[Amended 3-19-2014 by Ord. No. 14-02]
It shall be unlawful for the owner or occupant of any premises
abutting upon a sidewalk to permit or allow snow or ice to remain
thereon for longer than 24 hours after it has ceased snowing or the
ice forming, or to permit debris or other materials to accumulate
at any time so that pedestrians may not conveniently and safely pass.
At the discretion of the City Manager, and/or his/her designee, the
time allowed to remove snow and ice from sidewalks may be extended
because of extremely cold temperatures.
All persons occupying commercial establishments
or premises fronting on any street or public place shall keep the
sidewalk immediately in front of their premises clear of debris or
other materials so that pedestrians may conveniently pass, and no
person shall sell, display or advertise goods or services on the sidewalk.
Further, upon obtaining special permission from the City Manager and/or
his/her designee, such persons may utilize, for the display of merchandise,
areas within the sidewalk right-of-way.
[Added 6-4-2012 by Ord. No. 12-10; amended 8-20-2012 by Ord. No. 12-21]
It shall be unlawful for the owner or occupant of any premises
abutting upon a sidewalk to permit grass or weeds to grow on the sidewalk.
It shall be unlawful for the owner or occupant of any premises abutting
upon a sidewalk to permit grass clippings or debris to accumulate
on the sidewalk or on the street. When cutting the grass as part of
yard maintenance, all grass clippings, weeds, and debris must be removed
immediately upon completion from the sidewalk and out of the street.
It is the responsibility of the owner or occupant of any premises
abutting upon a sidewalk to keep the landscaped area between the sidewalk
and the curbline, or where no sidewalk exists between the property
line and curbline or paved street, maintained in accordance with the
standards set forth in this chapter.
[Added 6-4-2012 by Ord. No. 12-10]
In the event that any person, firm, or corporation in the opinion of the City Manager and/or his/her designee, is found to be in violation of this article, then the City Manager and/or his/her designee shall issue a summons showing a violation of this article, said summons to be served personally or by certified mail upon the person, firm, or corporation. The summons shall cite the violation of this article and shall be accompanied by a letter or a copy of the relevant provisions of the article stating what corrective action must be taken and shall state the consequences for failure to take such corrective action. If the violation is not corrected within three days from the date of personal service of the summons or within seven days from the date of mailing of the summons by certified mail, then the City, at the direction of the City Manager and/or his/her designee, may take action to correct any violation of this article and charge the person, firm, or corporation for the work that must be done. The fees for such work shall be as set forth in Chapter
180, Fees, Municipal. When the person, firm, or corporation has received summonses and fails to take corrective action, and the City has corrected the violation in accordance with this section, then no further notification shall be necessary for the City to take any further corrective action on any subsequent violations within the following eighteen-month period starting from the date of the first corrective action by the City.
In the event that the owner, occupant, tenant
or other agent caring for or in charge of the premises is deemed to
be in violation of this article and in the event that the violation
is corrected in compliance with the preceding section and if the charges
assessed by the City for correcting said deficiency are not paid,
then the City, after having corrected the deficiency and violation,
shall place its charges and expenses as specified in the municipal
lien docket as a lien against said property and in the lien docket
maintained by the Prothonotary, and the City Solicitor shall be directed
to enforce said lien or to collect the charges imposed by the City
by any other means that he/she may deem desirable and most advantageous.
[Added 6-4-2012 by Ord. No. 12-10]
A. Any person found to be in violation of this article, regardless of corrective actions taken, shall be punished for that violation by a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $100. Any such fine shall be in addition to any charges or assessments imposed upon the violator pursuant to this article. All fines imposed shall be in accordance with the minimum fine schedule set in Chapter
180, Fees, Municipal.
B. Every day that a violation of this article continues shall be considered
a separate offense, for which the violator may be fined without necessity
of further notice.
C. In determining the applicable minimum fine, an offense shall be considered
a recurring offense only if the owner of the property has previously
been found to have caused or permitted the same nuisance at the same
location within the past 18 months, or for every day that the violation
of this article continues.
Any fines imposed pursuant to this article which
remain unpaid shall be placed by the City as specified in the municipal
lien docket as a lien against the property on which the violation
occurred, and the procedures for enforcement or collection of said
lien shall be as set forth herein.