property.
SPONSORS: House Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives R. Fisher, Campbell, Edmondson, Sommers, Appelwick and Dorn)
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Haugen, Chairman; Drew, Vice Chairman; Loveland, McCaslin, Oke, Owen and Winsley.
Staff: Eugene Green (786‑7405)
Hearing Dates: February 22, 1994; February 25, 1994
BACKGROUND:
Counties, cities, and towns are authorized to condemn property, dwellings, buildings, and structures constituting a blight on the surrounding neighborhood. A "blight on the surrounding neighborhood" is defined as property that: (1) has not been lawfully occupied for one year or more; (2) constitutes a threat to the public health, safety, or welfare, as determined by the county health department; and (3) is or has been associated with illegal drug activity during the previous 12 months.
In addition, the county, city, or town governing body must adopt a resolution declaring that the acquisition of the property is necessary to eliminate neighborhood blight before the property may be condemned.
SUMMARY:
The requirements are altered for a county, city, or town to condemn property that constitutes a blight on the surrounding neighborhood. Such property may be condemned if any two of the three factors mentioned above are met.
Appropriation: none
Revenue: none
Fiscal Note: none requested
TESTIMONY FOR:
This will further allow the people of the Hilltop area in Tacoma to use this as a tool to help make Hilltop a safe and respectable community.
TESTIMONY AGAINST: None
TESTIFIED: Gary Pederson, Dan McComaghy, City of Tacoma (pro); Marie Orrange, Hilltop Action Coalition (pro); Alberta Cinara, Martin Luther King Housing Dev. Assn. (pro)