HomeMy WebLinkAboutO-2015-3562 condemnation of substandard building/303 S Iowa ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE DECLARING THE ACCESSORY CARPORT BUILDING LOCATED AT
BLK 216, LT 4 & 5 & S %2 OFLT3 & N 1/2 OF LT 6, LA PORTE, HARRIS COUNTY,
TEXAS, TO BE IN FACT A NUISANCE; ORDERING SUCH BUILDING CONDEMNED;
FINDING THAT RANDALL W. CERNOSEKIS THE RECORD OWNEROF SAID
PROPERTY; ORDERING THE SAID OWNER TO ENTIRELY REMOVE OR TEAR DOWN
SUCH BUILDING; ORDERING THE SAID OWNER TO COMMENCE SAID REMOVAL
OR DEMOLITION WITHIN TEN (10) DAYS FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
ORDINANCE; AND TO COMPLETE SAID REMOVAL OR DEMOLITION WITHIN
FORTY-FIVE (45) DAYSFROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ORDINANCE;
ORDERING THE DANGEROUS BUILDING INSPECTION BOARD TO PLACE A NOTICE
ON SAID BUILDING; ORDERING THE CITY SECRETARY TO FORWARD A COPY OF
THIS ORDINANCE TO SAID OWNER; PROVIDING FOR THE REMOVAL OF SAID
BUILDING) BY THE CITY OF LA PORTE IF NOT REMOVED BY SAID OWNER IN THE
MANNER PROVIDED HEREIN; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF; AND
FINDING COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of LaPorte, passed and approved Section 82-
472 of the Code of Ordinances, creating a Dangerous Building Inspection Board (the Board to
be composed of the Building Official or his duly authorized representative, the Fire Chief or his
duly authorized representative,the Fire Marshal or his duly authorized representative; and
WHEREAS, Section 82-474 (a)provides that:
Whenever it shall come to the attention of the Board or any member thereof, by reason of
the carrying out of the necessary duties of such member, or by reason of a complaint of any
citizen of the City or of the City Council, that a dangerous building exists, the Board shall make
a thorough inspection of such building(s); and
WHEREAS, Section 82-474 (e)provides that:
After the inspection provided for in this Section has been made, with or without the aid of
experts, the Board shall report its conclusion in writing to each of the members of the City
Council and to the City Attorney. Such report shall state the circumstances and the condition of
the building(s) upon which such conclusion was based. The report shall be filed in all cases no
matter what conclusion is stated by the Board; and
Ordinance No. Page 2
WHEREAS, it has heretofore come to the attention of the Board that an accessory carport
building located at the right rear of BLK 216, LT 4 & 5 & S 1/20F LT 3 & N 1/20F LT 6, LA
PORTE which is furthet described as 303 SOUTH IOWA ST., Harris County, Texas, has
become dangerous or substandard and thereby a public nuisance, as established in Section 82-
473 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of LaPorte; and
WHEREAS, said Board has heretofore made and filed its written report, dated AUGUST
14, 2014finding said building to be in fact a dangerous building;
WHEREAS, City Council received such report, and ordered notice to the record owner of
said property, RANDALL W. CERNOSEK, whose address is 303 SOUTH IOWA STREET, LA
PORTE, TX 77571, that a hearing as provided in Section 82-477 of said Ordinance would be
held at 6:00 PM on JANUARY 12, 2015, at 604 W. Fairmont Parkway, at the Council
Chambers, City Hall, City of LaPorte, Texas, at which time the Council would hear further
evidence for and against the conclusions of the Board;
WHEREAS, the City Secretary has heretofore served notice of said hearing upon said
owner(s), by registered mail, return receipt requested, which return receipt indicated that said
owner(s) received said notice on POST OFFICE RETURNED AS "UNDELIVERABLE-
VACANT" ON NOVEMBER 22, 2014a date more than ten(10) days before the date set for said
hearing;
WHEREAS, at said date, time, and place, City Council met in regular session to conduct
such public hearing, at which time evidence was presented both for and against the conclusions
of the Board, at which time the hearing was concluded;
WHEREAS, City Council, after due deliberation, and -within fifteen (15) days after the
termination of the hearing, is required to make its decision in writing and enter its order; and
Ordinance No. Page 3
WHEREAS, City Council entered its order on JANUARY 12, 2015 a day which is
within fifteen(15) days after the termination of the hearing; NOW THEREFORE:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE:
Section 1. This Ordinance contains the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and
orders of the City Council of the City of La Porte, based upon the evidence presented at said
hearing.
