HomeMy WebLinkAbout1039ORDINANCE NO. 1039
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF UKIAH, ADDING CHAPTER 11
TO DIVISION 3 OF THE UKIAH CITY CODE GOVERNING THE ABATEMENT
OF UNHEALTHY, UNSAFE, AND VISUAL BLIGHT CONDITIONS ON PRIVATE
COMMERCIALLY ZONED PROPERTY
Now, therefore, the City Council of the City of Ukiah does ordain as follows:
SECTION 1: Chapter 11 is hereby added to Division 3 of the Ukiah City Code, entitled:
Commercially zoned property Maintenance: Abatement of Unhealthy, Unsafe, and Visual
Blight Conditions on Private Commercially Zoned Property, to read as follows:
3400 Purpose and Scope.
A.
In order to further the stated goals of the City of Ukiah to promote the health, safety,
and general welfare of the public by requiring a level of maintenance of private
commercially zoned property which will protect the livability, appearance and social
and economic stability of the City and to protect its citizens and their commercially
zoned property from conditions detrimental to property values and community
appearance, hazardous or injurious to the health, safety or welfare of the general
public, or which are offensive or annoying to the senses, the City Council has
determined that this Chapter is necessary to effectively abate or prevent the
development of such conditions in the City of Ukiah.
S.
It is the intention of the City Council, in adopting this Chapter Codified herein, to set
forth guidelines for determining what conditions on private commercially zoned
property constitute a public health, safety, and visual blight problem; to establish a
method for giving notice of the conditions and an opportunity to correct them; and
finally in the event the public health, safety, and visual blight conditions are not
abated or corrected, to provide a procedure for a hearing and determination of the
facts and manner in which the conditions shall be corrected or removed.
Co
It is the purpose of this Chapter to provide a fair and practical method, in addition to
any other remedy available at law, whereby commercially zoned property/buildings
which are dilapidated, unsafe, dangerous, unsanitary, cluttered with weeds, debris,
abandoned, or inoperable vehicles, machinery or equipment, or are a menace, or
hazard to life, limb, safety, health, property values, aesthetic standards or the
general welfare of the City of Ukiah, may be required to be repaired, renovated,
vacated, demolished, made safe, or cleaned up by removal of offensive conditions.
D,
Another purpose of this Chapter is to provide a program for removal of graffiti from
walls and structures on private commercially zoned property, as well as public
property and to provide regulations designed to prevent and control the further
spread of graffiti in the City.
E.
In addition to the abatement procedures provided herein, this Chapter declares
certain conditions to be public health, safety, and visual blight nuisances and that
continuance of such conditions shall be a misdemeanor.
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F,
This Chapter is not intended to enforce Conditions, Covenants, and Restrictions
(CC& R's) on property, nor to supersede them. This Chapter will be enforced
uniformly within the City regardless of CC& R's. Therefore, this Chapter does not
abrogate the right of any homeowners' association or private citizen to take action,
legal or as otherwise provided in the CC& R's, to force compliance with the CC& R's
applicable to their tract or association even though the CC&R provisions may be the
same, more restrictive or may not be covered by this Chapter.
Go
Provisions of this Chapter are to be supplementary and complementary to all of the
provisions of the Ukiah City Code, state and federal law, and any law cognizable at
common law or in equity, and nothing herein shall be read, interpreted or construed
in any manner so as to limit any existing right or power of the City to abate any and
all public health, safety, and visual blight problems.
H,
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Chapter, any condition which would constitute
a violation of this Chapter, but which is expressly authorized under any city, state or
federal law, shall not be deemed to violate this Chapter.
Every owner of real commercially zoned property within the city is required to
maintain such property in a manner so as not to violate the provisions of this
Chapter and such owner remains liable for violations thereof regardless of any
contract or agreement with any third party regarding such property. Every
occupant, lessee or holder of any interest in commercially zoned property, other
than as owner thereof, is required to maintain such property in the same manner as
is required of the owner thereof, and the duty imposed by this section on the owner
thereof shall in no instance relieve those persons herein referred to from the similar
duty.
