[Ord. No. 3521 §6, 12-14-2006]
A.
For
purposes of this Article, "weeds" shall be defined
as:
1.
Dense growth of wild shrubbery, trees with a trunk that is less than
one and one-half (1½) inches in diameter measured at a height
of forty-two (42) inches above grade, brush and/or woody vines, regardless
of height, having stems or trunks less than four (4) inches in diameter;
2.
Noxious or poisonous plants including, but not limited to, poison
ivy, poison oak or poison sumac, at any height or state of maturity;
3.
Plants which bear or may bear seeds of a downy or winged nature;
4.
Plants and/or indigenous grasses which attain such large growth as
to become, when dry, a fire menace to adjacent improved property;
5.
Vegetation and/or grasses of any kind which, because of height, has
a blighting effect on the neighborhood. Any such vegetation or grasses
of any kind shall be presumed to be blighted if they exceed seven
(7) inches in height.
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The term "weed" shall not include cultivated
trees, plants, bushes, shrubbery of any height nor stock which has
been purchased at a nursery.
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B.
For
the purposes of this Article, "debris" shall be defined
as:
1.
Weed cuttings, cut and fallen trees and shrubs, overgrown vegetation,
noxious weeds and grass which are seven (7) inches or more in height;
2.
Rubbish and/or trash;
3.
Lumber not stacked twelve (12) inches off of the ground;
4.
Rocks and bricks, tin, steel, parts of derelict motor vehicles, broken
furniture and any flammable material;
5.
Any shrubbery, weeds, trees, plants, bushes, vegetation or grass
blocking the view of motorists at roadway intersections;
6.
Any other material found on any lot or land which is unhealthy, unsanitary
or unsafe.
[Ord. No. 3521 §6, 12-14-2006; Ord. No. 4126, 10-12-2017]
A.
Any
owner, lessee or occupant or any agent, servant, representative or
employee of any such owner, lessee or occupant having control of any
property or any part of any property who shall allow or maintain on
any such property any growth of weeds, as defined herein, or grass
of any kind to a height of seven (7) inches or more or who shall allow
or maintain on any such lot debris, as defined herein, shall be deemed
guilty of a misdemeanor. Whenever private property abuts a public
right-of-way or easement belonging to the City of Ste. Genevieve or
any public entity and there exists in such right-of-way or easement
a tree, lawn or grassy area between the private property line and
the midline of said right-of-way or easement, then such tree lawn
or grassy area shall be considered, for purposes of this Section requiring
cuffing of grass and weeds, to be a part of the private lot which
abuts the right-of-way or easement and it shall be the duty of those
responsible under this Section for the maintenance of the private
lot to equally maintain the tree lawn or grassy area within the abutting
right-of-way or easement and all of the provisions of this Section
shall apply with equal force and effect to said tree lawn or grassy
area.
B.
Everyday
the violating weeds or debris remain on the property shall be considered
a new offense chargeable as a new and separate violation of this Article.
C.
No
notice of the violating weeds or debris shall be required prior to
the issuance of charges for violation of this Article.
[Ord. No. 3521 §6, 12-14-2006]
A.
Upon
notification of the existence of weeds or noxious growths in violation
of this Article, the Chief of Police or other designated City Official
shall hold a hearing after giving ten (10) days' notice thereof either
personally, by United States mail to the owner or owners or his/her
or their agents or by posting such notice on the premises.
B.
At
the hearing, the Chief of Police or other designated City Official
may declare the weeds to be a nuisance and order the same to be abated
within five (5) days.
C.
If
the owner of the property upon which the nuisance exists or his/her
agent does not clear or remove the weeds or other noxious growths
within five (5) days of the hearing, the Chief of Police or other
designated City Official shall order the weeds to be cut down and
removed and shall certify the costs of same to the City Clerk.
D.
The
City Clerk shall cause a special tax bill against the property to
be prepared and to be collected by the City Collector with other taxes
assessed against the property.
E.
Each
such tax bill shall be issued by the City Clerk and delivered to the
City Collector on or before the first (1st) day of June of each year.
If the Building Commissioner or designated officer causes such condition
to be removed or abated, the cost of such removal shall be certified
to the City Clerk or officer in charge of finance who shall cause
the certified cost to be included in a special tax bill or added to
the annual real estate tax bill, at the collecting official's option,
for the property and the certified cost shall be collected by the
City Collector or other official collecting taxes in the same manner
and procedure for collecting real estate taxes. If the certified cost
is not paid, the tax bill shall be considered delinquent and the collection
of the delinquent bill shall be governed by the laws governing delinquent
and back taxes. The tax bill from the date of its issuance shall be
deemed a personal debt against the owner and shall also be a lien
on the property until paid.
F.
Such
tax bills, if not paid when due, shall bear interest at the rate of
eight percent (8%) per annum.
[Ord. No. 3521 §6, 12-14-2006]
Except as otherwise provided in the Code of Ordinances of the City of Ste. Genevieve, the following penalties are hereby established for violations of Chapter 215, Article VIII of the Code of Ordinances for the City of Ste. Genevieve:
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Initial notice of violation:
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$100.00 fine plus costs.
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Second notice of violation:
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$300.00 plus costs.
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Third notice of violation and all subsequent notices of violation:
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$500.00 plus costs and up to ninety (90) days of imprisonment
in the County Jail.
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