Should the City of Grants Pass get tougher with derelict properties around town? The question came up during the Grants Pass City Council’s Monday workshop after Councilor Rob Pell raised a citizen’s complaint. A local business owner told him that a boarded-up building on H Street, between Fourth and Sixth streets, makes people avoid walking down there. Pell asked for a review of city codes and how they compare to other cities. It turns out Grants Pass codes focus on public safety risks but do little to address a building’s appearance. After listening to Councilors’ concerns about keeping Grants Pass looking good for business while respecting people’s property rights, City Manager Aaron Cubic said he could report back to a future workshop with the options available to get property owners to clean up derelict buildings. Councilors were adamant that just because a building is empty doesn’t mean it’s derelict. However, when an empty building reaches a level of disrepair that affects its neighboring businesses, the City should be able to do something about that, they agreed and asked staff to come back with a more comprehensive list of what they can do to keep downtown looking good for business yet be mindful of property owners’ rights.