3401 Definitions.
The following terms used in this Chapter shall have the following meanings:
Ao
"Commercially vehicle" means any motorized or non-motorized vehicle used or
maintained to transport property or goods for profit, or persons for hire or
compensation. This definition shall not include a commercially vehicle used as
the primary source of transportation by the person owning, leasing, occupying
or having charge of any such vehicle;
B. "Blighted" means deteriorated, impaired, or dilapidated.
Co
"Cost of Abatement" means the total cost incurred by the City in connection
with the abatement of a public health, safety, or visual blight nuisance
including, but not limited to:
1. Any cost incurred in removing or remedying a public health, safety, or visual
blight nuisance;
,
The following costs and fees of the City Staff for administrative services
rendered by the City in connection with the inspection, notification,
prosecution, and abatement procedures authorized by this Chapter:
ao
Notice and order, appeal and termination fees (as defined in Section
3417.A) in such amounts as are determined from time to time by
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resolution of the City Council, provided said fees are based on a
measurable estimate of the actual costs of services rendered by the
department from the time of the initial complaint intake for the
purpose of documenting a violation of this Chapter until the violation
is corrected;
b,
Any attorney's fees incurred by the City in the abatement of the
health, safety, or visual blight nuisance, through civil action or other
wise;
C,
If not already included in the fees established under subsection 3,
the cost of printings and mailings required under this Chapter;
do
All costs or expenses to which the City may be entitled pursuant to
Health and Safety Code Section 510 and other statutory entitlement;
such fees to be established or revised from time to time by
Resolution of the City Council;
e.
All costs and expenses for which the City may be liable under state
law arising from or related to the health, safety, or visual blight
nuisance.
3. Any cost incurred by the City in collecting the costs enumerated in
subsections 1 and 2 of this definition.
D,
"Inoperative vehicle" means any motor vehicle which cannot be moved under
its own power, or cannot be operated lawfully on a California public street or
highway, due to removal of, damage to, or inoperative condition of any
component part or the lack of an engine, transmission, wheels, tires, doors,
windshield or any other part necessary for such movement or lawful operation.
E,
"Junk" means any cast-off, damaged, discarded, junked, obsolete, salvaged,
scrapped, unusable, worn-out or wrecked object, thing or material or
substance, having no substantial market value.
F,
"Owner" as used herein means any person(s) shown as the property owner on
the latest equalized property tax assessment rolls, or in the case of a vehicle,
any person(s) shown on the last registration of the vehicle, or if that information
is not ascertainable, the owner shall be deemed to be the occupant of the
property on which the vehicle is located.
G. "Property" means premises.
H. "Vehicle" shall be defined as set forth in Section 670of the Vehicle Code of the
State of California. Any vehicle that is abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or
inoperative, or any part thereof, located on any private property, or public
property, excluding highways, in the city is declared to be a public nuisance.
The term "vehicle" shall not include:
,
A vehicle or part thereof which is completely enclosed within a building in a
lawful manner, where the same is not visible from the street or other public
or private property, and/or
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,
A vehicle or part thereof which is stored or parked in a lawful manner on
private property in conjunction with the lawful business of a licensed
dismantler, licensed vehicle dealer or a junkyard.
3402 Prohibited Health, Safety, and Visual Blight Nuisances
It shall be unlawful, and it is hereby declared to be a public nuisance, for any person
owning, leasing, occupying, or having charge of any commercially zoned business or
commercially zoned property within the City of Ukiah, to maintain such premises in such a
manner that any one or more of the conditions or activities described in the following
subsections are found to exist:
Ao
Bo
C,
D,
E,
F,
S.
H,
Any violation of the City of Ukiah Municipal Code.
Land, the topography or configuration of which, in any man-made state, whether as
a result of grading operations, excavations, fill, or other alteration, interferes with the
established drainage pattern over the property or from adjoining or other properties
which does or may result in erosion;
Buildings or structures which are partially destroyed, abandoned or permitted to
remain in a state of partial construction for more than six (6) months, or beyond any
period of extension, after the issuance of a building permit;
The failure to keep locked and secured from public access all doorways, windows
and other openings into vacant or abandoned (not occupied or in use) buildings or
structures. For purposes of this subsection vacant or abandoned buildings or
structures, including walls, retaining walls, fences or structures, or building, walls,
fences or structures upon which the condition of the paint has become so
deteriorated as to permit decay, excessive checking, cracking, peeling, chalking,
dry rot, warping or termite infestation;
Any building or structure, wall, fence, pavement, or walkway upon which any graffiti
is allowed to remain for more than five (5) calendar days;
Broken or cracked windows, windows boarded-up with unpainted materials
attached to the exterior of the building, or unattractive products adhered to/covering
the inside of the window, unless the structure is undergoing a remodeling project.
