Terrace cleanup confuses residents

By Shannon Sessions

For The Herald

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — If city officials want to clean up the town, they might want to be more clear.

A new program has confused some residents as to what is going on.

John Zambrano, a 25-year resident, recently got a notice about the City Pride Program in his water bill.

But he thought it was just informational. He didn’t realize it was really a warning that if things weren’t fixed up he could be ticketed.

Soon after, he received a citation on one of his cars for an out-of-date license plate.

"I was in my house when they put the ticket on my car," he said. "They could have knocked on my door, and I could’ve shown them that I had the updated license information. I was only guilty of being tardy of putting it on the vehicle."

Jack Allen, another longtime resident, had a parking problem at his place. He thinks the city is going too far.

"This is a mid- to low-income neighborhood, not a gated community," Allen said.

Mountlake Terrace Police Chief Scott Smith said the complaints aren’t a surprise, but it’s all a part of the council’s plan to clean up the city.

Police and code enforcement officials are in the process of covering eight sections of the city in eight weeks with the City Pride Program.

Recently, the City Council adopted laws to eliminate the blight of homes that look like junkyards, and streets and driveways that resemble auto repair lots.

"We are checking area one for compliance this week, and so far are finding there are about twice as many addresses that are not complying as those that have corrected their violation," said Joie Worthen Mountlake Terrace’s crime prevention coordinator. "A little discouraging, but we appreciate those who are now off our list, and the rest will be contacted later in the week by the police department."

Two weeks after the pamphlets go out in water bills, city staff will survey the neighborhoods and note the violations, then send a letter to the people responsible, noting what needs to be done.

Two weeks after the letter, staff again will survey the neighborhoods to check for compliance, make personal contact if necessary, and try to agree on a voluntary compliance contract. If residents don’t fix the problem, police will go back and issue citations.

"We are checking every residence," Worthen said. "Our goal is to involve the citizens in our city in making Mountlake Terrace a clean, safe and healthy community."

Shannon Sessions is the editor for the Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace Enterprise Newspapers. You can call her at 425-673-6531 or email at sessions@heraldnet.com.

Vehicles cannot be left unmoved on a public street more than 72 consecutive hours.

Commercial vehicles cannot park on the street overnight (between midnight and 6 a.m.).

Recreational vehicles, including boats and utility trailers, cannot park overnight on the street.

Nonemergency repairs, servicing or washing vehicles on the street or planting strip is prohibited.

All vehicles in a front or side yard must be parked on a driveway or improved surface.

No more than four vehicles may be parked in a back yard.

Inoperable vehicles may not be stored in any yard for more than 30 days.

No more than two recreational vehicles may be stored anywhere on the property.