Big Business, help us keep order

We have a problem with keeping public order in Grants Pass and Josephine County.  Our voters have so far refused to pass a law enforcement levy for Josephine County.  While we have plenty of police officers in Grants Pass, we are short on guards for our county jail, prosecutors to enforce minor violations, and juvenile justice beds, and will be short at least until we pass a levy.  If we don’t pass one, public order will only deteriorate further.

Thanks to the property bubble and its decades-long dominance of our city government by developers and bankers, our property maintenance codes have not been enforced at the nuisance level in years, and safety hazards are enforced mainly against homeowners.  Enforcement was greatly weakened in 2006 when our then-City-Manager David Frasher stopped police and firemen from noticing and warning against property neglect and started a Code Enforcement department, soon called Community Service, which is the place where property nuisance complaints go to die.

We have recently had a public safety performance audit.  One of its findings was that property maintenance codes must be fully enforced; enforcement by complaint is not enforcement and is not fair to the citizens; and police and firemen should notice property neglect and report it to Community Service/Code Enforcement.  But the ship of government is slow to turn, and our public order and safety is in critical condition now. 

Enforcement of maintenance codes creates a level playing field for businesses to compete while keeping their properties neat, clean and safe.  Non-enforcement creates unfair competition from those who do not maintain their properties and creates the disorderly habitat that criminals prefer.  Large businesses with large parking lots set the tone for property maintenance for smaller businesses, and have an outsized influence on the people who shop in such stores, getting them accustomed to litter and weeds.

Please do not wait for Grants Pass to start enforcing its nuisance codes against litter and weeds; hire the workers necessary to clean your lot and keep it clean all hours you are open.   Such workers can also serve your customers with eyes and security in your parking lot.  Then ask Grants Pass to enforce its code against your competitors, and create that level playing field. 

Show your orderly customers how much you care about their enjoyment and safety while walking in your parking lot and shopping in your store.  Show your respect for our laws and city codes.  Make thieves less comfortable stealing from customers in your lot, and litterers feel less free to drop their trash.  With your help, we can clean up Grants Pass.

Special December issue, at GPlittercleaner.blogspot.com and at the Mail Center, 305 NE 6^th St. 

Pass this leaflet to a big lot business or the City Grants Pass.  Write a letter to really impress them.

Rycke Brown, Natural Gardener          541-955-9040         rycke@gardener.com

Grants Pass Property Nuisance Codes:

5.12.050 Weed, Grass, Snow and Ice Removal.

1. No owner or person in charge of property, improved or unimproved, abutting on a public sidewalk or right of way adjacent to a public sidewalk may permit:

A. Snow to remain on the sidewalk for a period longer than the first two hours of daylight after the snow has fallen.

B. Ice to cover or remain on the sidewalk, after the first two hours of daylight after the ice has formed. Such person shall remove ice accumulating on the sidewalk or cover the ice with sand, ashes, or other suitable material to assure safe travel. (Ord. 2901 §9, 1960)

C. Weeds or grass from growing or remaining on the sidewalk for a period longer than two weeks or consisting of a length greater than 6 inches.

2. Property owners and persons in charge of property, improved or unimproved, abutting on right of way adjacent to a public sidewalk shall be responsible for the maintenance of said right of way, including but not limited to: keeping it free from weeds; watering and caring for any plants and trees planted herein; maintaining any groundcover placed by the City; maintaining any groundcover as required by  other sections of the Municipal Code or the Grants Pass Development Code. (Ord. 5380 § 18, 2006)

5.12.060 Weeds and Noxious Growth.

No owner or person in charge of property may permit weeds or other noxious vegetation to grow upon his property. It is the duty of an owner or person in charge of property to cut down or to destroy weeds or other noxious vegetation from becoming unsightly, or from becoming a fire hazard, or from maturing or going to seed. (Ord. 2901 §10, 1960)

5.12.070 Scattering Rubbish.

No person may throw, dump, or deposit upon public or private property, and no person may keep on private property, any injurious or offensive substance or any kind of rubbish, (including but not limited to garbage, trash, waste, refuse, and junk), appliances, motor vehicles or parts thereof, building materials, machinery, or any other substance which would mar the appearance, create a stench, or detract from the cleanliness or safety of such property, or would be likely to injure any animal, vehicle, or person traveling upon any public way. (Ord. 2901 §11, 1960; Ord. 4397 §1, 1981) (Ord. 5379 § 18, 2006)