The property owner can have 30 to 90 days to correct the problem with the
submittal and approval of a reasonable improvement strategy/plan.
Overgrown or dead, decayed or hazardous vegetation which:
,
,
May harbor rats, vermin or other disease carriers;
Is an obstruction to the vision of motorists or a hazardous condition to
pedestrians, bicyclists, or vehicle traffic;
Constitutes a blighted appearance.
Constitutes a fire hazard as determined by the City Fire Marshal.
Building exterior, roofs, landscaping, grounds, walls, retaining and crib walls,
fences, or driveways which are defective, broken, torn, cracked, dilapidated, or in
other similar blighted conditions. If that condition is readily visible from any public
street or adjacent parcel of property and is unsightly so as to constitute a blighted
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condition detrimental to the property values in the immediate surrounding area or
otherwise be detrimental to the public welfare;
Except where construction is occurring under a valid permit, any placing, keeping,
storage, depositing or dumping or accumulation on any lot, parcel or tract of land,
improved or unimproved, or any litter consisting of garbage, refuse, trash, dirt,
refuse, litter, garbage, feces, gravel, concrete or other similar materials, or debris,
and all other waste material, whether by natural or man-made causes, and whether
intentionally that constitute visual blight or reduces the aesthetic appearance of the
neighborhood or is offensive to the senses or is detrimental to nearby property or
property values;
J,
Except where construction is occurring under a valid permit if a permit is required,
the keeping, storage, depositing, or accumulation on the premises of any personal
property which is within the view of persons on adjacent or nearby real property or
the public right-of-way when such personal property constitutes visual blight,
reduces the aesthetic appearance of the immediate surrounding area, is offensive
to the senses, or is detrimental to nearby property or property values. Personal
property includes, but is not limited to, junk as defined in Section 3401 herein,
abandoned, wrecked, broken or neglected equipment and machinery, or dismantled
automobiles or unseaworthy boats or vessels, automotive parts and equipment,
appliances, furniture, containers, packing materials, scrap metal, wood, pools,
ponds, excavations, abandoned wells, shafts, basements or other holes,
abandoned refrigerators or other appliances, abandoned or inoperable motor
vehicles, any unsound structure, or accumulated lumber, trash, garbage, building
materials, rubbish and debris, wood and building materials being used, or to be
used, for a project of construction, repair or renovation and for which an active
building permit is in existence, if required, may be stored for as long as is necessary
to complete the project expeditiously. Upon expiration or cancellation of the permit
or completion of the project, if a permit is not required, wood and building materials
for the project must be immediately removed;
K,
Parking lots that have broken pavement, large cracks, potholes, weeds growing
through cracks, or other similar blighted conditions;
Lo
Keeping construction debris storage bins stored in excess of fifteen (15) days on a
public street or any front or sideyard area without the express approval of the City
manager or his designee;
M,
Refuse or trash bins/dumpsters placed so as to be visible from neighboring
properties or streets, except for those times scheduled for collection, and where
infeasible.
N,
Any property with accumulations of grease, oil or other hazardous material on
paved or unpaved surfaces, driveways, buildings, walls, or fences, or from which
any such material flows or seeps on to any public street or other public or private
property; any front yard, or parkway.
O,
Any area in front of a commercially zoned building or property which lacks turf,
other planted material, decorative rock, bark, or similar landscaping
treatment/materials, unless there is no area in front of the building to place these
materials.
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P.
Q,
R.
S,
T,
U,
Mo
W,
X,
Y,
Zo
BB.
CC.
Vegetation overgrowth which encroaches into, over or upon any public right-of-way
including, but not limited to, streets, alleys, or sidewalks, so as to constitute either a
danger to the public safety or property or any impediment to public travel;
Use of parked or stored recreational vehicles as living space on commercially
zoned property;
Animals, livestock, poultry or bees kept, bred or maintained for any purpose (other
than a legally permitted kennel, pet store, or approved temporary use such as a
circus) and in violation of any provision of the Ukiah City Code;
Any building or structure which is structurally unsafe or which lacks adequate
ventilation, sanitation or plumbing facilities or not provided with adequate egress, or
which constitutes a fire hazard as determined by the Fire Marshal, or other hazard
to safety, health or public welfare;
Except where construction is occurring under a valid permit, the dumping of any
waste matter in or upon any public or private street, highway, right-of-way, or in or
upon any private property, or in or upon any public park or any public property other
than property designated or set aside for that purpose by the governing board or
body having charge of that property.
