Updated 12/2010
Dispute Resolution and Neighborhood Dispute Mediation Centers
Contents
- About Neighborhood Dispute Resolution or Mediation Centers
- Washington Local Government Programs
- Reference Sources
About Neighborhood Dispute Resolution or Mediation Centers
Most counties have nonprofit dispute resolution centers. Some jurisdictions have created neighborhood dispute or mediation centers to resolve nuisance related problems between neighbors. If disputes between neighbors over nuisance-related items can be resolved through alternative methods such as mediation, the local government does not have to step in with a formal complaint investigation/remedial process. Ch. 7.75 RCW authorizes cities and counties to create dispute resolution centers. This page provides an overview and reference links to various programs.
- Washington State Dispute Resolution Centers, Administrative Office of the Courts - Lists centers in state
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, Washington State Bar Association
Washington Local Government Programs
- Bellevue's Mediation Program began as a pilot project in the Code Compliance Division as an alternative to traditional enforcement of neighborhood issues. The program is designed to enable citizens to resolve neighborhood problems without government intervention, and at the earliest possible stage. Complaints referred to mediation fall into three categories: Where there are no codes covering the issue; complaints that are covered by code, but do not present life safety concerns are referred to mediation prior to investigation; cases which have been investigated and no violation or partial violation has been found.
- Bellevue Municipal Code Ch. 3.70 - Dispute Resolution Center
- King County Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Lynnwood Neighborhood Disputes, Lynnwood Police Department
- Port Townsend Municipal Code Ch. 2.82 - Dispute Resolution Program
- Vancouver-Clark County Community Mediation Services (CMS)
- Establishment of a Neighborhood Dispute Resolution Program (
), Staff Report No. 214-92, 09/28/1992
- City of Vancouver Neighborhood Dispute Resolution Center Program Plan (), 09/1992
- Vancouver, WA Excerpt (), from: Council Agenda, 12/06/2010 - Professional Services Agreement with Community Mediation Services and Approval of Program Plan
- Establishment of a Neighborhood Dispute Resolution Program (
- Thurston County - Dispute Resolution Center of Thurston County
Reference Sources
- How to Set Up a Mediation Program for the City -- "Nuts and Bolts," by L. Elise Dieterich, J.D., ADR Options Consulting(Seattle), Information Bulletin No. 494 (1996), Legal Notes, Proceedings of May 8-10, pp.[19-1]-[19-19], 1996 (Available through MRSC Library Loan)
- National Association of Community Mediation
- Resolution Washington: Dispute Resolution Centers
- Want to Resolve a Dispute? Try Mediation, U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Youth in Action No. 13, 3/2000