The Prineville City Council is considering an ordinance giving police a tool to deal with properties that are chronic problems. The proposed ordinance is well-balanced, but it depends on how it is used.

“It is my experience from working in law enforcement for a long period of time that we need to look for solutions that are more long-term than responding to certain homes time and time again and not coming to a resolution,” Prineville Police Chief Dale Cummins said, according to the Central Oregonian. “This is an answer to that.”

Cummins didn’t have any properties in mind that were creating chronic issues. But he wants the ordinance in place.

The draft ordinance works like this: It could be used when a property was involved in three or more “nuisance activities” within a 30-day period. Nuisances are defined as harassment, intimidation, disorderly conduct, assault, illegal gambling, prostitution, alcohol violations, illegal drug use, excessive noise and more.

The ordinance could also be used when persons associated with a property are involved in such activities, in some other circumstances involving illegal drugs and continuous or repeated nuisances.

The property owner would have to be notified. The owner could work with police and the city to solve the problem or the city could take more action. The city would have to prove that the property is a nuisance. A judge would make a final decision. Penalties may include closure of use of the property for up to 180 days and other civil penalties.

Many cities in Oregon and across the county have policies that are similar, including Bend and Portland. In Olympia, Washington, a home had 49 police calls about it in 90 days. Police documented drug violations, theft and mail theft. The home was declared a nuisance. The owner had to fix the problems or pay fines.

The community needs ways to stop a property from being home to recurring, serious annoyances or repeated criminal activity. If this ordinance is used sensibly, it can protect the community without violating property rights.