Any other condition declared by any State, County, or City statute, code or
regulation to be a public nuisance.
Inoperable or abandoned trailers, campers, boats or vehicles located on
commercially zoned property in view from the public right-of way.
Dismantling, disassembling, building, remodeling, assembling, repairing, painting,
washing, cleaning or servicing of any personal property such as, but not limited to,
vehicles, boats, trailers, machinery, equipment, appliances, furniture or other
personal property, for a period in excess of seventy-two (72) consecutive hours,
unless associated with a legally permitted land use.
Any dangerous, unsightly, or blighted condition which is detrimental to the health,
safety or welfare of the public;
Any condition recognized in law or in equity as constituting a public nuisance;
Any illegal activity occuring on property. For purposes of this Chapter, illegal
activity is defined as any violation of State or Federal laws, rules or regulations, or
local Ordinance.
Failing or ceasing to satisfy or violating any condition associated with or imposed in
connection with an approval relating to land, while making use of the special
entitlement granted by such permit, including, but not limited to, variances,
conditional use permits, subdivisions and site plans;
Signs, both on-site and off-site (billboards), which are oth'erwise lawful but
maintained in a broken, dilapidated, and/or abandoned condition;
Temporary signs that advertise or are related to events which have already taken
place;
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DD. Allowing any unlawful condition or activity to exist in a structure;
EE.
FF.
The erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, demolishing or
conversion of any building, structure or utility service connection without first
obtaining all required permits from the appropriate city department;
Outdoor sales being conducted without required permit(s).
3403 Right of Entry.
To the extent, and as authorized by law, the City Manager or his/her designee may enter
on property at reasonable times to make inspections in connection with the administration
and enforcement of this Chapter.
3404 Notification of property owner that a declared nuisance exists on property.
Whenever the City Manager or his/her designee finds that a condition declared a public
nuisance, as defined by Section 3402, exists on any premises located within the City, he
shall advise the property owner of the nuisance and direct the owner to abate the nuisance.
The property owner shall be notified of the existence of the nuisance in writing. The
notification shall describe the violations and establish a reasonable abatement period, and
may also set forth suggested methods of abatement
3405 Voluntary abatement of nuisances by property owner.
The owner or tenant of any building, structure or property found to be a nuisance under the
provisions of this Chapter may abate the nuisance at any time within the abatement period
by rehabilitation, repair, removal or demolition as appropriate. The City shall be advised of
the abatement and shall inspect the premises to ensure that the nuisance has in fact been
abated.
3406 Failure of property owner to voluntarily abate a declared nuisance.
If a nuisance is not properly abated within the period established under the provisions of
Section 3405, or if required permits are not properly secured, the City Council shall hold a
public hearing to determine if the declared nuisance should be abated under the police
powers of the City.
3407 Notice of Public Hearing - Required
A,
A written notice of public hearing, substantially in the form contained in this Section
3407, Subsection B, shall be served at least ten days prior to the date set for the
City Council public hearing.
B,
Service of the notice and order may be made upon all persons entitled thereto
either by personal delivery or by certified mail, addressed to the record owner and
business owner at his or her or their address as it appears on the latest equalized
assessment roll of Mendocino County, or as known to the City Manager. A copy of
the notice and order and any amended or supplemental notice and order shall also
be posted on the premises.
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,
In lieu of personally serving the owner or service by certified mail, service of
the notice and order and any amended or supplemental notice and order
may be made as follows:
(a)
In the event that the person entitled to service refuses to accept
certified return receipt mail or cannot be personally served, service
may be made by substituted service.
Substituted service may be accomplished as follows: (1) by leaving
a copy during usual business hours in the recipient's business with
the person who is apparently in charge, and by thereafter mailing by
first-class mail a copy to the recipient where the copy was left; (2) by
leaving a copy at the recipient's dwelling or usual place of abode, in
the presence of a competent member of the household and
thereafter mailing by first-class mail a copy to the recipient at the
address where the copy was left.
