HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC ORD 2010-2330 Amend Title 7 Landscape MaintenanceORDINANCE NO. 2010 — 2330
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY
AMENDING TITLE 7 OF THE NATIONAL CITY MUNICIPAL CODE BY
ADDING CHAPTER 7.31 PERTAINING TO LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms and provisions of the Government Code of the
State of California, proceedings were duly initiated for the amendment of the National City
Municipal Code; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has considered said amendment at a duly noticed
meeting held on February 16, 2010.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of National City does ordain as
fol lows;
Section 1. All protests, if any, against said amendment to the Municipal Code and
each of them be and hereby are denied and overruled.
Section 2. That Title 7 of the Municipal Code is amended by adding Chapter 7.31 to
read as follows:
Chapter 7.31
Landscape Maintenance
Sections:
7.31.010 Applicability.
7.31.020 Definitions.
7.31.030 Maintenance required.
7.31.040 Street trees on private property.
7.31.050 Certain trees a public nuisance.
7.31.060 Violations.
7.31.070 Abatement of nonconforming uses.
7.31.010 Applicability. The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to all properties within
National City.
7.31.020 Definitions. Whenever the following terms are used in this Chapter, they shall
have the meaning established below:
A. "Code Enforcement" means the code enforcement officer of the City of National
City.
B. "Landscaping" means the use of architectural and horticultural materials to
provide control of erosion, dust, weeds, and accumulation of litter in a manner complementary
to the purpose of adding natural environmental quality to the premises. "Landscaping" includes
the planting and maintenance of some combination of trees, shrubs, ground cover, vines,
flowers, lawns, or other planting materials, other than weeds, providing shade, visual screening,
aesthetic enhancement, soil conservation, and the removal or reduction of fire hazards, rodent
harbingers, vermin, and disease -bearing creatures. In addition, the combination or design may
include natural features such as rock and stone and structural features such as pools, artwork,
screens, walls, fences, and benches. See also "fence" defined in Section 18.04.244 and
C. "screening," defined in Section 18.04.585 of Title 18 Land Use Code.
D. "Landscape maintenance" includes sufficient irrigation, fertilization, pruning,
trimming and training, and all other reasonable acts necessary to keep plants in a healthy
vigorous condition. "Maintenance" also includes removal of weeds, dead materials, and
accumulated litter, rubble or other foreign substances; and reseeding and replacement of dead
plants and planting where necessary to restore a landscaped area to the level of coverage
required of a new installation.
7.31.030 Maintenance required. It shall be the responsibility of each property owner to
adequately maintain the landscaping of private property and the adjoining public street parkway
landscape, except street trees. All landscaping shall be properly maintained. Trees located
within public street parkways will be pruned and trimmed by city employees and not by private
property owners.
7.31.040 Street trees on private property. The city may plant, maintain, and remove
designated trees on private properties adjacent to street rights -of -way where adequate rights of
entry, as determined by the city, are in effect and written permission has been granted by the
property owner relieving the city of liability.
7.31.050 Certain trees a public nuisance.
A. Any tree, shrub, or plant located on private property infested with a disease or
insects which, in the opinion of code enforcement, is infectious and may spread such disease or
insects to other trees or shrubs in the city constitutes a public nuisance. Code enforcement shall
give written notice to the property owner directing that such public nuisance be removed or
abated within seven days. If such public nuisance is not abated or removed within seven days
after notice is served, code enforcement is granted authority to direct employees to enter said
property and spray, trim, prune, treat, or removed all or any part of the tree or shrub determined
to be infested, or to otherwise abate or cause to be abated such public nuisance.
B. Any tree or shrub growing or standing on private property in such a manner that
any portion thereof interferes with utility poles, lines, wires, or electric equipment lawfully
erected, constructed, or maintained along any public street, sidewalk, or intersection thereof or
with any person or persons lawfully using the same, or any such tree which has become
diseased or weakened in such a manner as to be dangerous to persons lawfully using the
streets or sidewalks constitutes a public nuisance. Code enforcement shall cause notice to be
served upon such property owner directing that such public nuisance be abated or removed
within seven days after said notice is served. Code enforcement is authorized to abate or cause
to be abated such public nuisance by trimming, pruning, cutting, or removing all such portion of
such tree, shrub, or plant as may be necessary to eliminate such interference, obstruction, or
condition. Whenever it is necessary for code enforcement to direct the use of city employees to
abate, removed, or cause to be abated or removed, public nuisance as contained in this
Section, the cost of such work performed by city employees shall be billed to the property owner
at the cost of the work performed.
7.31.060 Violations. Failure to comply with the onsite landscaping and maintenance
requirements contained in this Chapter constitutes a violation of the municipal code of this city
and is a misdemeanor. Enforcement proceedings shall be the same as any other municipal
violation case.
Ordinance 2010-2330
2
Landscape Maintenance
7.31.070 Abatement of nonconforming uses. All properties, as provided to herein, now
landscaped, which are inadequately maintained shall be brought into compliance with this Title
within six months of the date of adoption of the National City Municipal Code provided not less
than thirty days' notice, in writing, shall be given to the owner and occupant of such premises to
comply. All properties, as provided for herein, not now landscaped shall be landscaped
whenever a building permit for structures valued sixteen thousand dollars ($16,000.00) or more
is issued for the site. All other properties or portions of properties, not landscaped shall be kept
free of rubbish, litter, debris, unused merchandise, unused building materials, machinery, or
vehicular paraphernalia not essential to the occupancy of the premises. This Section is not
intended to repeal any provisions of any municipal ordinance, or any provisions of this Title.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 2nd day of March, 2010.
ATTEST:
hael R. Dalla)
Mi , City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
George H. iser, III
City Attorney
&rison,Ma9&
r
Ordinance 2010-2330
3
Landscape Maintenance
Passed and adopted by the Council of the City of National City, California, on March 2,
2010 by the following vote, to -wit:
Ayes: Councilmembers Morrison, Parra, Sotelo-Solis, Van Deventer, Zarate.
Nays: None.
Absent: None.
Abstain: None.
AUTHENTICATED BY:
By:
RON MORRISON
Mayor of the City of National City, California
h
City Clerk of the City of National City, California
Deputy
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing ordinance was not finally adopted until seven
calendar days had elapsed between the day of its introduction and the day of its final
passage, to wit, on February 16, 2010 and on March 2, 2010.
I FURTHER CERTIFY THAT said ordinance was read in full prior to its final passage or
that the reading of said ordinance in full was dispensed with by a vote of not Tess than a
majority of the members elected to the Council and that there was available for the
consideration of each member of the Council and the public prior to the day of its
passage a written or printed copy of said ordinance.
I FURTHER CERTIFY that the above and foregoing is a full, true and correct copy of
ORDINANCE NO. 2010-2330 of the City Council of the City of National City, passed
and adopted by the Council of said City on March 2, 2010.
By:
City Clerk of the City of National City, California
Deputy