Section 2. Based on the evidence presented at said hearing, the City Council hereby
adopts the attached report of the Board, in full, and incorporates such by reference herein as fully
as though set out herein.
Section 3. The City Council hereby finds, determines and declares such building,
being an accessory carport structure, to be a public nuisance, and orders such building
condemned.
Section 4. The City Council hereby finds, determines and declares that RANDALL
W. CERNOSEK, who resides at 303 SOUTH IOWA ST., LA PORTE, TX 77571 and is the
record owner of the property on which the aforementioned accessory carport building is situated,
and that as such record owner, the said RANDALL W. CERNOSEK have been duly and legally
notified of those proceedings.
Section 5. The City Council hereby orders the said RANDALL W. CERNOSEK to
entirely remove or demolish such building, and further orders the said RANDALL W.
CERNOSEK to commence such removal within ten (10) days from the effective date of this
Ordinance, and to complete said removal or demolition within forty-five (45) days from the
effective date of this ordinance.
Ordinance No. Page 4
Section 6. The City Council hereby orders the Board of the City of La Porte to cause
a notice of the dangerous, unsanitary condition of the building to be affixed in one or more
conspicuous places on the exterior of the building, which notice or notices shall not be removed
or defaced by any person, under penalty of law.
Section 7. The City Council hereby orders the City Secretary to forward a certified
copy of this Ordinance, to the record owner of said property (the said RANDALL W.
CERNOSEK) and to any and all lienholders or mortgagees, by registered mail, return receipt
requested; file a copy of this Ordinance in the office of the City Secretary; and, publish in the
official newspaper of the city a notice containing: 1) the street address or legal description of the
property, 2) the date of the public hearing, 3) a brief statement indicating the results of the
hearing, and 4) instructions stating where a complete copy of this Ordinance may be obtained.
Section 8. Should the said RANDALL W. CERNOSEK, not comply with the orders
contained in this Ordinance relating to the removal or demolition of such building within forty-
five (45) days after hereof, then the City of La Porte shall enter upon the said premises with such
assistance as it may deem necessary, and cause the said building to be removed or demolished
without delay, and the expenses of such procedure shall be charged against the said RANDALL
W. CERNOSEK, record owner of said property, and shall thereupon become a valid and
enforceable personal obligation of said owner of such premises, and the said City shall carefully-
compute
arefullycompute the cost of such removal or demolition, which cost shall be hereafter assessed against
the land occupied by such building, and made lien thereon.
Section 9. The City Council officially finds, determines, and recites and declares that
a sufficient written notice of the date, hour, place and subject of this meeting of the City Council
was posted at a place convenient to the public at the City Hall of the City for the time required by
law preceding this meeting, as required by the Open Meetings Law, Chapter 551, Texas
Government Code; and that this meeting has been open to the public as required by law at all
times during which this ordinance and the subject matter thereof has been discussed, considered
and formally acted upon. The City Council further ratifies, approves and confirms such written
notice and the contents and posting thereof.
Ordinance No. Page 5
Section 10. This Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage
and approval.
PASSED AND APPROVED this the��ay of 2015.
CITWOTEXAS
By:
AT EST:
Patrice Fogarty, C& Sec-r—eiAry
APPROVED:
Clarl T. `Askin, Assist. City Attorney