(b)
In the event the person entitled to service refuses to accept certified
return receipt mail or cannot be personally serviced and has a
property manager or rental agency overseeing the premises,
substituted service may be made as set forth in subsection l(a) of
this section upon the property manager or rental agency.
(c)
If the person entitled to service lives out of state and will not accept
certified return receipt mail, then service may be made by first-class
mail.
(d)
If the person entitled to notice cannot be located, or service cannot
be effected as set forth in this section, service may be made by
publication in a Mendocino County newspaper of general circulation,
which is most likely to give actual notice of the order to the person.
Service shall be deemed sufficient when it is accomplished pursuant
to Government Code Section 6063.
C.
The failure of any such person to receive such notice and order shall not affect the
validity of any proceedings taken under this section. Service by certified mail or first
class in the manner herein provided shall be effective on the date of mailing.
Service by publication shall be effective on the date of first publication. Service by
personal service shall be effective upon delivery. Service by substitute service shall
be effective from the date the mailing a copy of the order after substitute service.
3408 Notice of public hearing-form.
Notice substantially in the following form shall be given:
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO DETERMINE EXISTENCE OF PUBLIC
NUISANCE AND TO ABATE IN WHOLE OR IN PART
Notice is hereby given that on (insert date) the City Council of the City of Ukiah will hold a
public hearing at (insert place) to ascertain whether certain premises situated in the City of
Ukiah, State of California, known and designated as (insert address or description) to
constitute a public nuisance subject to abatement by the rehabilitation of such premises or
by the repair or demolition of buildings or structures situated thereon. If said premises, in
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whole or part, are found to constitute a public nuisance as defined by Section 3402 and if
the same are not promptly abated by the owner, such nuisances may be abated by
municipal authorities, in which case the cost of such abatement, including removal of the
nuisance, rehabilitation, repair or demolition will be assessed upon such premises and such
cost will constitute a lien upon such land until paid.
Said alleged violations consist of the following:
Said methods of abatement available are:
All persons having any objection to, or interest in, said matters are hereby notified to attend
a hearing before the City Council of the City to be held on (insert date and time) when their
testimony and evidence will be heard and given due consideration
DATED (insert date)
City Manager of the City of Ukiah
3409 Protest must be filed.
Any person contesting the existence of a nuisance shall file a written protest or objection
with the City Manager at least two days prior to the date specified in the notice given
pursuant to Sections 3407 and 3408 of this Chapter. Each written protest or objection must
contain a description of the property and the grounds of the protest or objection.
3410 Hearing-Proceedings
At the time and place stated in the notice of public hearing, the City Council shall hear and
consider all relevant evidence, objections or protests, and shall receive testimony from
owners, witnesses, City personnel and interested persons relative to such alleged public
nuisance and to proposed abatement measures. The hearing may be continued from time
to time.
3411 Hearing-Decision.
Ao
Upon the evidence presented, the City Council shall determine whether the
premises or any part thereof, as maintained, constitutes a nuisance within the
meaning of Section 3402.
If the City Council finds that the same constitutes a nuisance, it shall order the same
abated within a reasonable time, which time shall be determined by the City
Council.
B,
The City Council's decision shall be by written order, which shall contain the
findings of the City Council upon which such determination is based. If said
nuisance is not abated within the time permitted by the City Council, the City
Manager/designee is authorized to enter upon the premises for the purposes of
abating the same, as hereinafter provided.
3412 Time limitation for filing judicial action.
Any aggrieved person who has exhausted all administrative remedies may bring any action
to contest the City Council's decision, provided said action is filed with a court of competent
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jurisdiction within thirty days after the date of mailing such decision. Any aggrieved person
to whom a copy of the decision is not mailed by first class mail must file said action within
90 days of the date the decision was made by the City Council. Any action filed later than
the time required by this Section shall be barred from further prosecution.
3413 Service of abatement order.
Upon issuance of the City Council's written decision, the City manager/designee shall post
a copy thereof conspicuously on the premises involved and shall serve a copy upon the
record owner by first class and one copy shall be mailed to each of the following, if known
to the department head or disclosed from official public records: the holder of any mortgage
or deed of trust or other lien or encumbrance of record; the owner or holder of any lease of
record; and the holder of any other estate or legal interest of record in the premises.
