(a)
The provisions of this article shall be enforced by the city’s code enforcement officer, code compliance officer, or peace officer. It shall be unlawful for any person to interfere with or hinder city’s code enforcement officer, code compliance officer, or peace officer charged with enforcing the provisions of this article, in the exercise of their duties under this article. Any person authorized to enforce the provisions of this article may issue immediate notice of violation to persons violating any provision of this article and such criminal violations shall be prosecuted in the city’s municipal court and/or other court of competent jurisdiction.
(b)
It shall be unlawful for any person to intentionally or knowingly discard, deposit or dispose, or allow or permit the discarding, depositing or disposal, of litter, garbage, trash, debris or other solid waste upon any public or private property which is not a solid waste disposal site or dumpster approved by the city or the state.
(c)
It shall be unlawful for any person to intentionally or knowingly allow or permit another person to discard, deposit or dispose of litter, garbage, trash, debris or other solid waste on real property which such person owns, occupies or is in control of, unless such real property is a solid waste disposal site or dumpster approved of by the city or the state.
(d)
It shall be unlawful for any person to intentionally or knowingly fail to remove litter, garbage, trash, debris or other solid waste on real property which such person owns, occupies or is in control of within 48 hours after such litter, garbage, trash, debris or other solid waste has been placed on such real property unless such real property is a solid waste disposal site or dumpster approved by the city or state; provided, however, that it shall be an affirmative defense to the prosecution of an offense under this subsection if the person did not have actual knowledge of the presence of such litter, garbage, trash, debris or other solid waste on such real property.
(e)
Any person who violates any of the provisions of subsections (b), (c) and (d) of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than $500.00 nor more than $2,000.00, and a separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.
(f)
The owner of the real property is the primary responsible party for duties, obligations and for any violation committed herein. An employee of the owner shall not be held responsible for violations of this article if the employee provides the city with the name, address and telephone number of the owner. If the property owner is out of state, the employee or management company is considered the agent for service of citation and service upon said agent has the same legal effect as service on the owner for purposes of fines against the owner or property, including a warrant or capias.
(g)
In the event of nonpayment of the assessed fees on a commercial or industrial unit’s account, or if the water has been turned off for nonpayment, the city or contractor may have the container removed in accordance with city policy and procedures. In the event the container is removed for nonpayment, the commercial or industrial customer may be assessed fees in accordance with city policy.
(h)
The penalties and remedies stated herein are non-exhaustive and nothing herein shall prevent or preclude the city from taking all appropriate action allowed by law, including but not limited to injunctive relief.
(1998 Code, sec. 62-1; Ordinance 2009008, sec. 2 (62-1), adopted 5/5/09; 2013 Code, sec. 46-1)