[Adopted by Ord. No. 1676 (Sec. 7.13 of the Codification)]
A. 
Purpose. The purpose of this article is to promote the public health, safety and welfare through the regulation of placement, appearance and servicing of newsboxes on public rights-of-way:
(1) 
To reduce the exposure of the Village to personal injury or property damage claims and litigation;
(2) 
To provide for pedestrian and driving safety and convenience;
(3) 
To provide reasonable access for the use and maintenance of sidewalks, poles, posts, traffic signs and signals, benches, hydrants, and access to locations used by pedestrians and for public transportation purposes;
(4) 
To restrict unreasonable interference with the flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic including ingress to or egress from businesses, residences, and from the street to the sidewalk by persons accessing parked or standing vehicles;
(5) 
To protect and improve the aesthetics and value of properties within the Village.
B. 
Preservation of rights. It is not the intent of this section to in any way discriminate against, regulate or interfere with the publication, circulation, distribution or dissemination of any printed material that is constitutionally protected. It is further the intent of this section to treat all such publications fairly regardless of their size, content, circulation or frequency of publication and to maintain and preserve the freedom of the press.
The following definitions shall be applicable in this article:
BLOCK
Both sides of any street in a public right-of-way which exists between two consecutive intersecting streets and is intended to include, but not be limited to, the roadways, streets, parkways, alleys and sidewalks within that right-of-way.
NEWSBOX
Any type of self-service or coin-operated box, container, storage unit, or other dispenser installed, used or maintained for the sale, display or dissemination of newspapers, news periodicals or written materials, including circulars, pamphlets, papers, booklets and any other printed or otherwise reproduced written material which advertises for sale any merchandise, product, commodity or thing, or which attracts attention to any business, commercial establishment or other activity for the purpose of directly promoting the interest thereof by sales, private gain or profit.
PARKWAY
The area between the sidewalk and the curb of any street.
A. 
Prohibitions. No newsboxes shall be placed, installed, used or maintained in a public right-of-way:
(1) 
Within 15 feet of any marked crosswalk;
(2) 
Within 15 feet of the curb return of any unmarked crosswalk;
(3) 
Within 10 feet of any fire hydrant;
(4) 
Within 100 feet of any other newsbox containing the same newspaper, news periodical or written material, except where separated by a street corner;
(5) 
Within five feet of any driveway;
(6) 
Within five feet ahead of and 15 feet to the rear of any sign marking a designated bus stop measured along the curb of the street;
(7) 
On or within five feet of any access ramp for disabled persons;
(8) 
On the sidewalk area or any area that is established for pedestrian movement
(9) 
Where it projects onto, into or rests wholly or in part upon the roadway of any public street;
(10) 
Within three feet of or on any public area improved with flowers, shrubs, trees or other landscaping;
(11) 
Within three feet of any display window of any building abutting the sidewalk or parkway, or in such a manner as to impede or interfere with the reasonable use of such window for display purposes;
(12) 
Within Districts 1, 1A, 2, 3, 5, and 9.
B. 
Newsboxes grandfathered. Newsboxes placed in the Village as of the effective date of this article may be maintained in the same location until they are moved or replaced, at which time they shall comply with the requirements of this article.
C. 
No attachments. No newsbox may be attached by chain, bolt, cable or by any other means of attachment to any light posts, traffic signs or signals, poles, posts, benches, trees, bike racks or hydrants in the public right-of-way, nor attached to any paved surface in the public right-of-way.
A. 
Placement distances. Newsboxes may be placed next to each other, provided that no group of newsboxes shall extend for a distance of more than eight feet along a curb, and a space of not less than six feet shall separate each group of newsboxes.
B. 
Number. No more than five newsboxes shall be located on any public right-of-way within a space of 200 feet in any direction within the same block of the same street; provided, however, that no more than 10 newsboxes shall be allowed on any one block. No individual newsbox owner or publication may locate more than two boxes in the public right-of-way on any block. No more than five newsboxes shall be grouped together. In determining which newsboxes shall be permitted to be located or to remain if already in place, the Village Manager shall be guided solely by the following criteria:
(1) 
First priority shall be daily publications (published five or more days per week).
(2) 
Second priority shall be publications published one day per week.
(3) 
Third priority shall be publications published less frequently than weekly.
C. 
Parked vehicles. Newsboxes shall not interfere with parked vehicles, including the opening of vehicle doors.
A. 
Graffiti abatement. The owner of any newsbox shall not continue to use any newsbox that has been defaced with graffiti; further, the owner shall be responsible to remove graffiti within 24 hours of notification by a Village official.
B. 
Maintenance and repair. Each newsbox shall be adequately maintained in a neat and clean condition and in good repair at all times. As used in this section, "adequate maintenance" and "good repair" shall mean that each newsbox is serviced and maintained:
(1) 
To be reasonably free of dirt and grease;
(2) 
To be reasonably free of chipped, faded, peeling or cracked paint on the areas visible on the outside of the box;
(3) 
To be reasonably free of rust and corrosion on the areas visible on the outside of the box;
(4) 
Such that clear plastic or glass parts, if any, are reasonably free of cracks, dents and discoloration.
C. 
Size. No newsbox shall exceed 50 inches in height and 30 inches in width or depth.
D. 
Coin boxes. Newsboxes equipped with a coin box shall also have a coin-return mechanism to permit a person using the box to secure an immediate refund in the event the person is unable to receive the materials paid for. The coin-return shall be maintained in good working order at all times.
E. 
Person to be notified. Each newsbox shall have affixed to it, in a readily visible place so as to be seen by anyone using the newsbox, a notice setting forth the name and address of the newsbox owner or owner's representative, and a telephone number of a working telephone service to call and report malfunctions and other violations of this section.
F. 
Color. The Community Development Authority by resolution may designate an acceptable color or colors for newsboxes in the Village. Newsboxes in the Village must comply with any such designation of acceptable colors.
A. 
Notice of violation. Upon determination by the Village Manager that a newsbox has been installed, used, or maintained in violation of the provisions of this article, an order to correct the violation shall be issued by posting a copy of the order upon the newsbox itself, and by mailing a copy of the order by certified mail to the owner or owner's representative. The order shall specifically describe the offending condition and provide information regarding the right of appeal. Within 15 days of the issuance of the order, the owner of the newsbox shall either:
(1) 
Correct the violation; or
(2) 
Remove the newsbox from the public right-of-way.
B. 
Removal. If after 15 days the owner of the newsbox has not taken action as prescribed within this section, the offending newsbox may be removed from the public right-of-way by the Village. Notice shall be sent to the owner or owner's representative advising that the newsbox has been removed and that a fee for removal shall be assessed as provided herein.
C. 
Emergency removal. The fifteen-day notice of violation provision which would be required prior to removal may be waived when, in the discretion of the Village Manager, immediate removal of a newsbox is required because of its condition or its placement and the newsbox presents a serious and immediate threat to public health and safety.
D. 
Fees. The cost of removal shall be assessed against the owner of each newsbox removed by the City under this section. The Village Manager shall cause inspection to be made after a condition cited under this article has been corrected. The owner of the newsbox shall be charged an inspection fee as set from time to time by the Village Board for each newsbox so inspected.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 17, Village Code and Ordinances, Art. I)]
Any person or entity aggrieved by a finding, determination, notice, order or action taken under the provisions of this article may appeal to the Board of Appeals within 30 days of being served by certified mail with such finding, determination, notice, order or notice of action taken.