16.08.300 Costs.
A.
1. The costs of abatement, repair, alteration or improvements, or vacating and closing, or removal or demolition, when borne by the city, shall be assessed against the real property upon which such costs were incurred unless paid. The director or the hearing examiner shall forward such costs to the city treasurer, who shall certify them to the county treasurer for assessment on the tax rolls in accordance with Chapter 35.80 RCW.
2. When necessary, bids for demolition shall be let only to a licensed contractor. All contract documents shall provide that the value of the materials and other salvage of the property shall be credited against the costs of the demolition. The contract documents may require the contractor to estimate the salvage value of the property and, by claiming the salvage, reduce the amount of his price accordingly. The contract price fixed by acceptance of the contract shall not be adjusted to reflect the actual salvage value. Such contracts may be let prior to the time for compliance or appeal, but shall not be binding or accepted until the order for demolition is final. The director shall have the authority to sign the contract on behalf of the city.
3. There shall be charged against the owner and assessed against the property of any boarded-up building an annual inspection fee as shown in Chapter 3.104 LMC.
a. Such fee shall be payable at the time the building becomes a boarded-up building. The hearing examiner or director shall order a refund of the proportional amount not due if the building is reoccupied or demolished. Subsequent annual fees shall be payable on or before the preceding annual fee has been exhausted.
b. The director or the hearing examiner may waive the inspection fee if the building does not remain a boarded-up building for more than six months. In other cases, the director or hearing examiner may reduce or modify the time and method of payment of the fee as the condition of the property or the circumstances of the owner may warrant.
B.
1. Whenever a building is found to be unfit or substandard or a premises to be a nuisance and the cost of demolition, repair or abatement must be borne by the city, there shall be charged against the owner and assessed against the property the costs for all administrative proceedings before the director and the hearing examiner including salaries, wages, material and other expenses incurred for inspecting, conducting hearings, or otherwise determining the status of the property.
2. The director or the hearing examiner may modify the time or methods of payment of such expenses as the condition of the property and the circumstances of the owner may warrant. In cases of extreme hardship, such expenses may be waived. (Ord. 3006 § 8 (Exh. H), 2013; Ord. 2656 §§ 1, 2, 2006; Ord. 2012 § 1, 1994)