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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981 Ordinance No. 075.. , ... ~ -· . •• ' l" • • • BY AUTHORITY ORDINANCE NO. '/.~ SERIES OF 198~ COUNCIL BILL NO. 74 INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL MEMBER NEAL ------- AN ORDINANCE FOR THE CONTROL OF ITEMS OF DEBRIS WHICH ACCUMULATE UPON AND NEED REMOVAL FROM REAL PROPERTY WITHIN THE CITY OF ENGLEWOOD IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A CLEAN, BEAUTIFUL AND HEALTHY CITY, AND PROVIDING STANDARDS, PROCEDURES AND REMEDIES THEREFOR. WHEREAS, it is necessary to provide procedures for the removal of litter, weeds and derelict vehicles in order to maintain the City free from such debris: and WHEREAS, it is appropriate to provide a common procedure for the control and removal of such items in order to aid the ease of administration of the laws of the City of Englewood: ·.and WHEREAS, the enactment of an ordinance on this subject will contribute to the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City of Englewood . NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO: Section 1. That Chapters 3, 5 and 7, Title VI~ of the 1969 revised Englewood Municipal Code are hereby repealed and a new Chapter 5, Title VI, is added as follows: 6-5-1: TITLE 6 CHAPTER 5 LITTER, WEEDS, DERELICT VEHICLES AND HOBBY VEHICLES DEFINITIONS As used in this Article, unless the context otherwise require•: (a) (b) "Business property" is real property such as a store which is used principally for the sale or lease of merchandise, g oods, services, or interests in land and which is genera lly recognized as a retail or whol ~••l• business. "Cormnercial handbill" is any printed or reproduced pamphlet, leaflet or similar document or sample which advertises for sale any merchandise, product, commodity, or thing or which directs attention to or advertises any meeting, theatrical performance, exhibition, or event of any kind, for which an admission fee is charged for the purpose of private gain or profit : or which proposes any othe r c omme rcial transaction. '· .. .. ,.,. L, • • (c) "Derelict vehicle" shall mean any vehicle, the owner of which cannot readily be found, not capable of being legally operated on the public streets under the motor vehicle laws of the State of Colorado. It shall include all vehicles missing wheels, missing or broken windows and/or windshield. It shall not include those vehicles whose only deficiency is lack of a current license plate or safety sticker and those vehicles in process of or that have been modified as hobby type vehicles. (d) "Garbage" is putrescible animal and vegetable wastes resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food. (e) "Hobby type vehicle" is any vehicle of the following type in the process of being built, restored or main- tained as a diversion from one's regular occupation for the purpose of relaxation (aircraft, boats, classic cars, experimental cars, off-road vehicles, race cars, and derelict vehicles). (f) "Litter" is "garbage,""refuse," and "rubbish," as defined herein, and all other waste material which, if thrown or deposited as herein prohibited, tends to create a danger to public health, safety and welfare • (g) "Noncommercial handbill" is any printed or reproduced pamphlet, leaflet, or similar device or sample, or any other printed or otherwise reproduced original or copies of any matter of similar type literature not included in the aforesaid definition of commercial handbill1 or any of the foregoing which sets forth a political or ideological message. (h) "owner" shall include the record owner, whether person, firm or corporation, any agent or representative of the record owner. (i) "Private premises" is any dwelling, house, building or other structure, designed or used, either wholly or in part, for pri vate residential purposes, whether inhabited or temporarily or continuously uninhabited or vacant, and shall include any yard, grounds, walk, driveway, porch, steps, vestibule or mailbox belonging or appurtenant to such dwelling, house, building, or other structure, and private land on which no building exists. Private premises includes business property. (j) "Public place" is any and all streets, sidewalks, boule- vards, alleys or other public ways and any and all public parks, squares, grounds, and buildings owned or main- tained by the City of Englewood for the benefit of the general public. -2- , . . • ,. •• (k) "Rubbish" is nonputrescible waste consisting of both combustible and noncombustible wastes, such as paper, wrappings, cigarettes, cardboard, tin cans, yard clip- pings,· leaves, branches, wood, waste building materials, glass, bedding, crockery, household furnishings and similar materials. (1) "Refuse" is all putrescible or nonputrescible waste including garbage, rubbish, ashes, street cleaning, dead animals, offal, droppings, abandoned appliances, and vehicle parts. (m) "Trash container" is a closable container of metal, wood, or plastic. (.n) "Weed" shall mean weeds, grass, brush, or other rank or noxious vegetation which is in excess of six (6) inches in height and shall specifically include: Bindweed (Convolvulus), Leafy Spruce (Euphorbia Esula), Canada Thistle (Circium Arvense), Russian Knapweed (Centaurea Pieris), Perennial Sowthiatle (Sonchus Arvense), Puncture Vine (_Tribuius Terreatria), Silver Leaf Poverty Weed (Franseria Discolor), Mouaaeear Poverty Weed (Thiaspi Arvense), Mustards (Braaaiea), Purple-flowered Groundcherry (Quincula Lobat~,, Russian Thistle (Salsola Pestifer), Fireweed (kochia Scoparia), Redroot Pigweed (Amaranthus Retroflexus), Sandbur (Cenchrus Tribuloides), Hairy Stickweed (Lappula Occidentalis), Buffaloburs (Solanum Restvatum), Common Ragweed Ambrosia Elatiov), Cocklebur (Xanthium Commurie), Common Sunflower (Helianthus Centicularis), Dandelion (Leonthodore Tavazacum), or other plant or offending vegetation which is regarded as a common nuisance. This list is not intended to be exclusive, but rather is intended to be indicative of those types of plants which are considered noxious and 6-5-2: a detriment to the public health and safety but shall not include flower gardens, plots of shrubbery, vegetable gardens and small grain plots (wheat, barley, oats, and rye). DECLARATION It is the purpose of this chapter to set forth laws which are required for the clean living, beauty, health and well-being of the citizens and the City of Englewood by prohibiting accumula- tions of litter, weeds, or unsightly vehicles within the City. The persons to whom this chapter applies shall be responsible for maintaining their premises free of the prohibitions from the center of the alley abutting their property to the traveled portion of the adjoining streets • -3- .. . . :~ ••• ·~ .· • • •'' I . . ANTI-LITTERING PROVISIONS 6-5-3: LITTER -GENERAL PROHIBITION No person shall throw, place, or depoait litter in or upon any public place within the City except in traah containers. 6-5-4: LITTER ON PUBLIC PROPERTY No person shall throw or deposit any litter on any public street, in any public park, or in any public building within the City except in trash containers. No person shall throw or deposit any litter in any fountain, lake, bay, stream or other body of water within the City. No person shall affix any poster, notice, or like device to attract public attention, to any lamp post, public utility post, traffic control device, tree, public structure or building except as may be authorized by law. 6-5-5: LITTER ON PRIVATE PROPERTY The owner or occupant of private property shall cause the removal of all accumulated article• of litter and place said litter in a trash container. Litter •hall be taken to an authorized site for disposal. The owner or occupan t o City shall maintain said premi•~ trash containers therefor. private premises within the ree of litter and provide No person shall throw or deposit litter on any occupied or vacant private property within the City. 6-5-6: LITTER ON BUSINESS PROPERTY The owner or lessee of business property is authorized and required to provide trash containers at convenient places for the deposit of litter by business patrons. The owner or occupant of business property may require that all litter deposited in his premises, sidewalk or conunon area be placed in trash containers he has provided. The owner or lessee of business property is required to keep free from litter the sidewalk adjacent to his business or his proportional share of common walkway or mall. No person owning or occupying business property shall sweep into or deposit in any gutter, street, or public place the accumulation of litter from his building, sidewalk or driveway. The owner or lessee of business property may prohibit the solicitation of funds, selling of articles, and distribution of literature by any person upon his business premises or in the com- mon area. -4- .. • • •• I. ... ' . 6-5-7: LITTER FROM VEHICLES No driver or passenger in an automobile, motorcycle, bicycle, aircraft, or other vehicle, shall throw, place or deposit litter upon the public streets, other public place, or private property. No person shall drive any truck or like vehicle in the city unless its contents are covered or loaded to prevent them from being scattered or if the wheels or tires carry any mud, dirt, sticky substance or like matter into a public street, alley, or other public place. 6-5-8: DISTRIBUTION OF HANDBILLS No person shall distribute or sell any commercial or non- commercial handbill, advertisement, or similar literature in or upon a street, sidewalk, parking lot, or other public place within the City: provided, however, a person may distribute free to the receiver a nonconunercial handbill to a person willing to accept it. No person shall distribute any handbill or similar literature upon inhabited private premises except by placing said items in a manner as to prevent them from being blown or drifted about the premises. Mail boxes may not be used when prohibited by Federal regulations. No person shall distribute any handbill or similar literature to temporarily or continuously vacant premises. No person shall distribute an}r handbill upon private premises if requested not to do so by any person there or by a sign bearing the words "No Trespassing," No Advertisements," "No Agents," or similar language. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the proper distribution of mail by the United States or to delivery of news- papers which are legal publications, provided that newspapers shall be placed on property to prevent their being carried away by the elements. 6-5-9: LITTER PLACEMENT IN TRASH CONTAINERS Persons shall place litter in trash containers to prevent it from being carried or scattered by the elements upon public or private property. Persons shall place trash container• on any public street, alley, sidewalk or other thoroughfare only on regularly scheduled pick-up or collection days and only in a manner not to obstruct vehicular or pedestrian traffic. No person shall throw or deposit his litter within the trash container of any other person -without that person's express or implied consent. -5- ' •• • • :• ... ' . 6-5-10: REMOVAL OF LITTER TO AUTHORIZED SITES All litter collected by any person shall be taken to a site authorized for litter disposal or be placed on reqular trash collection days for collection by trash haulers licensed by the City of Englewood. No person shall engage in the business of removing or hauling litter in the City without first obtaining a license. A nontransferable license shall be issued upon the annual payment of $5 per vehicle. 6-5-11 through 6-5-19 RESERVED ANTI-WEED PROVISIONS 6-5-20: CUTTING AND REMOVING WEEDS Every owner or occupant of realty shall cause to be cut all weeds exceeding six (6) inches in height growing there. The weeds shall be removed to some site authorized for the disposal of litter. 6-5-21: PUBLISHED NOTICE TO REMOVE WEEDS When the City Manager determines it may be necessary, the Director of Finance shall cause to be published in a newspaper general circulation in the City a notice which shall be sub- stantially in the following form: TO ALL OWNERS AND OCCUPANTS OF LAND WITHIN THE CITY OF ENGLEWOOD: Notice is hereby given that all weeds within the City of Englewood must be cut down, destroyed and removed on or before the (date to be inserted by the Director of Finance --not less than five (5) days after the date of publication) of this year. Failure to comply with this notice on or before the date mentioned shall make the parties responsible personally liable for the cost of cutting, destroying, and removing the same, plus Twenty-five percent (25%) incidental cost and Fifteen percent (15%) penalty and interest, which costs, penalties, and interest may be recovered in a personal action against such parties or may be levied and collected against said land in the same manner as other taxes are levied and collected. -6- of ~ .... •' . ' . •· • • Parties failing to comply with this notice may be subject to a fine or to imprisonment not exceeding ninety (90) days, or to both such fine and imprison- ment as imposed by Title I, Chapter 2, of the 1969 Englewood Municipal Code, as amended. This notice is given in compliance with Section 6-5-21 of the Englewood Municipal Code. 6-5-22 through 6-5-29 RESERVED 6-5-30: ANTI-DERELICT VEHICLE PROVISIONS VEHICLES IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES No person who lives in a residentially zoned district shall keep a hobby or derelict vehicle, under .construction or not, un- less it is stored in a fully enclosed garage or similar structure. A person may store the vehicle in a carport or open area if he keeps the vehicle and its parts covered with a canvas or other opaque covering. Storage or covering is not required when the vehicle is actually being worked on. No person shall build, store, or maintain more than one derelict or hobby vehicle outside a fully enclosed garage at each residence in the City. No person shall store or work on any hobby or derelict vehicle within his residence required front yard or any adjacent rights of way. 6-5-31: VEHICLES IN BUSINESS ZONES No person shall keep a hobby or derelict vehicle in a business zoned district unless it is stored in a fully enclosed structure or behind the principal structure in an area screened from view of adjacent properties and public rights of way. No person who principally uses as a residence property in business zones shall keep more than one hobby or derelict vehicle on the property. 6-5-32 through 6-5-39 RESERVED PROCEDURAL PROVISIONS 6-5-40: VIOLATIONS: NOTICE -COST ASSESSMENT -REMEDIES • Whenever it is found that weeds, accumulations of litter, or vehicles exist within the City in violation of this chapter, -7- ~. , .. ~· • • • -:...'-.e .'.:i":y ~a:1ager or his designee shall ha\.•e ~sted ·..:Fon ~~e re.alty :::-•;e!1i~!.e a~ appropriate :'lotice in substantially the follo""·i:i; :or:::: ':'O 7HE OW~"E~S .:\..,"'D , 'OR OCCOPA.~TS o: 7EIS PROPERTY: NOTICE There exists upon t~is propert~· (weeds) (and /or litter) (and/or derelict and/or hobbr vehicles) which ha\•e net been (rerno\•ed) (disposed of) or (attended to) in 3cccr~­ ance with Title VI, Chapter S, of the 1969 Englewood ~1unicipal Code. Xotice is further given that unl••• the same are (removed) (and disposed of) (or attended to) within five (Sj days from (date of poatin9 of notice), th.e City of Englewood may cauae the ••me to be (remo\•ed) (and disposed of) (er attended to) in compliance with said chapter, in which event the owner• and occupants of this realty er vehicle owner ma1• be liable for all costs, expenses and penalties as eet forth in Title VI, Chapter 5, of the Municipal Code of the Citr of Englewood, including the assessment of a property lien fer the costs incurred. 