3414 Abatement by property owner in conjunction with order.
The property owner, or person having charge or control of the property, may at his own
expense, abate the nuisance as prescribed by the order of the City Council prior to the
expiration of the abatement period set forth in the order. If the nuisance has been
inspected by the City and had been abated in accordance with the order, proceedings shall
be terminated.
3415 Extension of date for completion.
Ao
Upon receipt of an application from the person required to conform to the order by a
date fixed in the order, and an agreement by such person that he or she will comply
with the order if allowed additional time, the City Manager/designee may, in his or
her discretion, grant an extension of time, not to exceed an additional one hundred
twenty (120) days, within which to complete such abatement, if the City
Manager/designee determines that such an extension of time will not create or
perpetuate a situation imminently dangerous to life or property, and is otherwise in
the public interest.
B,
The authority of the City Manager/designee to extend time is limited to the physical
abatement of the nuisance or for such other purposes as may be reasonably
required by the circumstances of the-case, but such extension will not in any way
affect or extend the time to legally challenge the order.
3416 Enforcement of abatement order.
Ao
After any notice and order issued pursuant to this Chapter shall have become final,
no person to whom any such order is directed shall fail, neglect or refuse to obey
any such order. Any person who fails to comply with any such order or decision
after notice thereof is guilty of a misdemeanor.
B,
If, after any notice and order has become final, the person(s) to whom such order
has been directed shall fail, neglect or refuse to obey such order after notice
thereof, the City Manager/designee may, without further notice;
1. Refer the person for criminal prosecution;
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3417
A.
,
Institute an appropriate action to abate the conditions that constitute a public
nuisance. The City Manager or his designee may cause the same to be
abated by City forces or a private contractor.
.
Whenever the City Manager or his designee determines that a public
nuisance is so imminently dangerous to life or adjacent property that such
condition must be immediately removed, repaired or isolated, the City
Manager/designee shall notify such person, or persons, of the danger
involved and require that such condition be immediately removed, repaired
or isolated so as to preclude harm to any person or property.
(a)
Notice. The City Manager or his/her designee shall attempt to make
contact through a personal interview, or by telephone, with the
owner of the property or the person, if any, occupying or otherwise in
real or apparent charge of the property. The City Manager/designee
shall notify such person, or persons, of the danger involved and
require that such condition be immediately removed, repaired or
isolated so as to preclude harm to any person or property.
(b)
Abatement. If the City Manager or his/her designee is unable to
make contact as hereinabove noted, or if the appropriate persons
after notification by the City Manager or his designee do not take
action within such time as may be specified by such official, then the
City Manager/designee may take all actions deemed necessary in
order to protect the public from harm to remove, repair or isolate
such dangerous condition or conditions, with the use of City forces
or a contractor engaged pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter.
__ Record of costs of abatement-Duty to maintain-Service upon property
owner.
If abatement action is taken by the City, all costs of the abatement will be assessed
against the property and will attach as a lien until paid.
Costs of expenses for which the City may be reimbursed shall begin to accrue at
the time the City first receives a complaint regarding a problem on the property.
The costs of abatement shall include the total City cost of inspections and
enforcement (excluding the actual costs of abatement which shall be itemized as
set forth in subsection B), which shall be set by resolution of the City Council. An
additional fee which shall be set by resolution of the City Council shall be imposed
on the owner of the property at the conclusion of any matter in which a notice and
order has been issued. This termination fee shall be calculated to recover the cost
of closing the file, removing or placing liens, and other associated administrative
costs. Costs shall be assessed at the conclusion of the abatement provided,
however, in the case of the abatement by any method which takes more than six
months, costs may be assessed at any time after six months, but in no event more
than two times a year.
Costs and expenses may be recovered even if the nuisance is corrected voluntarily,
subsequent to the issuance of an abatement order. No fees shall be due and owing
if an appeal is filed and the appeal is sustained. All fees shall be a personal
obligation of the owner and a lien upon the property and are due and payable within
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thirty (30) days of issuance of the notice and order or closing of the file respectively;
provided that if an appeal is filed, the fees shall be due and payable upon a final
decision on the appeal. Any fee not paid within that time shall be payable to the
C~ty.
