HomeMy WebLinkAboutO-2015-3594 condemnation of buildings located at 626 N. 1st Street 2015-3594
ORDINANCE NO. _ 6 rgL[
AN ORDINANCE DECLARING THE PRIMARY DWELLING LOCATED AT BLK. 327,
LOTS 3 AND 4, TOWN OF LA PORTE, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, MORE COMMONLY
KNOWN AS 626 N. 1St STREET, TO BE IN FACT A NUISANCE; ORDERING SUCH
BUILDING CONDEMNED; FINDING THAT GENEVIA ROY and MORRIS MANUEL ARE
THE RECORD OWNERS OF SAID PROPERTY; ORDERING THE SAID OWNERS TO
ENTIRELY REMOVE OR TEAR DOWN SUCH BUILDING; ORDERING THE SAID
OWNERS 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) DAYS FROM 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 OWNERS 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 the primary
dwelling at BLK. 327, LOTS 3 AND 4, TOWN OF LA PORTE, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS,
which is further described as 626 N. ls` STREET, 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 JUNE 18,
2015 finding 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, GENEVIA ROY, whose address is 423 N. 3rd STREET, LA PORTE, TX.77571
and MORRIS MANUEL, whose address is 626 N. 1" 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
AUGUST 24, 2015, at 604 W. Fairmont Parkway, at the Council Chambers, City Hall, City of
La Porte, Texas, at which time the Council would hear further evidence for and against the
conclusions of the Board;
WHEREAS, the City of La Porte has heretofore served notice of said hearing upon said
owner(s), by posting a notice on the subject property on or about JULY 14, 2015; and by
registered mail, return receipt requested, sent both to the subject property address and the
owner's address of record, which return receipt indicated that said owners received said notice
on: notice sent to MORRIS MANUAL RETURNED BY POST OFFICE AS "UNCLAIMED"
ON JULY 21, 2015; and notice sent to GENEVIA ROY was received on JULY 25, 2015; a
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;
Ordinance No. Page 3
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
WHEREAS, City Council entered its order on AUGUST 24, 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 LaPorte, 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 the primary dwelling structure, to be a public nuisance, and orders such building
condemned.
Section 4. The City Council hereby finds, determines and declares that GENEVIA
ROY and MORRIS MANUEL and is the record owner of the property on which the
aforementioned primary dwelling structure situated, and that as such record owner, the said
MILTON WALKER have been duly and legally notified of those proceedings.
Section 5. The City Council hereby orders the said GENEVIA ROY and MORRIS
MANUEL to entirely remove or demolish such building, and further orders the said GENEVIA
ROY and MORRIS MANUEL to commence such removal within ten (10) days from the
Ordinance No. Page 4
effective date of this Ordinance, and to complete said removal or demolition within forty-five
(45)days from the effective date of this ordinance.
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 GENEVIA ROY and
MORRIS MANUEL) 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 GENEVIA ROY and MORRIS MANUEL, 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 GENEVIA ROY and MORRIS MANUEL, 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 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
Ordinance No. Page 5
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.
Section 10. This Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage
and approval.
PASSED AND APPROVED this the day of -1i- , 2015.
CITY OF LAO , E S
By:
Lo is R. Ri by Mayor
A ST:
Patrice Fogarty, C y ecret
APPROVED:
' r
Clark T. Askins, Assist. City Attorney
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