Lot or parcel of real estate
shall mean and include, in addition to the ground within their respective boundaries, all parcels of ground lying and being adjacent to and extending beyond the property line of any such lot or parcel of real estate to the curb line of adjacent streets where a curb line has been established, and ten feet beyond the property line where no curb line has been established on adjacent streets.
Owner
means the person, firm, corporation, or other entity shown by Bexar County records to be the legal owner of a lot or parcel of real estate.
(Ordinance 1122 adopted 10/14/2002; 1996 Code, sec. 13-1(I))
The construction, placement, or maintenance of a fence, wall, vegetation, ground sign, or any other object that partially or totally obstructs the vision of the operator of a motor vehicle upon exiting a driveway onto a street or at the intersection of two or more streets creates a hazardous condition which endangers the life, health, and safety of the public; therefore, any such hazardous visual obstruction upon a lot or parcel of real estate in the city is prohibited.
(Ordinance 1122 adopted 10/14/2002; 1996 Code, sec. 13-1(II))
(a) 
Upon receiving a complaint of a hazardous visual obstruction as described, the chief of police, or his designee, shall examine the named lot or intersection and determine whether or not such a hazard exists.
(b) 
If the chief of police or the designee finds that a fence, wall, vegetation, ground sign, or other object is, in fact, a hazardous visual obstruction, notice to abate the hazard shall be given to the owner of such lot or parcel of real estate. Abatement shall occur no later than 30 days after notice is received; however, if the hazard is an imminent threat to public safety, the chief of police may order its immediate removal. Written notification to abate may be made by means of a police officer delivering the notice to said owner in person or by attaching the notice to the front door or by mailing the notice to same by certified mail, return receipt requested. If the correct address of the owner of the lot or parcel of real estate cannot be ascertained after reasonable effort, notice may be served by publication as many as two (2) times within ten (10) consecutive days in a newspaper that is generally circulated in the city.
(Ordinance 1122 adopted 10/14/2002; 1996 Code, sec. 13-1(III))
In the event that the owner fails to abate the hazard within the time limit herein provided, the chief of police or his designee shall file a complaint in the municipal court of the city.
(Ordinance 1122 adopted 10/14/2002; 1996 Code, sec. 13-1(IV))
Failure to abate such hazard is a misdemeanor, and an owner who is found guilty of such violation shall be fined not less than thirty-five dollars ($35.00) nor more than two hundred dollars ($200.00). Each day's violation shall constitute a separate offense.
(Ordinance 1122 adopted 10/14/2002; 1996 Code, sec. 13-1(V))
In the event the hazard is an imminent threat to public safety, or of failure or refusal by the owner to abate the hazard, the secretary-manager is hereby authorized and empowered to take action to remove the hazard and to charge the cost and expense of such work to the property owner. Such work may be done by contract let to the lowest bidder or by labor employed by the city under the supervision of the secretary-manager or his designee. When the work has been completed, a statement of the cost thereof shall be sent to the owner of said lot or parcel of real estate for payment within ten days of the mailing of such statement.
(Ordinance 1122 adopted 10/14/2002; 1996 Code, sec. 13-1(VI))
In the event of nonpayment within the specified period, the secretary-manager shall cause a statement to be filed in the office of the county clerk showing the cost and expense of the work done on said property, the date performed, and the name of the owner. From the date of filing, the amount shown by such statement to have been expended by the city, together with 10 percent annual interest, shall be a privileged lien thereon, second only to tax liens and street improvement liens.
(Ordinance 1122 adopted 10/14/2002; 1996 Code, sec. 13-1(VII))
A suit may be instituted, and recovery and foreclosure of the lien for any such expenditures and interest may be had in the name of the city in any court having jurisdiction. The statement of the secretary-manager or a certified copy of such statement shall be prima facie proof of the amount expended for the work done on said property.
(Ordinance 1122 adopted 10/14/2002; 1996 Code, sec. 13-1(VIII))