Bo
The City Manager/designee shall keep an account of the costs (including incidental
expenses) of abating such nuisance on each separate lot or parcel of land where
the work is done and shall render an itemized billing to the property owner which
shall be due and payable within thirty days. If the owner refuses or neglects to pay
the bill, a itemized report in writing shall be made to the City Council showing the
cost of abatement and the rehabilitation, demolishing or repairing of said premises,
building or structures, including any salvage value relating thereto; provided, that
before said report is submitted to the City Council a copy of the same shall be
mailed together with a notice of the time when said report shall be heard by the City
Council for confirmation.
Co
The City Council shall set the matter for hearing to determine the correctness or
reasonableness, or both, of such costs, and shall serve notice thereof.
D,
Proof of said service shall be made by declaration under penalty of perjury filed with
the City Clerk.
3418 Record of abatement cost hearing and proceedings.
At the time and place fixed for receiving and considering the report, the City Council shall
hear and pass upon the reports of such costs of abatement, together with any objections or
protests raised by any of the persons liable to be assessed for the cost of abating the
nuisance.
Thereupon, the City Council may make such revision, correction or modification in the
report, as it may deem just, after which, by motion, the report, as submitted or as revised,
corrected or modified, shall be confirmed. The hearing may be continued from time to time.
The decision of the City Council on all protests and objections which may be made shall be
final and conclusive.
3419 Nuisance abatement lien.
A,
If the nuisance abatement and related administrative costs are not paid within five
days after the City Council confirms the costs of abatement, the City shall notify the
owner of record of the parcel of land on which the nuisance is maintained, based on
the last equalized assessment roll or the supplemental roll, whichever is more
current, that a nuisance abatement lien will be recorded. The notice shall specify
the amount of the lien, the name of the City, the date of the abatement order, the
street address, the legal description and the Assessor's Parcel Number of the
parcel on which the lien is imposed, and the name and address of the owner of the
parcel. The notice shall be served in the same manner as a summons in a civil
action in accordance with Article 3 (commencing with Section (415.10) of Chapter 4
of Title 5 of part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure. If the owner of record after
diligent search cannot be found, the notice may be served by posting a copy thereof
in a conspicuous place upon the property for a period of ten days and publication
thereof in a newspaper of general circulation published in Mendocino County
pursuant to Section 6062 of the Government Code. The notice of lien shall be in
substantially the form provided in Section 3420(B).
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B.
C,
D.
3420
Ao
S.
After notice is given in accordance with subsection A of this section, the notice of
lien shall be recorded in the Mendocino County recorder's office and shall thereafter
constitute a lien on the real property for the expense of the abatement, and the
related administrative costs (assessed in accordance with Section 3417(A) together
with interest thereon.
In the event the lien is discharged, released or satisfied, either through payment or
foreclosure, notice of the discharge containing the same information as the notice of
lien shall be recorded in the Mendocino County recorder's office.
The City may enforce the nuisance abatement lien by an action for a money
judgment.
Assessment of abatement costs against property.
As an alternate to the procedure set forth in Section 3419, the City may use a
special assessment procedure to collect the abatement costs. The total cost for
abating such nuisance, as so confirmed by the City Council, shall constitute a
special assessment against the respective lot or parcel of land to which it relates,
and upon recordation in the office of the county recorder of a notice of lien, as so
made and confirmed, shall constitute a lien on said property for the amount of such
assessment.
,
After such confirmation and recordation a copy may be turned over to the
tax collector for the county, whereupon it shall be the duty of. the tax
collector to add the amounts of the respective assessments to the next
regular tax bills levied against said respective lots and parcels of land for
municipal purposes, and thereafter said amounts shall be collected at the
same time and in the same manner as ordinary municipal taxes are
collected, and shall be subject to the same penalties and the same
procedure under foreclosure and sale in case of delinquency as provided of
ordinary municipal taxes; or
.
After such recordation, such lien may be foreclosed by judicial or other sale
in the manner and means provided by law.
Such notice of lien for recordation shall be in the form substantially as follows:
NOTICE OF LIEN
(Claim of City of Ukiah)
Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 11 of the City of Division 3 of the City Code of
Ukiah, the City Manager (or his/her designee) of the City of Ukiah did on or about
(insert date), cause the premise hereinafter described to be rehabilitated or the
building or structure on the property hereinafter described, to be repaired or
demolished in order to abate a public nuisance on said real property; and the City
Council of the City of Ukiah did on (insert date), assess the cost of such
rehabilitation, repair, or demolition upon the real property hereinafter described; and
the same has not been paid nor any part thereof; and that said City of Ukiah does
hereby claim a lien on such rehabilitation, repair or demolition in the amount of said
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assessment, to wit: the sum of (insert amount); and the same shall be a lien upon
said real property until the same has been fpaid in full and discharged of record.
