[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Two
Rivers (Title 6, Ch. 12, of the 1981 Code). Amendments noted where
applicable.]
A.
The purpose of this chapter is to regulate the removal of salvageable
materials from vacated buildings without immediate functional replacement
thereof. The phrase "immediate functional replacement thereof" does
not include replacement that occurs as a part of a remodeling project
in conjunction with valid building, heating, plumbing or electrical
permits. The Council finds that such removal may result in the complete
abandonment of property and reduce the chance that such property will
in the future be devoted to any productive or enjoyable public or
private use, and therefore cause conditions which will create health
and safety hazards and aggravate blight, interfere with the enjoyment
of and reduce the value of private property, and interfere with the
safety and welfare of the public.
B.
Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
- CODE OFFICIAL(S)
- The Building Inspector, Plumbing Inspector, Health Officer, Police Department or Fire Department.
- SALVAGEABLE MATERIALS
- Real or tangible personal property that is man-made, is affixed to real property, is detachable from real property, and may have a resale value either for reuse or as scrap or recycling purposes. Such materials shall not include any structural materials or components.
- VACATED BUILDING
- A building or structure having interior floor space of over 10,000 square feet that had a principal nonresidential use as its most recent use allowed by law, which principal use has ceased.
A.
Permit. No person, firm or corporation shall sell or transfer for
purposes of removal or remove salvageable materials in the manner
described in this chapter from a vacated building without first obtaining
a permit from the City Council.
B.
Permit application. Application for a permit shall be made in writing
to the Inspections Department and shall include the name and address
of the owner of the building, name and address of the contractor,
and a list of materials to be removed from the building. The Building
Inspector or the City Council may require additional information of
a specific applicant.
C.
Permit fee. Permit fees will be established by resolution of the
City Council.
D.
Permit grant.
(1)
The City Council shall consider such permit applications only at
regular City Council meetings and only after receiving the recommendation
of a City staff review committee consisting of the Fire Chief or his/her
designee, Police Chief or his/her designee, the Building Inspector,
the Zoning Administrator and the City Planner.
(2)
Prior to making a decision to grant or deny an application for permit,
the City Council shall consider the application; the report of the
staff review committee; the expertise of the applicant; the effect
of the proposed operation on the surrounding neighborhood; the effect
on the community of having a stripped structure remain if the structure
is not proposed to be immediately razed or immediately renovated;
the presentation, if any, of the applicant; the comments of the public;
and such other matters germane to the decision.
(3)
In granting a permit, the City Council shall make findings as to the following matters: the amount of the irrevocable letter of credit to be required of the permittee as a condition of issuance of the permit and as a requirement of operation; other state or local permits as required by law, rule, or regulation that must be obtained as a condition of issuance of the permit or as a requirement of operation; reasonable special operating requirements to be required of the permittee in addition to those general operating requirements listed in Subsection G herein; and such other matters or limitations as the City Council determines are necessary to protect the public interest.
E.
Irrevocable letter of credit. As a condition of issuance by the City
Manager of the permit, the permittee shall post an irrevocable letter
of credit in an amount required by the City Council and in a form
acceptable to the City Attorney. The irrevocable letter of credit
must be issued by a financial institution certified by the state to
conduct such business within the State of Wisconsin, allowing for
direct draw by the City on demand without court action and without
approval by permittee to complete work or to repair damage that was
the obligation of the permittee. The irrevocable letter of credit
must contain as a part of it provisions that it remains as an obligation
to the City for no less than one year after completion of the last
act by the permittee of salvage or after the expiration of a permit
issued under this section to the permittee, whichever is later. In
considering the amount of the irrevocable letter of credit, the City
Council shall consider the recommendation, if any, of the staff review
committee; the expertise of the applicant; the longevity of the applicant;
the capitalization of the applicant; the scope of the proposed project;
the possible environmental hazards that could be created; the effect
of the proposed operation on the surrounding neighborhood; and the
cost of remediation to the City if the City should have to address
any matter due to the unwillingness or inability of the permittee
to complete its obligations.
F.
Permit term. The term for a permit issued under this section shall
be valid for a period of one year from the date of issue. Renewals
and renewal term shall be at the discretion of the City Council.
G.
General operating requirements. The following general operating requirements
shall apply to all permit holders in accordance with the provisions
of this chapter:
(1)
The permit issued pursuant to this chapter shall be plainly displayed
on the premises upon which the building is located.
(2)
The building and premises shall, at all times, be maintained in as
clean, neat and sanitary condition as the premises will reasonably
permit.
