The city council of the city of Lynnwood finds that unkempt, unsafe, unsanitary, and otherwise improperly maintained premises and structures, sidewalks, and easements within the city of Lynnwood, in addition to the obvious hazards which these conditions pose to the public health, safety, and welfare, adversely affect the value, utility, and habitability of the property within the city as a whole and specifically cause substantial damage to adjoining and nearby property. A property which is merely unkempt may substantially reduce the value of adjoining and nearby property and there are sufficient properties which are unkempt, unsightly and dangerous, that the habitability and economic well-being of the city are materially and adversely affected. This chapter conveys to the city administration, in accordance with the procedures set out below, all necessary and proper powers to abate nuisances as they are described or found to exist and to charge the costs of their abatement to those responsible, the owners and occupants of the property upon which nuisances exist, and those properties themselves. This chapter is an exercise of the city’s police power, and it shall be liberally construed to effect this purpose. (Ord. 3006 § 8 (Exh. H), 2013; Ord. 2012 § 1, 1994)