Title
Ordinance to Amend and Reenact the City Code of the City of Hampton, Virginia by Amending Chapter 24, Offenses, Article II, Pertaining to the Definitions Relating to Criminal Blight and Options Available for Corrective Action with Respect to Criminal Blight to Remain Consistent with Recently Amended State Code Authority
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
These are housekeeping amendments to bring City Code relating to drug blight into compliance with state law due to amendments enacted by the 2018 General Assembly to the enabling drug blight statute, Code of Virginia § 15.2- 907.
Discussion:
The proposed updates expand the scope of drug blight into what is now known as criminal blight. Criminal blight now includes provisions for properties plagued by regular use for commercial sex acts and repeated acts of malicious discharge of a firearm. The updates also include changes to the process for corrective action that can be taken when a property has been determined to be the situs of criminal blight, with more protections for property owners through stricter notice requirements and additional opportunities for compliance prior to the City being able to commence legal action.
Approval of these amendments will ensure that Hampton’s criminal blight ordinance complies with the provisions of the Code of Virginia.
Impact:
The City will need to review its current drug blight enforcement process and implement changes in accordance with the new requirements for example, how notices are sent to property owners. Additionally, enforcement will be expanded as under the new language the City will now be authorized to bring civil actions against property owners for regular use of properties for commercial sex acts and repeated acts of malicious discharge of a firearm.
Recommendation:
Rec
Approval of the Ordinance Amendments
Body
BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia, that Chapter 24 of the City Code of the City of Hampt...
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