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Everyone has one.
A neighbor. With a broken-down car. That sits in front of his house.
And sits. And sits.
Well, the Spokane Valley City Council is hoping to do something
about it. And soon.
 Council
members got their first glance Tuesday night of an ordinance that
would allow the city to tow away inoperable junk vehicles that bring
down pose a danger to kids or that are just plain ugly to look at
spring, summer, fall and winter.
Jim Harris, interim community/planning director for Spokane Valley,
told council members the new city had inherited a Spokane County
list of 92 cases of junk cars that have apparently driven their
last miles and likely will never be moved unless something is done.
Since incorporating, city officials have received 27 additional
complaints.
"What we're trying to do is find a way to identify these and,
when they don't meet the code, find a way to get them towed away
or removed," Harris said.
He added that there are reports of the county having tried to remove
some of the cars once before - and setting a deadline of Sept. 1,
1993.
"Some of these cars have been sitting there a long, long time,"
Harris said.
The trick in drafting the ordinance, he said, is coming up with
language that protects the rights of Valley folks who enjoy fixing
up cars as a hobby - and do so in a covered garage - as opposed
to those who have the equivalent of an unauthorized scrap yard.
Plus, Harris said, he would like the law to have some teeth.
"We don't want people just going out and throwing a tarp over
it," he said.
"We want to be fair - but firm."
For that reason, the council won't look at approving an ordinance
until May 27.
Council Member Dick Denenny said the law would be a step in the
right direction for improving the aesthetic of the Valley.
"It's one of the reasons why we incorporated," he said.
"We want to try to get this city looking better."
The law probably won't include language for the removal of campers,
trailers or boats - that may come later, Harris said. But it will
provide means to make property owners and landlords liable for their
tenants.
Council Member Richard Munson advised the council show some restraint
when it comes to passing ordinances that restrict what residents
can do on their property.
"There's a fine line between being firm and harassing the
citizens," he said.
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