6-5-41: FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH NOTICES If any owner er occupant of real property or vehicle owner fails to comply with notice given pursuant to this chapter within the time specified, the City Manager or his designees are authorized to cause the action required by ordinance to which such notice had reference. All costs incurred by the City plus an administrative cost cf Twenty-five percent (25%) cf the direct costs shall be charged against the real property and its owners or the vehicle owners. 6-5-42: NOTICE OF COSTS If the City incurs costs taking action required by this chapter, a statement shall be prepared for the entire cost plus Twenty-five percent (25•) administrative costs, and be mailed by certified mail, retnrn receipt requested, to the vehicle owner or property owner er occupant with instructions that said statement will be paid in full plus costs within thirty (30) days cf said mailing d ate. The notice shall also inform the -8- ~ • . 'It. • • • • • •• I • :• ,. ·property owner that the failure to pay the statement for costs for litter or weed removal within sixty (60) days shall result in an assessment beinq made aqainst the property which shall constitute a lien pursuant to Title VI, Chapter 5, of the Municipal Code of the City of Enqlewood. 6-5-43: ASSESSMENT If the full amount of the statement relatinq to weed or litter removal from realty is not paid within sixty (60) days, the City Manaqer shall direct the Director of Finance to assess the entire amount of the statement plus an additional Fifteen percent (15%) penalty aqainst the specified realty. After assess- ment by the Director of Finance, a copy shall be sent to each owner of record of the assessed realty. The assessment shall contain a leqal description of the premises, the expenses and costs incurred, and the date for litter or weed removal, and a notice that the City claims a lien for this amount. The Director of Finance shall certify such assessment to the County Treasurer who shall collect such assessment in the same manner as ad valorem taxes are collected. 6-5-44: ASSESSMENTS A LIEN From the date of the assessinq statement, all assessments shall constitute a perpetual lien aqainst the specified realty and shall have priority over all liens excepting general tax liens and prior special assessments. No delays, mistakes, errors or irreqularities in any act or proceedinq authorized herein shall prejudice or invalidate any final assessment: but the same may be remedied by the Director of Finance, as the case may require, upon application made by the property owner or other interested ,. person. When so remedied, the same shall take effect as of the date of the original assessment by the Director of Finance. 6-5-45: APPEALS Any vehicle owner or property owner or occupant may appeal, in writinq, to the City Manaqer within five (5) days of his receipt of notice, statement of costs, or assessment. The appeal shall contain the appellant's name and address, the decision being appealed, and a brief explanation why the appellant should not be required to comply with the document appealed. The City Manaqer or his designee may meet informally with the appellant to exchange necessary information and shall issue a decision in writing to the appellant at his address stated in the appeal. : 6-5-46: OTHER REMEDIES Any unpaid charqe plus all costs and penalties shall consti- tute a debt due the City. The City Attorney shall, at the direc- tion of the City Manager, institute civil suit in the name of the -9- . ~~. •: ~ . • • • \ City to recover such charges, costs and penalties. This remedy shall be cumulative with all other remedies, including prosecu- tion in Municipal Court for each violation of this chapter .pursuant to the provisions and penalties established by Title I, Chapter 2, of the '69 E.M.C. section 2. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this Ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent juris- diction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct, and independent provision and the holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of the Ordinance. Introduced, read in full, and passed on first reading on the 19th day of October, 1981. Published as a Bill for an Ordinance on the 21st day of October, 1981 • Read by title and passed on final reading on the 2nd day of November, 1981. Published by title as Ordinance No. ~~, Series of 1981, on the 4th day of November, 1981. ~~Mv-: Beverly J. Bradshaw, Mayor Pro Tem Attest: ~~&~ ex~ciOily cer reasurer I, Gary R. Higbee, ex officio City Clerk-Treasurer of the City of Englewood, Colorado, hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true, accurate, and complete copy of the Ordinance passed on final reading and published by title as Ordinance No. ~' Series of 1981. {?<J~L~· ~H1 e -10-