The City Council establishes the procedures set forth in this
title for declaring and addressing violations of the Plymouth Municipal
Code, pursuant to California
Government Code Sections 36900 et seq.,
38660, 38771 through 38775, inclusive, 53069.4, 54988, and all other
statutes and laws referenced herein. The purpose of this title is
to provide criminal, civil and administrative remedies, which shall
be in addition to all other legal remedies that may be pursued by
the City, to prevent, discourage, abate, or otherwise address any
violation of this Code. It is the policy of the City to first seek
to address Code violations through the least intrusive remedies available,
including administrative remedies, prior to instituting such remedies
as civil or criminal actions.
(Ord. 2010-01 § 1)
For the purposes of this title, the words and terms set forth
in this section shall have the following definitions:
"Affected property"
means any real property or portions thereof within City boundaries,
including any buildings or other improvements located on such property,
where Code violations allegedly exist or have previously existed.
"Code"
means the Plymouth Municipal Code, as it may be amended from
time to time.
"Compliance"
means all actions required to remove, alleviate, eliminate,
halt, or mitigate a violation of this Code in the manner and in the
time frame prescribed by a Code Enforcement Officer, Hearing Officer,
or the Director.
"Director"
means the Community Development Director.
"Enforcement action"
means any notice of violation, hearing, citation, investigation,
complaint or petition, or any administrative or judicial order under
authority of this title or any other legal authority.
"Hearing Officer"
means any person appointed by the Director to conduct a hearing
pursuant to this title.
"Responsible party"
means any person, or parent or legal guardian of any person
under 18 years of age, whose acts or omissions have caused or contributed
to a violation of this Code, and shall include any owner(s) or occupant(s)
of the affected property.
(Ord. 2010-01 § 1)
It is unlawful for any person to violate any provision or fail
to comply with any requirement of this Code. Notwithstanding any other
provision of the Code to the contrary, any responsible party (including,
without limitation, any agent, employee, or contractor of the responsible
party) violating or contributing to the violation of any Code requirement
or such term or condition may be subject to an enforcement action
as provided in this title and in any other applicable law. The owner
of any property, building, or structure within the City has the responsibility
for keeping such property, building, or structure free of violations
related to its use or condition. The owner of such property, building,
or structure is separately liable for violations committed by occupants
relative to the use or condition of the property.
(Ord. 2010-01 § 1)
Nothing in this title shall be construed as requiring the City
to pursue the Code enforcement remedies contained herein for every
Code violation that occurs within the City. The City envisions that
this title will be enforced, in the City's prosecutorial discretion,
as resources permit. Nothing in this section or the absence of any
similar provisions from any other City law shall be construed to impose
a duty on the City to enforce such other provision of law. This title
is not intended to and shall not be construed or given effect in a
manner that imposes upon the City or any officer or employee thereof
a mandatory duty of care towards persons and property within or without
the City so as to provide a basis of civil liability for damages,
except as otherwise imposed by law.
(Ord. 2010-01 § 1)
In addition to the remedies set forth in this title, the City
Attorney, at the discretion of the City Council, may institute an
action in any court of competent jurisdiction to restrain, enjoin,
or abate any violation of this Code. The City in any such civil action
shall be entitled to recovery of attorney's fees and costs incurred
in such action. Upon entry of a second or subsequent civil judgment
against the same owner or other responsible party within a two-year
period for a condition of real property constituting a public nuisance
(except for conditions abated pursuant to
Health and Safety Code Section
17980), the court issuing the judgment may order said owner or other
responsible party to pay treble the cost of the abatement, pursuant
to
Government Code Section 38773.7.
(Ord. 2010-01 § 1)
Any violation of this Code is hereby declared to be a public nuisance. In addition to the remedies set forth in this title, any public nuisance may be abated by the City according to the procedure set forth in Chapter
20.08, except as otherwise provided in Chapter
8.01 (Weed, Rubble and Rubbish Control), Chapter
8.04 (Abandoned, Wrecked or Dismantled Vehicles), Chapter
8.20 (Tree Preservation and Tree Removal Permits).
(Ord. 2010-01 § 1)
In addition to the remedies set forth in this title, any violation of this Code may be subject to the administrative citation process according to the procedures set forth in Chapter
20.12.
(Ord. 2010-01 § 1; Ord. 2010-05 § 2)
In addition to the remedies provided in this title, the City
expressly reserves the right to utilize enforcement remedies available
under any applicable State or Federal statute or pursuant to any other
lawful power the City may possess. The election of remedies provided
by this title or other applicable law shall be at the sole discretion
of City officials.
(Ord. 2010-01 § 1)
The City shall have the right and authority to request and review
records from the responsible party or any third party that is, or
may be, related to the subject matter of the enforcement action, and
to make copies of the same at the expense of the City, in any manner
authorized by law.
(Ord. 2010-01 § 1)