The following definitions shall apply to this chapter:
"Authorized city employee"
means an employee of the city who has been authorized by the city manager to remove any temporary sign which is a public nuisance pursuant to Section
9.55.020.
"Director"
means the community development director of the city or designated
representative.
"Illegal temporary sign"
means a temporary sign which is located on public street or other public property in violation of Section
21.50.050 of this code or which is located on private property in violation of any provision of Title
21 of this code.
"Temporary sign"
shall have the meaning as defined in Section 21.50.020(26)
of this code.
(Ord. 1929 § 1, 1997)
An illegal temporary sign is a public nuisance and may be abated
as such by an authorized city employee in accordance with this chapter.
(Ord. 1929 § 1, 1997)
An authorized city employee may remove an illegal temporary
sign from any public street or from any city-owned property. An authorized
city employee may remove an illegal temporary sign from any other
property if the authorized city employee has the permission of the
person in lawful possession of the property to do so or is authorized
to do so by any court of competent jurisdiction.
(Ord. 1929 § 1, 1997)
The person who was responsible for the placement of the illegal temporary sign shall be liable to the city for the cost of removal of such sign. In the absence of persuasive evidence to the contrary, the person who benefitted from the sign shall be presumed to be the person who was responsible for the placement of the sign. The director is authorized to determine the person who was responsible for the placement of the sign and the costs of removal of the sign and to invoice such person for the amount of such costs. The city council may establish reasonable charges for recovery of the costs of sign removal costs, in which event invoices shall be based upon the charges thus established. Any such invoice shall be accompanied by a notice of such person's right to a hearing pursuant to Section
9.55.050.
(Ord. 1929 § 1, 1997)
Any person who is sent an invoice pursuant to Section
9.55.040 shall be exempt from criminal prosecution for the placement of the sign which is the subject of the invoice.
(Ord. 1929 § 1, 1997)