All citizens of the city of Rainier have a right to expect clean and orderly properties within their neighborhoods and safety from nuisances which may endanger their property or persons. It shall be the policy of the city to fairly and impartially respond to complaints and enforce nuisance violations according to this chapter. The city shall strive to establish public understanding and cooperation in the enforcement of nuisance complaints. Voluntary compliance is the preferred method of handling nuisance violations; however, strict and impartial enforcement shall always be employed when voluntary compliance is not received.
(Ord. 1052, 2010)
For purposes of this chapter the following words and phrases shall mean:
A. 
"Junk"
shall include, but not be limited to, all motor vehicles not currently licensed, old or unused motor vehicle parts, vehicles rendered inoperable by removal of parts required to self-propel same, old machinery and old machinery parts, old appliances or parts, old iron or other metal, glass, paper, lumber, wood, other waste or discarded materials.
B. 
Nuisance.
Where not otherwise specifically enumerated or described, "nuisance" shall mean anything that works or causes injury, damage, hurt, inconvenience, annoyance or discomfort to another in the legitimate enjoyment of his/her reasonable rights of person or property.
C. 
"Officer"
means any city employee charged with enforcement of this chapter by the city administrator.
D. 
"Person in charge of property"
means an agent, occupant, lessee, contract purchaser or other person having possession or control of property or the supervision of any construction project.
E. 
Person Responsible.
The person responsible for abating a nuisance shall include:
1. 
The owner;
2. 
The person in charge of property, as defined in this section; and/or
3. 
The person who caused to come into or continue in existence a nuisance as defined in this code or any ordinance of the city.
4. 
Every natural person, firm, partnership, association or corporation.
F. 
"Public place"
means a building, way, place or accommodation, whether publicly or privately owned, open and available to the general public.
G. 
"Noxious vegetation"
does not include vegetation that constitutes an agricultural crop, unless that vegetation is a health hazard or a traffic hazard within the meaning of subsection (G)(3) of this section. The term "noxious vegetation" does include:
1. 
Canada thistle, whitetop, puncture vine, blue flowering lettuce, toadflax, spiny cockleburr, wild morning glory, Russian knapweed, tansy ragwort, leafy spurge, water hemlock, poison hemlock, mattgrass, Mediterranean sage, yellow star, musk, poison oak, poison ivy, and Scotch thistle.
2. 
Rosebushes, blackberry bushes or other thorn-bearing shrubs or trees that extend into a public thoroughfare or across a property line.
3. 
Vegetation that is:
a. 
A health or safety hazard.
b. 
A traffic hazard because it impairs the view of a public thoroughfare or otherwise makes use of the thoroughfare hazardous.
c. 
Weeds more than eight inches high.
d. 
Grass more than eight inches high.
(Ord. 1052 § 1, 2010)