§ 200-29. Emergency conditions.

Emergency conditions, including hazardous buildings, shall be handled in the following way:

A. 

Conditions dangerous to life, health or property. In the case where the Community Development Director or his/her designee is concerned that there are emergency conditions dangerous to life, health or property affecting a landmark or a property in a CH District and where the owner has refused to make the emergency repair that are needed, the Community Development Director or his/her designee shall immediately make that determination whether there are emergency conditions dangerous to life, health or property.

(1) 

The determination shall be based on written reports and evidence from the Fire Inspector, the State Building Inspector or other recognized safety experts;

(2) 

The Community Development Director or his/her designee shall promptly notify the Chairperson of the Board or the person designated to act in place of the Chairperson;

(3) 

The Community Development Director or his/her designee shall seek the advice and approval of the Board and shall present the reports and evidence that such dangerous conditions exist and options to remedy the situation;

(4) 

If the Board cannot meet in a timely manner, the Community Development Director or his/her designee may then order interim lifesaving measures, according to the federal Life Safety Code and other state and local regulations, without the approval of the Board;

(5) 

When the dangerous conditions do not require demolition, the Community Development Director or his/her designee shall make every effort to carry out the intent of this chapter and to use the design guidelines of the Board when remedying the dangerous conditions; and

(6) 

The Community Development Director or his/her designee shall promptly notify the Board of the action taken and shall present complete information about the action taken at the next meeting of the Board.

B. 

(Noncompliance refusal to make repairs) conditions dangerous to life, health or property. In the case where the Community Development Director or his/her designee is concerned that there are emergency conditions dangerous to life, health or property affecting a landmark or a property in a CH District and where the owner has refused to make the emergency repair that is needed, the Community Development Director or his/her designee shall notify the Municipal Code Enforcement Division to address issues in accordance with § 200-36, Notice to abate.

C. 

Non-life-threatening emergency conditions. In all situations involving emergency conditions that the Community Development Director or his/her designee has determined are not life threatening, but require immediate action, the Supervisor may request the Chairperson or the person acting for the Chairperson to call a meeting of the Board within 72 hours so that the Supervisor may present information about the action to be taken. The meeting notice requirements of the Board shall not apply when a meeting is being held to inform the Board about a situation involving emergency conditions.

D. 

Identifying and encouraging the securing and stabilizing of historic buildings and structures. In order to prevent unnecessary demolitions, the City, with assistance of the Board, shall develop a program to identify and encourage the securing and stabilizing of historic buildings and structures that are being neglected by their owners and tenants. The City shall seek advice and assistance from private groups in order to save these neglected building and structures.