Donation Collection Container (Donation Bin, Charity Boxes).
A container, trailer, accessory structure or other similar structure located outside of an enclosed building and located in a parking lot or other place accessible to the public for the primary purpose of receiving donated items, but not limited to household goods and clothing; which are provided by any person, organization, collection center or other entity to receive donated items.
Donation Collection Entity.
Any person or organization that collects donated items.
Manager.
The manager of the code enforcement department or other person designated by the chief of police.
Nonprofit 501(c)(3) Organization.
Public charities or private foundations that are exempt from federal taxation under regulations administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury, through the Internal Revenue Service; who have activities that qualify for 501(c)(3) exemptions purposes such as charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public safety and others.
Operator.
Any person or organization who owns, operates or is otherwise in control of a donation collection container.
Person.
An individual, partnership, association, firm, company, corporation or organization of any kind.
Property Owner.
The person or entity that is the owner of the real property where the donation collection container is located.
Registrant.
Any person, business entity or corporation that registers a donation collection container and is issued a permit pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
(Ordinance 2053-16 adopted 6/21/16)
(a) 
Only organizations incorporated or established as a not-for-profit organization under the laws of the state for a charitable purpose and which have been declared a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization by the United States Internal Revenue Service, are permitted to place a donation collection container. This includes schools and churches.
(b) 
Donation collection container shall only be permitted on a lot or tract that is owned by a nonprofit 501(c)(3), a church or school. A maximum of two containers are permitted per lot.
(c) 
Donation collection containers shall only be placed on a lot, which contains a building that is occupied.
(d) 
The donation collection container(s) shall be located so as not to interfere with visibility triangles, on-site vehicle or pedestrian circulation, landscaping, and required parking; and, shall be placed on a concrete or asphalt surface.
(e) 
Donation collection containers shall be enclosed by use of a receiving door and locked so that the contents of the bin(s) may not be accessed by anyone other than those responsible for the retrieval of the contents.
(f) 
Each donation collection container shall not cover a ground surface area in excess of five feet by five feet, nor more than six feet in height.
(g) 
If the container is located between the building and a street, the container must be screened on three sides by a masonry wall six feet in height. The side opposite the street side will be the open side.
(h) 
Donation collection container(s) located between the building and the street do not need to be screened with a masonry wall.
(i) 
The operator of each donation collection container shall ensure that each container is emptied periodically of its contents to prevent overflow into the surrounding area in which the donation collection container is located. In cases where items are found outside the container, whether on the ground around the container or on top of the container, the operator shall be found to be in violation of this article.
(j) 
The operator and property owner shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, the area immediately surrounding the donation collection box, free from any junk, debris, overflow items or other materials. The property owner shall be responsible to the extent provided by law for the city’s cost to abate any nuisance.
(Ordinance 2053-16 adopted 6/21/16)
(a) 
A permit for each donation collection container shall be required upon a form provided by the city. The permit shall be issued by the code enforcement manager, but will only be granted when it is determined by the code enforcement department that:
(1) 
Each donation collection container is for use by a duly registered nonprofit organization;
(2) 
The proper types of donation collection containers are being used as described by this section;
(3) 
The donation collection containers are being placed in a proper location as described by this article;
(4) 
Letter of authority/permission from the owner of the property upon which the donation collection containers are to be located; and
(5) 
Name, address and phone number of the nonprofit organization displayed of each donation collection container.
(b) 
If any donation collection container is placed without a permit, or if an inspection reveals that such container is not in compliance with this section, enforcement and abatement shall take place as generally provided under this article.
(1) 
A permit shall be required for each donation collection container placed and operated within the city.
(2) 
Any qualified person or organization desiring a donation collection container permit under this article shall file an application with the code enforcement department on a form furnished by the code enforcement department.
(3) 
The application shall require the following information:
(A) 
The applicant’s name, business name and business address.
(B) 
Proof of registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, whether the applicant is an individual, a partnership, a corporation or another entity, and, if another entity proof of not-for-profit organization status under the laws of the state for charitable purposes, a full explanation and description thereof.
(C) 
If the applicant is a partnership, the full name and residence address of each partner.
(D) 
If the applicant is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, the full name and residence address of each officer and each member for the board of directors, if any. In the case of another form of legal nonprofit entity, the full name and residence address of each person owning or having any interest, either legal or equitable, aggregating in value 10% or more of the total capital of said entity, the name and address of the registered agent, if any, and the address of the principal office.
(E) 
A description of the donation collection container(s) to be covered by the permit.
(F) 
If the applicant is not the owner of the property upon which the donation collection container(s) is to be located, the written consent of the owner of the property shall be attached to the application.
(G) 
A copy of a site plan shall be attached to the application showing donation collection container(s) location.
(4) 
The annual fee as provided for in the fee schedule found in the appendix to this code shall be assessed for each donation collection container placed within the city. The permit shall expire on December 31st of each year and a renewal shall be required. Each donation collection container shall display a current approved sticker provided by city.
(Ordinance 2053-16 adopted 6/21/16)
If a donation collection container is placed without a permit, or if an inspection reveals that such container is not in compliance with this article, the operator and/or property owner shall be given written notice of such violation.
(1) 
If violations are not corrected within the given time frame a citation may be issued to the operator of the donation collection container or the property owner for each day it remains in violation.
(2) 
If a registrant receives more than three (3) notices of violation within one calendar year the permit may be suspended by the manager of code enforcement.
(3) 
If a registrant receives more than three (3) notices of violation within one calendar year the renewal of the permit may be refused by the manager. The manager of code enforcement shall give notice to the registrant in writing of the refusal of renewal.
(Ordinance 2053-16 adopted 6/21/16)
The operator or property owner may appeal the decision of the manager of code enforcement if they believe the manager has misinterpreted any provisions of this article regarding the issuance or denial of a permit. Such appeal shall be made in writing to the chief of police. The decision of the chief of police or designee shall be final.
(Ordinance 2053-16 adopted 6/21/16)