(3)
No garbage, refuse or other waste liable to give off a foul odor
or attract vermin shall be kept on the premises, except for domestic
garbage kept in rodent-proof covered containers which are removed
from the premises as often as necessary to provide a sanitary environment.
(4)
Work done under this permit is subject to inspection by the Code
Official.
(5)
An applicant for a permit shall maintain proof of insurance policies
during the life of the permit and for one year following the completion
of its work under the permit, in the following minimum amounts, naming
the City as additional insured:
(6)
No scrap salvage or debris which is temporarily stored on the premises
shall be allowed to rest or protrude over any public street, walkway
or curb, or become scattered about or blown off the premises.
(7)
No mechanized process whatsoever shall be utilized on the premises
to reduce salvageable materials or debris in volume unless approved
by the City Council in conjunction with a specific permit. Such prohibited
mechanized processes include, but are not limited to, crushers or
shredders.
(8)
There shall be strict compliance with Title 9 of the Municipal Code
related to noise control.
(9)
No premises or building subject to a permit shall be allowed to become
a public nuisance or be operated in such a manner as to adversely
affect the public health, safety or welfare.
(10)
There shall be full compliance with the City building, fire
and health codes and with all other City, county, state and federal
laws, rules or regulations which may be applicable.
(11)
The permit holder shall, during the salvage process, maintain
the work site in a safe and secure condition.
(12)
The permit holder shall dispose of building debris in a licensed
landfill, except for salvaged materials. At any time, the permit holder
shall produce to the Code Official receipts and/or an itemized list
of debris disposed of by dumping or salvage.
(13)
The permit holder shall be responsible for disconnections of
utilities, including plumbing and electrical, necessary for the salvaging
process and shall provide evidence that the necessary disconnections
have been accomplished.
(14)
The permit holder shall comply with all orders of the Code Official
imposed at the granting of the permit or at any other time.
(15)
The irrevocable letter of credit imposed as a condition of issuance
of the permit shall be maintained.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Title 1, General
Provisions, Ch. 1-1, Art. III)]
H.
Inspections. Permit holders and property owners shall permit authorized
representatives of any department of the City having enforcement powers
to inspect the premises proposed to be permitted, with or without
advance notice, as often as may be required to permit said departments
to perform their duties and assure compliance with this chapter without
first obtaining a special inspection warrant. Inspections shall be
made during normal hours of business in the absence of emergency circumstances
which require prompt attention to protect the public health, safety
and welfare or to preserve evidence of noncompliance with this chapter.
The unreasonable failure to permit inspections shall be grounds for
permit denial, suspension or revocation.
I.
Suspension and revocation of permit. If, in the opinion of the Code
Official, the public is subject to imminent danger due to the violation
by the permit holder of any one or combination of more than one of
the general operating requirements, the Code Official shall issue
an order to the permit holder requiring immediate cessation of those
operations implicating the imminent danger. Pursuant to such order,
the permit holder shall cause such operations to cease as directed
by the Code Official. Failure to maintain insurance or a letter of
credit as required, or to permit inspection as required, are each
per se violations implicating imminent danger to the public necessitating
an order to cease all operations. The permittee may appeal any such
order to the City Council, in writing, setting forth the bases for
any appeal, which shall be delivered to the Council care of the office
of the City Manager. The Council shall hold a hearing regarding any
such appeal and provide at least 10 days' notice of the hearing
to the permittee and the Code Official. The City Council may revoke
any permit if a permittee fails to comply with the terms of this chapter
at any time. The City Council will provide the permittee with an opportunity
to be heard by the Council prior to such revocation or nonrenewal
by providing the permittee notice of intent to revoke or not renew
and the grounds for the same at least 10 days prior to any meeting
of the Council at which action is to be taken; though an order requiring
immediate cessation of operations may be issued prior to such meeting.
The permittee may request a hearing before the Council on receipt
of such notice, which request shall be in writing, delivered to the
Council care of the office of the City Manager, and must be received
prior to the meeting at which the Council intends to act on revocation.
The Council shall schedule a hearing upon receipt of such request.
The Council may authorize a committee to hear any appeal of an order
to cease operations or in relation to any intended revocation, in
which case such committee shall report to the Council regarding the
hearing and its recommendation regarding action by the Council.
The Code Official shall have the responsibility to enforce this
chapter. Violations of this chapter shall be subject to the general
penalty provisions of the Municipal Code, § 1-1-5. In addition,
the City may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for injunctive
relief and the assessment of damages including attorney's fees
and costs.
