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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance - 2009-O0021 - Amending Ch 12 - Regulation Of Nuisances And Weeds - 03/23/2009First Reading March 5, 2009 Item No. 6.4 ORDINANCE NO. 2009-00021 Second Reading March 23, 2009 Item No. 6.8 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 12 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF LUBBOCK, TEXAS, WITH REGARD TO THE GENERAL REGULATIONS OF NUISANCES AND THE REGULATION OF WEEDS WITHIN THE CITY AND PROVIDING OF PENALTIES AND LIENS FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH DEMAND FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE GENERAL REGULATION OF NUISANCES; PROVIDING A PENALTY; PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION. WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Lubbock, Texas deems it in the best interest of the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Lubbock to make the following amendments to Chapter 12 of the Code of Ordinances with regard to the general regulations of nuisances and the regulation of weeds within the city and providing of penalties and liens for failure to comply with demand for compliance with the general regulation of nuisances; NOW THEREFORE: BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LUBBOCK: SECTION 1. THAT Section 12-102(b) of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Lubbock, Texas, is hereby amended to read as follows: (b) Weeds. It shall be unlawful for an owner or any person(s) having supervision or control of any lot, tract, parcel of land thereof, occupied or unoccupied, improved or unimproved, within the corporate limits of the city, to suffer or permit grass, weeds or any plant that is not cultivated to grow to a greater height than eight (8) inches on an average of the individual lot, tract or parcel or to grow in rank profusion upon the premises or otherwise, in, along, upon or across the adjacent sidewalk, parkway or alley to a height greater than eight (8) inches on the average. SECTION 2. THAT Section 12-106.2 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Lubbock, Texas, is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 12-106.2. Penalties and liens. If a notice is provided to the owner or any person(s) having supervision or control of such real property, the failure or refusal to comply with the demand for compliance within the applicable time period shall be deemed to be maintaining a public nuisance and the city environmental inspection services manager or his designee may issue a citation in municipal court and/or file a lien upon and against such real property to include all costs, filing fees, charges and expenses, in addition to a charge to and personal liability to the owner. Notwithstanding any provisions of this section to the contrary, the environmental inspection services manager or his designated designee has the authority to issue immediate citations to persons violating any provision of this section in the presence of said official. To obtain a lien against the property, the mayor or municipal official designated by the mayor must file a statement of the expenses incurred to correct the violation on the premises with the county clerk. The lien statement must state the name or the owner, if known, and the legal description of the property. The lien attaches upon the filing of the lien statement with the county clerk. The city shall have a privileged lien on any lot, tract or parcel of land or portion thereof on which such expenses were incurred and this lien shall be second only to tax liens and liens for street improvements, together with ten (10) percent on the delinquent amount from the date such payment is due. For any expenditures and interest, as secured by aforesaid lien, suit may be instituted and foreclosure had in the name of the City of Lubbock; and the statements of the expenses, as aforesaid, or a certified copy thereof, shall be prima facie proof of the amount expended in any such work. SECTION 3. THAT violation of any provision of this ordinance shall be deemed a misdemeanor punishable as provided by Section 1-4 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Lubbock, Texas. SECTION 4. THAT should any paragraph, section, clause, phrase or word of this Ordinance be declared unconstitutional or invalid for any reason, the remainder of the Ordinance shall not be affected thereby. SECTION 5. THAT the City Secretary of the City of Lubbock, Texas, is hereby authorized and directed to cause publication of the descriptive caption of this Ordinance as an alternative means of publication provided by law. AND IT IS SO ORDERED. Passed by the City Council on first reading this 5th day of Passed by the City Council on second reading this 23rd day of March , 2009. March TOM MARTIN, MAYOR 2009. ATTEST:' Rebe cA Gaup, City Secretary o R. Klein, ity Co ilman, istrict 3 A ROVED TO FORM: A s t City Attorney as/ccdocs/weed height.ORD 2.25.09