The real property hereinbefore mentioned, and upon which a lien is claimed, is that
certain parcel of land lying and being in the City of Ukiah, County of Mendocino,
State of California, and particularly described as follows:
(insert description)
DATED: (insert date)
City Manager of the City of Ukiah, California
(ACKNOWLEDGEMENT)
Co
The City Council may order a refund of all or part of the assessment paid pursuant
to this Chapter if it finds that all or part of the assessment was erroneously levied.
An assessment or part thereof shall not be refunded unless a claim is filed with a
City Clerk within six months after the assessment became due and payable. The
claim shall be verified by the person who paid the assessment, or the legal
representative of such person.
3421 Owner's personal obligation.
A.
The confirmed cost of abatement of a nuisance upon any lot or parcel of land shall
constitute a personal obligation of the property owner and the City
manager/designee is authorized to commence an action in the name of the City in
any court of competent jurisdiction to collect the cost of abatement from the
property owner.
B.
Upon entry of a second or subsequent civil or criminal judgment within a two-year
period finding that an owner of property is responsible for a condition that may be
abated in accordance with this Chapter, except for conditions abated pursuant to
Section 17980 of the California Health and Safety Code, the court may order the
owner to pay triple the costs of the abatement.
3422 Alternative collection methods.
A civil action to foreclose a lien, the special assessment procedure and a personal action
against the owner shall not be mutually exclusive and the City shall be free to use all
methods simultaneously as long as the City does not receive multiple payment for the
abatement costs.
3423 Alternative proceedings.
A.
Nothing in the foregoing sections shall be deemed to prevent the City Council from
ordering the City Attorney to commence any appropriate civil action to abate a
nuisance in addition to, alternatively to, or in conjunction with the proceedings set
forth in this Chapter; nor shall anything in this Chapter be deemed to prevent the
commencement of a criminal action with respect to the nuisance in addition to,
alternatively to, or in conjunction with, the proceedings set forth in this Chapter, nor
shall any provision herein be deemed to prevent or limit an action for private
nuisance by any person.
14-
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preliminary to or incidental to such work authorized or directed pursuant to this
Chapter lawfully engaged in proceedings involving the abatement of a nuisance is
guilty of a misdemeanor.
3425 Nuisances endangering public health.
Ao
Whenever a nuisance endangering the public health is ascertained to exist on any
premise, or in any house or other place, the health officer shall notify, in writing, any
person owning or having control of, or acting as agent for such premises, house or
other place, to abate or remove such nuisance within a reasonable time, to be
stated in such notice.
B,
Upon the neglect or refusal of any owner, occupant, or agent, or other person
having control of such house or other place, to comply with such notice, the health
officer may abate such nuisance; and the owner, agent or occupant, or other
person having control of such house or place, in addition to the penalties provided
by this Chapter shall be liable to the City for the cost of such abatement, to be
recovered in a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction. If no person can be
found upon whom to serve such notice, the health office shall proceed to abate
such nuisance at the expense of the City, at a cost of not to exceed twenty-five
dollars ($25) per day.
SECTION 2: If any part of this Ordinance or its application is deemed invalid by a court of
competent jurisdiction, the City Council intends that such invalidity will not affect the
effectiveness of the remaining provisions or applications and, to this end, the provisions of
this ordinance are severable.
SECTION 3: This Ordinance will take effect on the 31 st day following its final passage and
adoption.
INTRODUCED BY TITLE ONLY ON September 18, 2002, BY THE FOLLOWING ROLE
CALL VOTE:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Councilmembers Larson, Smith, Baldwin and Mayor Ashiku
Councilmember Libby
None
None
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 2nd day of October 2002, BY THE FOLLOWING ROLE
CALL VOTE:
AYES:
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Libby
ABSTAIN: None
Councilmembers Larson, Smith, Baldwin, and Mayor Ashiku
Phillip Ashi~:u, Mayor
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ATTEST:
Marie Ulvila, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
By: d~~-~
Davi
-17-