City Board Meeting - June 27, 2025: Extensions on Multiple Property Violation Cases
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City Board Meeting - June 27, 2025
This meeting of the city board addressed multiple properties on the agenda for progress reports and possible demolition hearings. The board voted to continue most items to the July 25, 2025 meeting, with extensive discussion on the status of securing 1220 Northwest Murphy Boulevard, including contractor progress, homeless encampment issues, and potential next steps. A clerical error regarding property addresses was corrected.
Discussion Items
- 115 North Galena Avenue (Item 3118): The board extended the item to July 25, 2025, for a progress report and demolition hearing. A motion was made by Mr. Windsor and seconded by Ms. Harrington; all voted in favor.
- 1220 Northwest Murphy Boulevard (Item 3116): Extensive discussion on securing the property. Real estate representative Jim reported that contractor Cotton Construction began work on June 23, 2025, after delays obtaining materials and rain. Approximately 8–10 working days remain. The board reviewed a stack of progress photos. Chief Building Official Brian noted that quarter-inch OSB (oriented strand board) was being used instead of the required half-inch exterior-grade plywood. He also reported that a fence had been driven through and homeless individuals were entering the property. The realtor stated the lender's asking price is $280,000 (foreclosure mortgage was $2.8 million), and there is a potential buyer (Biotech). The building contains approximately 3,000 tons of insulation material. A motion to extend to July 25, 2025, for progress report and demolition hearing was made by Mr. Duncan, seconded by Mr. Windsor; all voted in favor.
- 230 South Oak Avenue (Item 3122): Owner Steve Cope (former building inspector) pulled a permit on June 26, 2025, with a project valuation of $5,000 for repairs to the shed and main structure. The board noted he was not present and extended the item to July 25, 2025, for progress report and demolition hearing. Motion by Mr. Duncan, seconded by Mr. Windsor; all in favor.
- 2408 West 4th Street (Item 3112): Owners presented a floor plan that lacked sufficient detail (no dimensions, mechanical locations). The board continued the item to July 25, 2025, for progress report and demolition hearing. Motion by Mrs. Harrington, seconded by Mr. Windsor; all in favor.
- 1248 South Roosevelt Avenue (Item 3117): Mr. Forrest is working on replacing broken windows and yard ordinance issues. No concrete plans yet; this is the third continuance. The board expressed concern and encouraged the owner to attend the next meeting. Motion to extend to July 25, 2025, by Mr. Windsor, seconded by Mr. Duncan; all in favor.
- 1909 West 15th Street (Item 3104): Property owner Mr. Perry dug a footing that is holding water; no other progress after 12 appearances on the agenda (over a year). The board discussed setting the item for a demolition hearing and directed staff to prepare publication. Motion to extend to July 25, 2025, for progress report and demolition hearing by Mr. Windsor, seconded by Mr. Duncan; all in favor.
- 405 West 2nd / 126 South Pearl (Item 3123) and 701 South McKinley (Item 3124): The board corrected a numbering error: previously voted on Item 3123 for 701 South McKinley, but that address belongs to Item 3124. A motion to rescind the earlier motion was made by Mr. Windsor, seconded by Mr. Brown, and carried. Then a new motion to extend Item 3124 (701 South McKinley) to July 25, 2025, was made and seconded; all in favor. For Item 3123 (405 West 2nd and 126 South Pearl), the property burned in January 2025; the owner received insurance payout but did not qualify for ARPA funds. The board extended it to July 25, 2025, for progress report and demolition hearing. Motion by Mr. Windsor, seconded by Mr. Brown; all in favor.
Key Outcomes
- All discussed properties were continued to the July 25, 2025, meeting for progress reports and potential demolition hearings.
- The board corrected a clerical error by rescinding a prior motion and re-voting on the correct item.
- For 1909 West 15th Street, staff was directed to prepare for a possible demolition hearing at the next meeting.
- The realtor for 1220 Northwest Murphy Boulevard agreed to file a new trespass affidavit, post no-trespassing signs, and explore hiring off-duty police for security.
- No motions for demolition were made at this meeting; all items remain under progress review.
Meeting Transcript
Contact information is on there. I'm happy I council has my email as well, so I'm reachable in any way. Okay. Thank you. Any further questions or comments? Do we have a motion? Mr. Chairman, I make a motion that item number 3118 located at 115 North Galena Avenue be extended to our next meetings agenda on July 25th for progress report and demolition hearing. Second. There's a motion by Mr. Windsor signaled by Ms Mrs. Harrington that item 3118115 North Galena be extended to our July 25th meeting for progress report and demolition hearing. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Those opposed. Motion carries. Thank you for coming. Thank you, sir. This is the stack of photos. Good morning. Good morning. Uh we are here on the 1220 Northwest Murphy Boulevard matter for status. Um I understand that some photographs of progress by the um the contractor responsible for securing the property uh may have been circulated. I don't know if you all have had a chance to take a look at them. I personally just saw them this morning. They are I'm gonna say a hundred photos or something that we might want to take a recess and review. Um, but maybe you could provide an update before we take that recess. Absolutely. So I my understanding and Mr. Van Story could probably speak to this better than I can, is that the contractor was retained on I believe June 3rd, went out, took what essentially amount to before photos, which I'm not sure if that's part of the the packet of photographs you receive. Um but the difference is pretty stark, you know. If you're seeing gaps in uh open doors and things of that nature, then you probably have them. Uh everything should be uh date and time stamped as well. Um the contractor apparently had some issues procuring materials where they started work physically installing plywood, securing doors. I believe that progress started this past Tuesday, and they've been working each day this week. Um do you have a update, Mr. Van Story on on the on the likely uh completion date? Uh on the on the photos that you're looking at uh uh starting with the first photo going through I think number 70, and that goes back to June 23rd. That's when the actual work started. Um we didn't get the authorization from the title holder to start moving forward with work until the 18th, 17th or 18th. So and then it took the uh contractor a little time to start gathering materials and of course dealing with rain. Um they made success significant progress on securing the building. Um they started Tuesday, Wednesday morning they did encumber uh some apparently uh some homeless people had uh got in the property overnight Tuesday, uh had apparently had a key to the gate uh and the chain on the gate. Um anyway, uh they had uh though there was almost a physical confrontation that took place during that time. It'd be nice if we can keep the police department over there to get these people out of there because these guys are doing a uh I mean they're doing doing their best to try to secure the property. The buyer that was here last month because of the uh tenuous situation of the of the issue walked away. Uh we have another buyer that's potentially in in uh in in line, uh company I believe named Biotech, um, that has not executed a purchase offer yet, but uh pinning you know how what what uh what comes out with uh the progress of this uh we're making our best efforts to try to get the property secured. Um there's not any way that somebody's gonna climb up 20 foot outside of the building to be able to get inside the building. So some of the stuff higher up on the uh larger parts of the building will st will still be won't be covered up, but ain't no Spider-Man around here to be able to climb up there to get inside the building. You had sent me a copy of the quote from your contractor.
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