The Aberdeen City Council passed a code Wednesday night that will require downtown Aberdeen business owners to maintain their vacant buildings. If they do not, the building owners will start receiving fees.

The code passed unanimously. The area the code covers for this program goes as far north as First Street, as far east as D Street and the Wishkah River, as far south as the Chehalis River and as far west as Park Street. The area was expanded west via city council amendment that the area expand from First Street to Park Street.

The proposed fees for the owners of the vacant buildings, based on the duration of the vacancy as determined by the following scale, are as follows:

• $100 for each building for less than one year

• $150 for each building for at least one year but less than two years

• $200 for each building vacant to at least two years but less than three years

• $250 for each building vacant for at least three years and for each year thereafter until the building is occupied

• $100 will be charged monthly for an inspection to verify that the building is being maintained in a secure and clean manner

Lisa Scott, community development director for the city of Aberdeen, said all proposed fees will be brought forward in a resolution at the next city council meeting, which is scheduled for July 26.

Scott said any fees collected from the program would be put in the Good Neighbors Revolving Loan Fund. No fees from this will go into the city’s general fund.

The fund’s seven-member committee is appointed by the mayor. The committee was established to make loans to private property and business owners to make exterior improvements to commercial buildings and property in the downtown, south side, west side and east Aberdeen districts.

Scott said they’re low-interest loans. The loan amounts are up to $5,000 per lot, with a maximum of $10,000. All loans have a three-year payback and are at 2%.

As an example of a building that will fall under the new code is the former Thunderbird Motel — 410 W. Wishkah St., according to Scott.

Aberdeen City Councilor Liz Ellis interrupted what was otherwise a quick read-through and approval of the bill in order to make an amendment. The amendment she proposed was to add graffiti to the code.

“Maintain all exterior walls free from moss, algae, dirt, grime, holes, breaks and loose or decaying materials,” section F stated before the city council meeting. “Weatherproof and properly coat the surface of all exterior walls when required to prevent deterioration.”

Ellis pointed out why she wanted the word added — clarity.

“I know we have graffiti addressed in a nuisance ordinance maybe, but I think it’s helpful to add it to this just so everything’s all in one place for property owners who are looking at what maintenance requirements they have to meet,” Ellis said.

Shopping cart ordinance

In a unanimous vote, the city council approved an ordinance that will require businesses to do better in containing and then retrieving their shopping carts.

Part of the complaint that spurred discussions for this ordinance was for the visual aspect — shopping carts are left on the streets throughout downtown Aberdeen. The other part is for the money the city has to pay to contain and retrieve the carts.

Back in late June Aberdeen City Councilor Stan Sidor said the city has an “obligation to ensure a safe and clean city environment.”

Patty Thomas has documented the problem with the shopping carts. She said through the past few years, the city hadn’t done much to prevent the wayward carts. She said the problem’s worsened. She’s grateful the city is taking this step.

The ordinance received plenty of discussion until the final reading on Wednesday, at which point the council passed without discussion during the meeting.

“I was happy to have that pass with full support,” Ellis said. “I think that the owners of those shopping carts need to take responsibility for keeping them at their stores and collecting them back from the city. That should not be an expense that taxpayers have to bear, certainly without reimbursement.”

Contact Reporter Matthew N. Wells at matthew.wells@thedailyworld.com.